CHAPTER 7
ELECTRIC UTILITY CUSTOMER SERVICE POLICIES
ARTICLE 3. BILLING AND COLLECTION
SECTION:
§4030 Applicable Rate Schedule Adoption By Resolution
§4034 Disputed Bills/Correctness Of Bills
§4036 Collection Of Delinquent Accounts
§4040 After Hours Connection Service
§4030 APPLICABLE RATE SCHEDULE ADOPTION BY RESOLUTION
The City Council may, by resolution, adopt and from time to time modify, amend or repeal any of the rates, fees or service charges to be levied, assessed, charged and collected for electric service. Applicable rate, fees and charge schedules shall be maintained in sufficient quantity for distribution to electric customers upon request. (Ord. 957, §1, adopted 1995)
§4031 BILLING PERIOD
A. Bills for electric service will be rendered monthly or by cycle billing based on geographical areas as otherwise provided in the rate schedules.
B. If service is connected less than ten (10) days before the route reading date, a separate bill for this period will not be rendered, but these readings will be included with the readings of the next regular billing. (Ord. 957, §1, adopted 1995)
§4032 METER READINGS
A. Meters will be read at regular intervals for the preparation of regular bills and as required for the preparation of opening bills, closing bills, and special bills.
B. The City will, as nearly as possible, read meters on the same cycle date, but because of holidays, Saturdays, Sundays, and the difference in the length of months, a five (5) day variation may occur.
C. If for any reason a reading cannot be obtained for any particular period, the billing shall be based on an estimate of energy use and demand. It will be subject to later correction based on the next actual reading(s). The City will not estimate usage more than three (3) consecutive times. If the reading constraints are not removed, the City may discontinue service. (Ord. 957, §1, adopted 1995)
§4033 PAYMENT OF BILLS
A. Bills are due and payable on presentation, and payment shall be made at the City’s office or to an authorized collector. Failure of the customer to receive a bill will not release the customer from liability for payment.
B. By resolution, the City Council may establish policies for extended payment terms for customers who experience financial hardship. (Ord. 957, §1, adopted 1995)
§4034 DISPUTED BILLS/CORRECTNESS OF BILLS
A. If a customer questions or disputes a bill, the City will respond in accordance with the procedure adopted by City Council resolution. If the bill is determined to be incorrect, the City will issue a corrected bill.
B. Except as provided in Section 4049 of this Chapter, if billing has been made based on incorrect information, the City shall issue a corrected bill. If an overcharge has occurred, the City shall issue a refund based on the corrected information, not exceeding six (6) months. If an undercharge has occurred, the City shall render a bill, based on the corrected information, not exceeding three (3) months, unless it can be shown that the error was due to some cause, the date of which can be fixed. In this case, the correction shall be computed back to, but not beyond such date. (Ord. 957, §1, adopted 1995)
§4035 COLLECTION OF BILLS
The collection cycle in which past due, delinquent, final, and disconnection notices are determined and the related fees, will be established by resolution that may be adopted from time to time by the City Council. (Ord. 957, §1, adopted 1995)
§4036 COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS
In collecting delinquent accounts or terminating utility service, the City shall comply with applicable procedures required by any resolution of the City Council or by law, including Public Utilities Code sections 10009 through 10011, as those sections now read or may be amended in the future. (Ord. 957, §1, adopted 1995)
§4037 RETURNED CHECKS
If a check is returned due to insufficient funds, or for any other reason the funds are not available, the City shall terminate service in accordance with Section 4036 above. The fee for returned checks will be established by City Council resolution that may be adopted from time to time. If more than two (2) checks in twelve (12) consecutive months are returned unpaid, the City shall have the right to request "cash" or "money order only" for payment on such account(s). (Ord. 957, §1, adopted 1995)
§4038 CLOSING BILLS
Closing bills, where service is to be discontinued, will be due and payable on presentation, and collection may be made at any time after presentation. (Ord. 957, §1, adopted 1995)
§4039 SERVICE CHARGES
Service charges shall be as set forth from time to time in the applicable schedule of rates, fees and service charges, as adopted by resolution by the City Council. (Ord. 957, §1, adopted 1995)
§4040 AFTER HOURS CONNECTION SERVICE
After hours connection service will be available to customers provided they pay the actual cost for connection as established from time to time by resolution of the City Council. (Ord. 957, §1, adopted 1995)