Source: https://www.codepublishing.com/ID/Lewiston/html/Lewiston36-5.html
Timestamp: 2019-12-11 17:04:14
Document Index: 33556285

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 36', '§ 36', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 1', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 36', '§ 4', '§ 36', '§ 36', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 5', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 63', '§ 6']

Chapter 36.5 CITY SERVICES BILLING AND COLLECTION OF UTILITY CHARGES
CITY SERVICES BILLING AND COLLECTION OF UTILITY CHARGES
Art. I. In General, §§ 36.5-1 – 36.5-15
Art. II. Billings, Adjustments, Delinquent Notices, Etc., §§ 36.5-16 – 36.5-40
Sec. 36.5-1. Policy.
It is the policy of the city to operate the water, wastewater, and solid waste utilities as business enterprises that benefit the community by providing clean water and sanitary wastewater service, and by providing solid waste management. User charges for service are set to cover the full costs of operation and maintenance and capital improvements of the utilities, as such, accuracy and timeliness in billing and collecting user charges is important. The city bills for all three (3) utilities on a single monthly bill, for other services requested by the customer, and other fees required by resolution. Rates for each service area are separately calculated but are combined and printed on a single bill to facilitate billing and payment processing. The city maintains separate funds to account for specific revenues and expenditures. Monies paid for water service are accounted for in the water fund; monies for wastewater service are accounted for in the wastewater fund; monies paid for solid waste are accounted for in the solid waste fund; monies paid for other fees required by resolution are accounted for as described in the applicable provisions of the Lewiston City Code. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13)
Sec. 36.5-2. Water, wastewater, solid waste and other utilities.
Service rates and other fees for all water, wastewater, solid waste and other utilities, as may be established in the future, shall be established by resolution adopted by the city council. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13)
Sec. 36.5-3. Free or reduced rate utility services to be recorded and charges collected from city.
(a) If a utility service is provided to a customer for free or at a reduced rate, then the amount by which such utility service charge is reduced shall be billed to the city.
(b) The city shall pay such bill to the enterprise fund for the utility from which services were rendered. The city shall not increase the rates of other ratepayers to account for free or reduced rate utility services. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13; Ord. No. 4731, § 1, 9-10-18)
Sec. 36.5-4. Definitions.
(a) Applicant: A person applying for any one (1) or more of the utility services provided by the city.
(b) Base rate: The monthly charge for access to the water, wastewater or solid waste services whether or not there is consumption and/or use. The base rate covers the costs associated with having water available, providing adequate water flow for fire protection, and capacity for wastewater removal.
(c) BOD: Biochemical oxygen demand.
(d) City services: The services supported by fees on the monthly city services bill for utility services.
(e) Commercial service: Provision of water to premises which include mercantile establishments, stores, offices, public buildings, governmental agencies, public and private hospitals, schools, churches, other commercial enterprises, and mercantile establishments combined with residences. All services except for residential as defined in this chapter.
(f) Consumption rate: A charge placed on every hundred cubic feet (HCF) of water as measured by the meter.
(g) Customer owner: A person who is responsible for the water, wastewater, and/or solid waste account. The owner is deemed to be responsible for all services billed on the city services bill.
(h) Day(s): Calendar day(s).
(i) Disconnected: Physical removal of the water meter and/or disconnection from the water main.
(j) Delinquent: Utility charges not paid by the due date specified on the bill for such charges.
(k) Delinquent fee(s): May also be referred to as “late charges” and shall be set by resolution of the city council.
(l) Domestic service: Provision of water for household residential purposes, including water for lawns, gardens and shrubbery; watering livestock, washing vehicles, and other similar and customary purposes.
(m) Domestic waste: Water carried waste from the noncommercial preparation, cooking, and handling of food or containing human excrement and similar matter from the sanitary conveniences of dwellings, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and institutions.
(n) Fire protection service: Provision of water to premises for automatic fire protection.
(o) Hundred cubic feet (HCF or hcf): The units used to measure water consumption. One hundred (100) cubic feet equals one (1) unit of water measured by the water meter and also equals seven hundred forty-eight (748) gallons of water.
(p) Irrigation service: Provision of water to a customer only for outside watering of landscaping, plants, or lawns and water which does not enter the wastewater system.
