[Code 1985 § 27-386; Code 2005 § 110-441]
As used in this article, the term "utility" means the City's
water, sewer, electric and refuse collection and disposal services
or any combination of such services.
[Code 1985 § 27-387; Code 2005 § 110-442]
The City Clerk shall collect all utility fees and charges.
[Code 1985 § 27-388; Code 2005 § 110-443]
The occupant of the premises served by City utility service
shall be the primarily obligor for utility service charges. The owner
of the premises shall be secondarily liable for such charges.
[Code 1974 § 18-73; Code 1985 § 27-389);
Code 2005 § 110-444]
A.
In addition to required connection fees, all users of utility service
shall make a deposit in the amount established by the City Clerk.
The deposit shall be posted in the City Clerk's office prior
to receiving service. Deposits cannot be sold or transferred by one
customer to another except by consent of the City Clerk, who shall
keep an accurate record of all deposits.
B.
The utility customer shall be required to make appropriate utility
deposits with City Clerk sufficient to guarantee the payment of all
bills for utility service rendered; the amount of the deposit shall
be an amount sufficient to cover the estimated usage of utility service
for one billing period plus 30 days.
C.
The City Clerk may accept in lieu of a cash deposit from commercial
and industrial consumers using large quantities of electric power
and energy, a guarantee for the prompt payment of bills rendered,
acceptable in form to the Board of Commissioners. The City Clerk may
waive the cash deposit required upon application from schools and
other subdivisions of government.
D.
In the event the character and/or volume of customer's services
should change at any time so that customer's deposit is inadequate
to ensure payment of bills, the City Clerk reserves the right to require
the customer to increase his deposit to an amount satisfactory to
the City.
E.
For temporary service, where lighting and power service is desired
for a short period of time, applicant will be required to deposit
at the time of making application for service, a sum equal to the
estimated costs of labor and material required for making and removing
connections, together with 1 1/2 times the amount of the estimated
monthly bill for the location to be served. At the termination of
the service period, the consumer will be credited with the amount
of his deposit, less the net costs of labor and material required
for making and removing connections.
F.
The deposit shall be refunded by the City Clerk to the customer upon
termination of use of service, provided that the customer has paid
all bills due the City and surrenders the deposit receipt. The City
Clerk may require the identification of the person surrendering deposit
receipt. In case the customer loses the deposit receipt, the City
Clerk will require that the customer sign a release form acknowledging
return of the deposit.
G.
A person is responsible for unpaid utility bills as long as the account
and deposit remains in his name.
H.
A person who pays a deposit shall be given a receipt by the City
Clerk. The receipt is nontransferable.
[Code 1985 § 27-390; Code 2005 § 110-445]
All utility fees and charges shall be due and payable 15 days
following their billing date. If not so paid and received by the City
on or before the close of business on the 15th day following the date
of billing, the charges will be increased by 10%.
[Code 1985 § 27-391; Code 2005 § 110-446]
At any given location the person receiving utility service should
receive his bill on approximately the same date each month. Upon request,
the City will advise the consumer as to the date he should receive
his bill. If a bill is not received, or is lost, the City will, upon
request, issue a duplicate. Failure to receive bill or loss thereof,
shall not excuse nonpayment of bill within the due date. In such instances
therefore the customer shall not be entitled to any prompt payment
discount or to a waiver of penalty.
[Code 1985 § 27-392; Code 2005 § 110-447]
The charges for utility services are declared to be parts of
one debt to the City insofar as the charges affect any one customer,
and the refusal or failure to pay any part of such debt in accordance
with the rules and regulations established for the payment of such
debt, shall be sufficient cause for discontinuing all utility services.
[Code 1985 § 27-393; Code 2005 § 110-448]
In addition to any other remedy provided for enforcement or
collection of unpaid utility service charges, such charges may be
collected by a civil action brought by the City against the owner
or occupant of the premises served.
[Code 1985 § 27-394; Code 2005 § 110-449]
In addition to any other remedy provided for enforcement or
collection of any utility charge, all utility charges shall be a lien
against the premises to which the utility service was supplied.
