Chapter 15.08
SERVICE CHARGES
Sections:
15.08.015 Budget payment method.
15.08.020 Service line installation.
15.08.025 Expense reimbursement.
15.08.030 Regulation compliance.
15.08.035 Voluntary discontinuance of natural gas service.
15.08.010 Rates determined.
(1) Natural gas basic monthly service charge rates shall be determined by resolution of the city council.
(2) The customer will be charged the minimum monthly charge on the first regular billing date following availability of gas at the meter of the customer. (Ord. 01-10 § 1, 2010; Ord. 05-09 § 6, 2009; Ord. 13-08 § 20, 2008; Ord. 22-07 § 1, 2007; Ord. 05-07 § 1, 2007; Ord. 10-06 § 1, 2006; Ord. 16-05 § 1, 2005; Ord. 26-04 § 1, 2004; Ord. 12-03 § 1, 2003; Ord. 05-01 § 2, 2001).
15.08.015 Budget payment method.
The city shall make available to approximately 20 low-income individuals, upon execution of a written contract authorized by the city administrator, a budget payment method for the payment of gas utility bills. Implementation of the budget payment method shall require a one-year history of gas use at the property. Monthly payments shall be equal to one-eleventh of the previous year’s aggregate annual bill. The payment for the twelfth month shall include all outstanding amounts for service provided during the preceding year, and shall include an interest charge at the statutory rate if the stream of payments required the city to extend credit for the service. Late payments shall result in termination of the budget payment method, and require payment of the total amount due for services provided. (Ord. 01-10 § 1, 2010; Ord. 10-06 § 1, 2006; Ord. 15-96 § 2, 1996).
15.08.020 Service line installation.
Customers who wish natural gas service shall place an order with the city of Buckley public works superintendent. The city will install to each property within its service area, without cost to the customer, a service line not exceeding 125 feet in length from the natural gas main line to the nearest convenient point on the building for which natural gas service is requested. In the event that the service line to the meter on the building exceeds 125 feet, the customer shall pay the cost of labor and materials for the installation beyond that distance. In those areas where the property requested to be served does not directly abut an existing natural gas main, the customer shall be required to extend the natural gas main to the property to be served at the customer’s expense. In all new residential subdivisions or commercial developments approved by the city where the development is intended to be served with natural gas, the developer will be required to install the main line extensions and all service lines to the building(s)/structure(s) at the developer’s expense. The city will install the gas service meter(s) at the point of connection to the building(s)/structure(s). Any customer who wishes natural gas service that exceeds 500,000 BTUs per hour shall pay the cost of materials for the installation for oversizing above 500,000 BTUs per hour. (Ord. 01-10 § 1, 2010; Ord. 10-06 § 1, 2006; Ord. 13-94 § 1, 1994; Ord. 611 § 3, 1957).
15.08.025 Expense reimbursement.
Where a natural gas main is extended along a street at the expense of the property owner or owners on one portion of the street only, or where such a line is extended through property not currently served and not contributing to the cost of the line, or when the city extends a natural gas main, the person or persons paying the costs of extension of the natural gas main shall be reimbursed by the noncontributing property owners at the time these owners connect to the natural gas main, subject to the reimbursement provisions of Chapter 14.14 BMC. (Ord. 01-10 § 1, 2010; Ord. 10-06 § 1, 2006).
15.08.030 Regulation compliance.
Each customer is subject to all rules and regulations adopted by the mayor and the city council and duly authorized city officers relating to the installation, construction, reconstruction, adjustment and repair of house gas piping, gas appliances, fixtures and apparatus in all buildings and structures in the city and its natural gas service territory. (Ord. 01-10 § 1, 2010; Ord. 10-06 § 1, 2006; Ord. 611 § 4, 1957).
15.08.035 Voluntary discontinuance of natural gas service.
Should the owner of any premises desire to discontinue the use of natural gas supplied any premises, he/she shall give the city notice in writing and pay in full all outstanding natural gas charges on his/her account at the utility department. The natural gas shall then be shut off. Upon proper application/notification, natural gas service shall be turned on again. Owners requesting voluntary discontinuance of natural gas service shall be billed a $25.00 turn-on charge at the time service is reinstated. Future natural gas charges shall not cease without the notice prescribed in this section. (Ord. 01-10 § 1, 2010; Ord. 10-06 § 1, 2006; Ord. 18-04 § 2, 2004).
15.08.040 Payment of fees.
(1) All charges and/or fees for natural gas service are due and payable at the office of the city administrator by the fifteenth of every month (due date). If payment is not received within five days of the due date, the account shall become delinquent. On or about the first of every month, a notice shall be sent to the customer noting the balance due, including any penalties and interest. After the city sends a notice of delinquency on the account, the customer must pay any delinquent amounts within 15 days or services may be disconnected. Any natural gas service account that has been deemed delinquent shall be assessed a late penalty of five percent of the utility bill amount. The utility billing clerk shall, not later than the fifteenth day of each following month, furnish to the public works director a list of all meters in which natural gas service accounts are delinquent. After natural gas service accounts become delinquent, the public works director shall, subject to the conditions set forth in state law, cause to be shut off the service to the premises affected by such delinquency and the natural gas shall not be turned on again until all delinquent charges and fees, including a fee established by resolution of the city council for the cost of issuing the shut-off notice and dispatching the city crew, shall be paid in full to the city administrator’s office.
(2) This dispatch for shut-off fee is in addition to any other charges and late fees owed on account.
(3) The city may not refuse to provide service to a new tenant because of nonpayment of utility bills by the previous tenant. (Ord. 15-10 § 6, 2010; Ord. 01-10 § 1, 2010; Ord. 05-09 § 7, 2009; Ord. 13-08 § 21, 2008; Ord. 10-06 § 1, 2006; Ord. 18-04 § 1, 2004; Ord. 26-99 § 6, 1999; Ord. 15-96 § 3, 1996; Ord. 26-87 § 2, 1987; Ord. 956 § 1, 1978; Ord. 690 §§ 1, 2, 3, 1964).