(q) Monthly: A term referring to frequency of billing indicating a period of twenty-six (26) to thirty-four (34) days.
(r) Person: Any individual, firm, partnership, agency, company, institution, unincorporated association, public or private corporation, government or government instrumentality.
(s) Premises: The integral property or area, including improvements thereon, to which a utility is or will be provided.
(t) Rate schedules: The entire body of effective rates, rentals, charges, and regulations as adopted by the city council.
(u) Reactivation: Restart of any utility.
(v) Residential: Single-family dwelling.
(w) Suspend(ed): A utility service which has been made temporarily inoperative because of failure to pay balance in full by due date.
(x) User charge: The fee levied on users of the water, wastewater, solid waste systems for their proportionate share of the costs of operation, maintenance, replacement, and capital facilities of the respective systems.
(y) Utility: A division of the public works department of the city of Lewiston.
(z) Utility charges: Any combination of water, wastewater, solid waste service charges or other fees and charges which are imposed on users of utility services authorized by the city council.
(aa) Utility service: Water, wastewater, solid waste services provided by the city of Lewiston. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13; Ord. No. 4731, § 4, 9-10-18)
Sec. 36.5-5. Water used by city departments.
(a) Subject to the exceptions set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, water used by city departments shall be paid to the water division out of each department’s appropriation at the rate established by resolution of the city council.
(b) The water division shall not charge a fee for water used by city departments for the following public purposes:
(1) Irrigation of municipal parks and cemeteries;
(2) Firefighting, including firefighter training; and
(3) Maintenance of municipal streets, sidewalks, storm drains, sewer mains, and parking lots.
(c) The water division shall enter into an agreement with a municipal golf course, whether such municipal golf course is operated by the city or leased by the city to another entity to operate, setting forth the amount such municipal golf course shall pay the water division for water used for irrigation purposes.
(d) In its discretion, the city council may annually appropriate funds from the general fund to be paid to the water fund in order to offset, in full or in part, the costs associated with providing water for the public purposes set forth in subsections (b) and/or (c) of this section. (Ord. No. 4756, § 1, 9-9-19)
Sec. 36.5-6. Reserved.
Editor’s note – Ord. No. 4731, §§ 2 – 4, enacted Sept. 10, 2018, repealed §§ 36.5-4 and 36.5-5, derived from Ord. No. 4603, § 4, and renumbered § 36.5-6 to § 36.5-4.
Secs. 36.5-7 – 36.5-15. Reserved.
ARTICLE II. BILLINGS, ADJUSTMENTS, DELINQUENT NOTICES, ETC.
Sec. 36.5-16. Billing and payments.
(a) Bills.
(1) Bills for city services will be delivered monthly. Customers may be billed for any combination of the services authorized on each month’s bill depending on which services are used.
a. Water service is considered to be used if the customer’s property is connected to the water system. Consumption of water is based on the meter reading on the meter provided to the customer by the city.
b. Wastewater service is considered to be used if the customer’s property is connected to the water system. Consumption for wastewater service is generally based on a flat fee or on the water used as measured on the water
c. Other city services are considered to be used if a utility services account is active.
(2) Meter readings.
a. Meters will be read at regular intervals for the preparation of bills and as required for the preparation of opening, closing, and special bills.
b. It may not always be possible to read meters on the same day of each period. Should a monthly billing period contain less than twenty-six (26) days or more than thirty-four (34) days, a pro rata correction may be made.
c. Estimations. In rare circumstances the city, if unable to read a water meter due to inaccessibility of the meter, will estimate the read in order to calculate a bill. Estimated calculations will be based on the amount of water used in the same month in the prior year. If there was no usage date for the customer for the prior year, then the prior month’s data will be used. Bills that are produced based on an estimated read will indicate that information.
(b) Bill payment.
(1) All bills are generated for services already rendered. Balances are due upon receipt and must be paid on or before the fifteenth (15th) day of the month, or the payment will be considered delinquent. On the twenty-first (21st) day of the month, a late fee, as established by the city council, shall be applied to the account. Payment may be made at the city’s utility billing office.
(2) Final bills will be processed at the time of discontinuance of service, with a minimum of seventy-two (72) hour advance notice.
