This prohibition does not apply if the tenants prevent the remediation of the condition. The landlord must provide the tenants with a refund or credit for any amount improperly charged. DPUC can treat such complaints in the same way it treats complaints against water utilities. This means that DPUC can order the resolution of a complaint, and the landlord and tenant have access to the utility complaint procedures, including rights of appeal. Any party aggrieved by DPUC's decision can appeal to the courts under the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act.
Appeals are privileged cases, to be heard as quickly as possible.
A bill is not considered overdue while a tenant is disputing it under these provisions. He cannot shut off or refuse water service to a tenant because the tenant has not paid his submetered bill. The submetered bill is not considered rent for purposes of landlord-tenant law. If the landlord does not pay his water bill, the utility continues to have all of the remedies currently available under the law. The utility cannot cut off service to the building, but can seek the appointment of a receiver of rents under existing law.