The following are the maximum deposit, delinquent account collection, penalty, reconnection and special charges policy for the city utilities department. All customers of the city utility services, in order to receive said services, must comply with these policies of the city.
(1)
Deposits and fees.
(A)
Permanent service.
All classes or groups of customers will be required to pay a deposit provided in section A13.02.001 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code for residential or commercial.
(B)
Temporary service.
The deposit for services rendered on a temporary basis for all classes of rate users shall be in the amount as provided in section A13.02.001 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code, which is designed to reasonably protect the city against the assumed risk of providing such temporary services. Temporary services shall be for a period not excess of five (5) days.
(C)
Refund of deposit.
If services is not connected or after disconnection of services, the city utilities department shall promptly and automatically refund the customers deposit, in excess of the unpaid bills for services furnished or shall be refunded in full following twelve (12) months of timely payments.
(D)
Connection fee.
A fee for utility service connection shall be as provided in section A13.02.001 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code. This includes the initial connection, and any reconnection of service done by the city at the request of the consumer.
(2)
Collection fees, charges and etc.
(A)
In accordance with the policies of the city utilities department accounts in all billing classes or groups will be due and payable on or before the tenth (10th) of each month after the bill is rendered. In the event that such billing and charges are not paid in full by such due date, a penalty of ten (10%) percent of the amount due and payable shall be added to such billing and charges. All accounts not received by the 20th of each month rendered will be considered as delinquent by the city utilities, and if an account is disconnected for reasons of nonpayment of a duly rendered billing, the amount must be paid in full plus a service fee as provided in section A13.02.001 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code, which will be charged for reconnections made during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or a service fee which will be charged for reconnects made at any other time than the times designated hereinabove.
(B)
Returned payment fee.
If a utility payment is returned to the city for insufficient funds or any other reason, the city will notify the customer and a fee shall be assessed as provided in section A13.02.001 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code. If customer does not redeem the returned payment and pay the returned payment fee, the city may arrange for services to be disconnected
(3)
Fees on special services.
Fees for special services by the city utilities personnel on consumer’s property or on consumer’s equipment either during regular working hours or after regular working hours or in case of emergency shall not exceed the amount as provided in section A13.02.001 of the fee schedule in appendix A to this code per service call plus materials used.
(4)
Meter tests and test fees.
Meters will be tested upon consumer requests once every three (3) years at no charge to the customer. After the initial test, subsequent tests during the following three (3) year period will be made upon consumer requests and at consumer’s expense with the charge for these tests to be based on the city utilities actual costs per test.
(Ordinance adopted 10/22/18; Ordinance 871 adopted 2/13/2023)