(3) When bills are delinquent, the utility will follow the procedures as outlined in section 36.5-19 of this code.
(c) Administrative services charges, which include, but are not limited to, activation fees, reactivation fees, suspension fees, late fees, fees for tampering with or bypassing water meters, locking devices, or otherwise interfering with any city equipment, or any other applicable fees and charges may be charged to the customer’s account and included in the monthly billing.
(d) All payments for services rendered may be remitted on a single check or separate checks. The utility shall deposit monies equal to the billings for each service into the respective fund for the service rendered. Payment shall be applied first to administrative fees, then to solid waste charges, then to wastewater charges, and finally to the water charges. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13)
Sec. 36.5-17. Meter test.
(a) Meter test.
(1) If a meter is not new, it will be tested and certified by the water division prior to installation. No meter found to register more than one and one-half (1.5) percent fast or slow under conditions of normal operation will be placed in service.
(2) Customers may request a meter test by giving not less than five (5) working days’ notice to the city. The following conditions shall apply:
a. For each additional test after the first performed in a calendar year, the utility shall charge the customer an amount necessary to cover the reasonable cost of the test.
b. The charge shall be refunded if the meter is found to register more than one and one-half (1.5) percent fast or slow. The customer will be notified not less than five (5) working days in advance of the time and place of the test.
c. A customer or representative shall have the right to be present when the test is made.
d. A written report giving the results of the test shall be made to the public works director and made available to the customer within ten (10) calendar days after completion of the test.
e. Both parties shall accept the findings so made.
(b) Leak test. The city will assist customers who have higher than expected usage to test for leaks. If an underground leak is discovered, the city may adjust the customer’s bill as identified in section 36.5-18 of this code. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13)
Sec. 36.5-18. Adjustments.
(a) Adjustment of bills for meter error.
(1) Fast meters. When a test is made and a meter is found to register more than three (3) percent fast, under conditions of normal operation, the utility will refund to the customer the full amount of the overcharge based on corrected meter readings for a period not exceeding three (3) months that the meter was in use.
(2) Slow meters. When a test is made and a meter is found to register more than three (3) percent slow under conditions of normal operation, the utility may bill the customer for the amount of the undercharge, based upon corrected meter readings for a period not exceeding three (3) months that the meter was in use.
(3) Nonregistering meters. The utility may bill the customer for water consumed while the meter was not registering. The bill will be at the minimum monthly meter rate, or will be computed by estimating the consumption based upon either the customer’s prior use during the same season of the year or by reasonable comparison with the use of other customers receiving the same class of service during the same period and under similar circumstances and conditions. The bill shall be for the period of time that the meter was not registering.
(b) Adjustments due to underground leaks. When an undetectable and/or underground leak exists between the meter and the building and the same is repaired within a reasonable time after the owner, agent or occupant of the premises has been notified of such leakage, the utility may allow an adjustment of fifty (50) percent of the estimated excess water consumption for a period not exceeding two (2) months that the meter was in use. The wastewater charges may be adjusted for fifty (50) percent of the estimated excess wastewater consumption for a period not exceeding two (2) months that the meter was in use, assuming the wastewater charges are based on water consumption and not a flat rate. The adjustment will be computed upon an estimate of consumption based either upon the customer’s use during the same period of the year prior or upon a reasonable comparison with the use of other customers receiving the same class of service during the same period and under similar circumstances and conditions.
(c) Adjustments for other causes. In the event an over or under billing error is discovered by the utility or the customer, corrections will be calculated for a period of no more than one (1) year.
(1) Amounts owed by the utility to the customer: the customer shall receive the amount as a credit.
(2) Amounts owed by the customer to the utility: if the amount owed is less than the customer’s average monthly bill, the amount shall be due and payable no later than the next regular payment due date. If the amount owed is more than the average monthly bill, the customer may arrange a time-payment agreement to repay the amounts owed. The customer must maintain all current bills and pay the amounts owed on the time-payment agreement each month. The city shall not charge a penalty or interest on the past-due amount as long as the payment terms are met. In no case may the customer take more than one (1) year to repay the amounts owed. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13)
Sec. 36.5-19. Delinquent accounts.
