[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 § 27-388; 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 1½ 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.