Source: https://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Stanwood/html/Stanwood12/Stanwood1220.html
Timestamp: 2019-05-23 23:23:18
Document Index: 363869903

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 4', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 4', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 4', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 4', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 4', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 4', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 4']

Chapter 12.20 UTILITY BILLING REGULATIONS
UTILITY BILLING REGULATIONS
12.20.010 Billing and payment policy.
12.20.020 Assessing charges and penalties for nonpayment, disconnection and reconnection.
12.20.030 Termination of service.
12.20.040 Payment required before service restoration.
12.20.050 Lien rights.
12.20.060 Adjustments to bills.
(1) Billing statements shall be mailed to the address of the owner of the property being served by the utilities, as the address appears in the records of the city utility department. Upon written request of the owner, billing statements may be sent directly to the occupant of the property being served; however, in such cases the owner shall remain liable for payment of the bill, and the property shall remain subject to a lien for delinquent account.
(2) All payments on utility bills shall be applied first to the sewer balance, second to the drainage balance, and third to the water balance. Penalties and other charges are allocated proportionately to each utility.
(3) All utility customers are billed on a bimonthly basis and shall have not less than 30 days to make payment for all fees or charges assessed for such services. Such fees and charges shall be deemed delinquent if not paid in full within 40 days of issuance of the billing by the city.
Such delinquent accounts shall automatically constitute a lien against the property to which the services were rendered. Such a lien, for up to four months of charges, shall encumber the property, and shall be the obligation of the owner of the property, its heirs, successors and assigns, until the same is paid in full. The city may enforce the lien by shutting off water service and locking the water meter until all delinquent and unpaid charges are paid in full. Unless provided elsewhere in this chapter, such premises shall be considered in “shutoff” status and no additional service fees shall accrue. (Ord. 1405 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2015; Ord. 1295 § 2, 2011; Ord. 1189 § 4, 2006; Ord. 1101 § 2, 2000; Ord. 1085 § 2, 1999; Ord. 748 § 1, 1988).
(1) Delinquency. A utility account is considered delinquent when the customer or occupant receiving the service fails to pay the utility charges within the date set forth on the billing for such services.
Termination of service does not relieve the customer of the obligation to pay delinquent accounts and charges.
(2) Disconnection and Reconnection Charges.
(a) There shall be a shutoff charge assessed for each voluntary or involuntary discontinuance of service; provided, that the shutoff charges shall be more if the utility department is required to make a special trip for a single account. The disconnection charges are set forth in Chapter 3.30 SMC or as established by council resolution.
(b) There shall be a reconnection charge assessed for each reconnection; provided, that the reconnection charge shall be more if the utility department is required to make a special trip for one account. The reconnection charges are set forth in Chapter 3.30 SMC or as established by council resolution. If a customer makes payment by 4:00 p.m. on a business day, reconnection shall occur on that same day. Payments received after 4:00 p.m. shall result in reconnection on the following business day. For payments received after 4:00 p.m., if same day, weekend, or holiday reconnection is desired by the customer, such reconnection shall be considered after hours and may be made by the city at its sole discretion subject to staff availability. After hours reconnection charges shall be as established by council resolution.
(c) If service is shut off by reason of an account being delinquent at a single premises more than once within a 12-month period, the shutoff and reconnection charges after the first time during the 12-month period shall be increased as set forth in Chapter 3.30 SMC or as established by council resolution.
(d) If service has been terminated for delinquent and unpaid charges, temporary restoration will be allowed for inspection related to a potential sale. The fee for such service is set forth in Chapter 3.30 SMC or as established by council resolution.
(3) Late Penalty. For each notice sent to a utility customer advising the customer that an account is delinquent or the utility service will be discontinued by reason of the delinquency, there shall be a late penalty charge added to the account of five percent of the unpaid balances.
The finance director, or his/her designee, is authorized to waive the late penalty charge and disconnection and reconnection charges under the following circumstances:
(a) Where a utility customer has made arrangements with the city, prior to the date the billing is due, for deferral of the payment of the bill;
(b) Where a utility customer has not been delinquent in the previous 12 months; or
(c) If an emergency arises where the water service needs to be disconnected.
(4) Other Fees and Charges.
(a) If a utility account is dishonored by the drawer’s bank by reason of insufficient funds, a surcharge, as specified in Chapter 3.30 SMC or as established by council resolution, shall be added to the utility account, and shall be paid in full.
(b) If a utility account is dishonored by the drawer’s bank by reason of post-dated check, lack of drawer’s signature, or other irregularity, a surcharge, as specified in Chapter 3.30 SMC or as established by council resolution, shall be added to the utility account, and shall be paid in full.
(c) If a utility account is liened by reasons of nonpayment for up to four months, the customer shall be responsible for payment of all lien recording fees. These lien charges shall be assessed on utility account balances.
(d) If a utility customer requests a meter read outside the regular read cycle, a charge, as specified in Chapter 3.30 SMC or as established by council resolution, shall be added to the utility account. (Ord. 1405 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2015; Ord. 1351 § 2, 2013; Ord. 1295 § 2, 2011; Ord. 1189 § 4, 2006; Ord. 1101 § 2, 2000; Ord. 1085 § 2, 1999; Ord. 748 § 2, 1988).