(a) Policy. To keep costs of operations as low as possible, the city’s policy will pursue collection of all accounts. No account shall be written off or reduced, except as provided for in sections 36.5-18 and 36.5-29 of this code, or as approved by the public works director. The finance department shall provide the city council and the public works director with a yearly accounting of all utility bills written off or reduced in the previous year.
(1) A city services account shall be deemed a delinquent account if it is not paid on or before the fifteenth (15th) day of the month following the account’s billing date. For the purposes of this section, “paid” means received in the city finance department. Payments placed in the drop boxes provided by the city shall be deemed as received as of the next business day.
a. The subsequent month’s bill shall serve as the first notice of delinquency and the second notice of when payment must be received in order to avoid turn-off for nonpayment.
b. The city shall serve notice of delinquency to both the occupant and the owner when the person responsible for paying the bill is not the resident of the service address.
c. The city shall transfer any delinquent amount owed on a final account by a customer at a previous location to that customer’s new address when payment is not received within twenty-six (26) days of the final bill. Payments of the delinquent amount shall apply as set forth in subsections (1)(a) and (b) of this section.
d. Subject to the appeal procedure provided in section 36.5-20 of this code, the public works director or his/her designee is authorized to turn off water service at any location for which there exists a delinquent city service account no earlier than the forty-third (43rd) day after the date of billing on that account. Discontinuance of water service shall be in addition to any other remedies or penalties provide herein or any other city code or by any other applicable law.
(2) Service suspended due to delinquency turn-off. Prior to reactivation, the person responsible for a service that has been suspended for nonpayment will be required to bring the account to a zero (0) balance including service fees.
(3) Recovery of unpaid charges. Any charge due which has not been paid when due may be recovered by any means permitted by law.
The public works director is hereby empowered and directed to enforce this provision as to all delinquent accounts, using the procedures provided in this section. At all reasonable times, employees of the city shall have access to any premises served by the city for inspection, repair or the enforcement of the provisions herein. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13; Ord. No. 4731, § 5, 9-10-18)
Sec. 36.5-20. Appeals.
Upon written request by the customer, a hearing concerning computation of the amount owed and/or whether the service should be terminated shall be held before the city manager. Service shall not be discontinued before the hearing has been conducted, unless service was disconnected before the hearing was requested. If the city manager finds that the computation was in error, the city manager shall adjust the amount of the service charge. If the city manager finds that the computation was correct, the city manager shall determine the service charges to be correct and shall set a date for payment. If the city manager determines that the amount owed on the account has not been paid by the time set after the hearing, then the city manager shall set a date for termination of service. The decision of the city manager is final. If the person requesting the hearing does not appear at the scheduled hearing, the city manager shall enter an order declaring the service charges to be correct and when due and/or when the service shall be terminated if unpaid.
In cases where the customer is unable to pay the bill because of short-term problems or an emergency, the city manager or his/her representative shall have the discretion to renew or continue service to a delinquent account upon receipt of an acceptable plan for payment of past due amount. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13)
Sec. 36.5-21. Rates for sale of water to tenants and users of water at Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport; administrative practices.
(a) The rate charged by the city for water purchased by the city from the Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District (LOID) for resale to tenants and other water users located on, or served from the water lines located upon, the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport at Lewiston, Idaho, shall be one and one-half (1.5) times the actual charge to the city by the LOID for such water, both irrigation and domestic.
(b) Collection of water charges, billing practices, enforcement of charges, and other administrative practices for the charging and collection of water accounts shall be set forth herein for the city-operated water system.
(c) This section shall be null and void in the event that the city extends its water system to include the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport, so that the purchase of water from the LOID is no longer necessary to supply water to said airport. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13)
Sec. 36.5-22. Utility charges to continue as long as water is connected.
(a) When water has been turned on at any premises, in conformity with the city code, the utility charges shall continue to be charged against the premises for which the service was installed until the public works director or his/her designee is ordered by the owner or his authorized agent, in writing, to disconnect the service.
(b) All accounts for water, wastewater, solid waste, and/or any other utility shall be kept in the name of the owner of the premises for whom the service was installed until a subsequent owner shall take possession, and the city has been notified either by a title company or by Nez Perce County of the change in ownership.
