§ 62-58. Payment of utility service bills; late and in arrears accounts.

(a)

Itemized utility service bills, showing the amount charged for each service provided are mailed by the fifth business day of each month for the preceding month's service, unless otherwise noted on the bill. The utility service bills are due in full on or before the first working day of the following month. If utility service bill mailings are postmarked later than the sixth business day of the month or are delayed for any reason, the due date shall be not less than 15 days nor more than 25 days after the postmarked date. The postmark date on the bill shall determine the date mailed, and if the postmark is illegible, the day following the date the city's utility billing system shows the billing was completed shall determine the date mailed.

(b)

The city is not responsible for U.S. mail delivery. If a bill is not received before the end of any month, the customer shall contact the city hall for billing information and pay the bill in a timely manner based upon the information received from City Hall.

(c)

If an entire utility service bill is not paid by the due date, a $25.00 late penalty will be assessed. If the entire utility service bill remains unpaid ten days after the due date, utility service may be shut-off disconnected without further notice. After shut-off, any unpaid balance may be paid from the customer's deposit, and renewed service may be conditioned upon the customer making a new deposit.

(d)

The customer may appeal the bill to the city council by filing a notice of appeal with city clerk on or prior to the utility bill's due date. The appeal shall be heard at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the city council. The city council may adjust the charge upon a finding of error in the bill or undue hardship on the part of the customer. Service shall not be shut-off while the bill is under appeal.

(e)

After utility services have been shut-off for nonpayment three times in one 12-month period, utility services will be disconnected or discontinued and new service applications, including all the permits, approvals, deposits and expenses for new connections of utility service, will apply.

(f)

All reconnection fees will be added to the utility service bill due and outstanding and shall be paid, along with all utility services late penalties and sums due to the city, before utility services are reauthorized or reconnected.

(g)

Utility service for one day in any month constitutes services for that entire month for billing purposes.

(Ord. No. 246-02, § 1, 2-25-2002; Ord. No. 280-05, § 5, 11-21-2005)