(1) Water service may be discontinued by the city for any of the following reasons:
(a) For delinquent and unpaid charges as specified in SMC 12.20.020;
(b) For the use of water and sewer utilities for purposes or properties other than that specified in the application;
(c) For vandalism of property of the city utility system;
(d) In case of vacation of the premises by the customer; provided, that an affidavit shall be submitted that the property is vacant of any residents including tenants;
(e) For the use of the utility lines in a manner which adversely affects the city’s service to its customers;
(f) For fraudulent or improper obtaining or use of utility service.
(2) Except in the case of danger to life or property, fraudulent use, impairment of service, or violation of law, the city shall use its best efforts to comply with the following procedures prior to an involuntary discontinuance of service:
(a) The city shall send the owner and occupant of the premises, using addresses shown in the city utility records, written notice that water service to the property will be shut off on a date not less than 10 days thereafter unless the delinquencies are paid in full. The notice shall state that the owner and occupant of the premises have a right to a hearing before the mayor for the purposes of resolving disputed accounts. A request for such a hearing must be made not less than five days prior to the shutoff date. At the hearing the mayor is authorized to compromise and settle disputes in the interest of justice; provided, the mayor shall not be authorized to waive or reduce bills which are legitimately due, or to lend the city’s credit by allowing a deferred payment schedule.
(b) If service is not discontinued within three days after the stated shutoff date, unless other mutually acceptable arrangements have been made, the shutoff notice shall become void and a new notice shall be required before the service can be disconnected thereafter.
(c) In the event of a disputed account, at any time before the city shuts off service, the owner or occupant of the premises may tender the amount he claims to be due; provided, that the amount must be reasonably supported by documented evidence. The right of the city to thereafter shut off service shall not accrue until the dispute has been administratively or judicially resolved.
(d) Except in the case of danger to life or property, no disconnection shall be performed after 4:00 p.m. on weekdays, on Saturdays, Sundays, legal holidays or any day on which the city cannot reestablish service on the same or following day.
(e) Where service is provided to a master meter, or where the city has reasonable grounds to believe that service is to other than the customer of record, the city shall undertake all reasonable efforts to inform the occupants of the service address of the impending disconnection. Upon request of one or more service users, where service is to other than the subscriber of record, an additional five days shall be allowed prior to shutoff to permit the service users to arrange for continued service.
(f) Charges for disconnection and reconnection of water service, as specified in SMC 12.20.020, shall be added to the account, and shall be paid in full prior to reconnection. (Ord. 1405 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2015; Ord. 1295 § 2, 2011; Ord. 1189 § 4, 2006; Ord. 1101 § 2, 2000; Ord. 1085 § 2, 1999; Ord. 748 § 3, 1988).
Water service may not be restored to the premises until all utility billing charges as specified in SMC 12.20.020 due and owing have been satisfied. (Ord. 1405 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2015; Ord. 1295 § 2, 2011; Ord. 1189 § 4, 2006; Ord. 1101 § 2, 2000; Ord. 1085 § 2, 1999; Ord. 748 § 4, 1988).
(1) Liens against the property for up to four months of unpaid charges shall encumber the property, and shall be the obligation of the owner of the property, its heirs, successors, and assigns, until the same are paid in full. The city may enforce the lien by shutting off water services, including locking or removing the water meter, until all delinquent and unpaid charges are paid in full.
(2) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as abridging the lien rights of the city of Stanwood, or other legally established sanctions. (Ord. 1405 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2015; Ord. 1295 § 2, 2011; Ord. 1189 § 4, 2006).
(1) In the event a meter fails to register the correct amount of water used, the customer will be charged at the average rate of monthly consumption for the previous 12 months as shown by the meter when in working order.
(2) In the event a leak or failure of a private water system or private service between the meter and the structure located on private property results in excess consumption, the city may, through a determination of the city finance director, provide for a rate adjustment up to 50 percent of the volume consumed in any one billing period in excess of the bi-monthly average of water consumed over the previous 12 months at that service address.
(a) Customers shall be required to provide proof of repair to leak or failure prior to receiving any rate adjustment.
(b) Application for the credit or adjustment must be made in written form and approved by the city finance director or his/her designee.
(c) No more than one application for credit may be considered per service address in any 24-month period without city council approval. In order to grant a second adjustment the council must find one or more of the following circumstances exist:
(i) The leak could not have been readily detectable with reasonable diligence;
(ii) The customer does not occupy or use the subject property on a continuous basis;
(iii) Any prior leak for which an adjustment was made by the city was repaired within 30 days of discovery;
(iv) The customer account has been kept current and there have been no delinquencies within the previous 24 months.
(3) In the event of a leak or failure of a private water system or private service between the meter and the structure located on private property that was the result of a city project involving a public work as defined by state law, or maintenance performed at the expense of the city, the city public works director will have the authority to provide a rate adjustment for more than 50 percent of the volume consumed in excess of the bimonthly average of water consumed over the previous 12 months at that service address.
Adjustments are final and requests for reversal will not be granted and are not subject to appeal. (Ord. 1415 § 1, 2016; Ord. 1405 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2015; Ord. 1359 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1295 § 2, 2011; Ord. 1189 § 4, 2006).