(c) Utility charges may be billed to the occupant when the owner requests the administrative services director/CFO or his/her designee to do so by completion of a non-owner-occupied real property utility billing agreement. However, as provided in said billing agreement, the property owner is not relieved of liability for any utility charges against the property. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13)
Sec. 36.5-23. Lien on property.
All delinquent charges for water and wastewater connections and service, solid waste charges and all service charges provided by this chapter, together with penalties and interest thereon, shall be a utility tax assessment upon the property to which such connections are made or to which such wastewater service or domestic water service or solid waste service is rendered, superior to all other liens and encumbrances whatsoever, except for general taxes and local special assessments. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13)
Sec. 36.5-24. Charges recorded against premises where service installed.
(a) All charges shall be recorded against the premises for which the service was installed.
(b) Should the same become delinquent and unpaid, such charges shall be a tax assessment against the property so served and the finance director may make and file a tax assessment for the amount due.
(c) Such assessment shall bind the premises in the manner provided by Idaho Code, Section 50-1008.
(d) In like manner, a charge may be collected for any labor or materials furnished. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13)
Sec. 36.5-25. Discontinuance of service.
(a) Nonpayment of bills. A customer’s water service may be suspended if the water bill is not paid in accordance with the procedures set forth in this chapter.
(b) Unsafe apparatus.
(1) The utility may refuse to furnish water and may disconnect service to any premises where apparatus, appliances, or equipment using water are dangerous, unsafe, or being used in violation of laws, ordinances, or legal regulations.
(2) The utility does not assume liability for inspecting apparatus on the customer’s property. If there is reason to believe that an unsafe or illegal apparatus is in use, the utility reserves the right to inspect the apparatus.
(c) Service detrimental to others. The utility may refuse to furnish water and may reduce service to any premises where excessive demands by one (1) customer will result in inadequate service to others.
(d) Fraud and abuse. The utility shall have the right to refuse or to disconnect water service to any premises to protect itself against fraud or abuse.
(e) Noncompliance. Unless otherwise provided, the utility may disconnect water service to a customer for noncompliance with any of the regulations of this chapter any time after giving written notice to the customer of the utility’s intention to disconnect service. If such noncompliance affects matters of health or safety or other conditions that warrant such action, the utility may disconnect water service immediately.
(f) Restoration – Reconnection charge. The utility shall charge for restoring water service which has been disconnected because of noncompliance with these rules. Water service which has been disconnected because of nonpayment or noncompliance with these rules shall not be restored in the name of any relative, friend, family member, nor in the same customer name when the head of the household has not changed or when the customer of record at that service location would continue to receive water service.
(g) Penalty for turning on water service without authority. Should the water be turned on by any water customer or other person without authority from the utility, the water may then be shut off at the main or the meter may be removed. A charge for removing and/or reinstalling the meter shall be established by the city council. Any water usage during this unauthorized connection shall be charged to the person(s) receiving the water, and water shall not again be furnished to the customer until said charges are paid.
(h) Tampering. Water services locked off for nonpayment or noncompliance will be subject to tampering should any consumer or person without authority from the utility remove or destroy any locking device in order to self-restore water service. Tampering charges and/or costs shall be billed to the customer. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13)
Sec. 36.5-26. Notices.
(a) Notices required to be given by the utility to the customer will normally be given in writing, and may be delivered to the customer personally or by mail to the address for which service is rendered.
(b) Notice from the customer to the utility shall be given by the customer or authorized representatives orally or in writing at the city’s utility’s office. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13)
Sec. 36.5-27. Additional and special charges.
(a) Delinquent payments are subject to the following charges:
(1) Whenever water service to a user has been terminated because of nonpayment of delinquent charges, the customer or user must, in addition to paying the delinquent charges in full, pay a late fee.
(2) Further, a reconnect charge shall be paid in full before water service will be restored.
(b) Special reading charge. Any special readings requested by a user or customer shall be charged to the customer.
(c) Special reading charge – Selling of property. All property closures shall have a final reading. The owners or title company shall provide three (3) days’ notice; however, if a shorter notice is given, then an additional fee shall be paid. The charge for the “final reading” and the short notice fee shall be established by city council resolution. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13)
Sec. 36.5-28. Temporary suspension of service.
(a) Whenever a user or customer wishes to temporarily suspend water service, he/she shall provide a written request, on a form supplied by the utility, to the utility. The utility shall not accept any other type of request. The request, as a minimum, shall include the following:
(1) Address of service where suspension is requested.
(2) Dates of requested suspension.
(4) Printed name of user or customer.
(5) Signature of user or customer.
(b) The user or customer shall remain responsible for all base charges with respect to water, wastewater, and solid waste or any other utility. In addition, he/she shall also be responsible for any water and wastewater services and/or charges used during the suspension. (Ord. No. 4603, § 4, 9-23-13)
Sec. 36.5-29. Utility circuit breaker program.
(a) Policy. The purpose of the circuit breaker program is to provide essential utility services to qualified property owners at reduced rates.
(b) Qualifications. To qualify for the utility circuit breaker program, a customer must: (1) qualify and be approved for the state of Idaho property tax reduction program, as set forth in Idaho Code, §§ 63-701 et seq., the same year in which the customer applies for the utility circuit breaker program; (2) receive the utility services for which the customer is applying from the city, as opposed to another water or sewer district; and (3) be the property owner of a single-family residence, duplex, or triplex, including mobile homes on individual lots where the property owner applicant receives the city utility bill in his or her name.
(c) Application. A qualified customer may apply for the utility circuit breaker program June 1 through September 1 each year; provided, however, for the first year of the utility circuit breaker program (fiscal year 2019), a qualified customer may apply for the utility circuit breaker program from the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section through May 31, 2019. If September 1 falls on a weekend or holiday, then applications shall be accepted through the next business day. Late applications shall not be accepted. To continue receiving discounted utility rates through the utility circuit breaker program, a qualified customer must reapply for such program each year.
To apply for the utility circuit breaker program, a qualified customer must submit to the city’s utility billing division: (1) a completed utility circuit breaker program application form, which form is provided by the city; and (2) a copy of the customer’s completed application for the state of Idaho property tax reduction program for the same year in which the customer is applying for the utility circuit breaker program.
(d) Approval. The city’s utility billing division shall approve an application for the utility circuit breaker program if the customer qualifies for such program and timely submits a completed application, as required in this section. If the city’s utility billing division denies an application, then such division shall provide the applicant written notice of denial, stating the reason(s) for the denial.
Once an application for the utility circuit breaker program is approved, a qualified customer shall receive the applicable discounted utility rates from October 1 through September 30 of the following year. A qualified customer who owns a duplex or triplex shall only receive utility circuit breaker rates for utility services rendered to that portion of the property owned by the qualified customer. utility circuit breaker rates shall be set by resolution of the city council.
(e) Disqualification. The city’s utility billing division may disqualify a customer from the utility circuit breaker program at any time if the customer: (1) provides false information when applying for the utility circuit breaker program; (2) fails to fully pay the utility bill within ninety (90) days from the date of billing; or (3) has utility services suspended for nonpayment of the utility bill. If the city’s utility billing division disqualifies a customer from the utility circuit breaker program, then such division shall provide the customer with written notice of disqualification, stating the reason(s) for disqualification. A customer who has been disqualified from the utility circuit breaker program shall not be eligible to reapply for such program for the following fiscal year of the city.
(f) Appeal. A decision by the city’s utility billing division regarding approval for or disqualification from the utility circuit breaker program may be appealed to the city manager within two (2) weeks after the date of notice of denial or disqualification. A customer must file a written notice of appeal with the city clerk setting forth the specific bases of appeal. The city manager may hold a hearing on the appeal or issue a decision without holding a hearing based on the application materials, the written decision of the city’s utility billing division, evidence of whether the applicant is or is not qualified for the utility circuit breaker program, and the written notice of appeal. The city manager shall issue a decision within seven (7) business days from the date the notice of appeal is filed with the city clerk. The city manager’s decision shall be final and binding.
(g) Difference Billed to City. The difference between regular utility rates and the reduced rates charged to qualified customers through the utility circuit breaker program shall be billed to and paid by the city on an annual basis, in accordance with section 36.5-3 of this chapter. (Ord. No. 4731, § 6, 9-10-18)
Secs. 36.5-30 – 36.5-40. Reserved.