Chapter 14.32
WATER AND SEWER UTILITY SERVICE CHARGES

Sections:

14.32.010    Utility bills—Delinquency.

14.32.020    Delinquent accounts—Collection.

14.32.030    Collection—Contact with customer—Information.

14.32.040    Collection—Notice in lieu of contact.

14.32.050    Shutoff notice.

14.32.060    Review of disputed bills.

14.32.070    Right of appeal.

14.32.080    Deferred payments.

14.32.090    Additional costs.

14.32.010 Utility bills—Delinquency.

Utility bills shall be delinquent fifteen days from date of mailing. The customer will be notified by past due reminder on or after the sixteenth day of delinquency that the bill must be paid within five business days from the date of this letter or the water service will be shut off. (Ord. 585-79 § 1, 1979)

14.32.020 Delinquent accounts—Collection.

After the expiration of five business days from the date the delinquent letters were mailed, a field serviceman will be given a list of the delinquent accounts to call on in the field to try to make collection. (Ord. 585-79 § 2, 1979)

14.32.030 Collection—Contact with customer—Information.

If contact is made with the customer, the serviceman will explain the following:

A.    The amount of the delinquency;

B.    That he is there to shut the water off for nonpayment, that if the customer questions the amount payable, he has a right to discuss his bill during city working hours with an employee or officer of the city who is authorized to review disputed bills and correct any errors. If the serviceman is not so authorized, then the serviceman will inform the customer where and how an authorized employee or officer may be contacted and that such contact must be made immediately to avoid cutting off water service;

C.    That he can accept a payment in full by check or money order;

D.    That if unable to pay in full, arrangements for partial payment will have to be made by contacting the delinquent billing clerk;

E.    That if the bill is not disputed and payment or arrangements are not made within twenty-four hours, he will return and shut off the water without further notice. (Ord. 585-79 § 3, 1979)

14.32.040 Collection—Notice in lieu of contact.

A.    If at the time the field serviceman calls at a customer’s residence and contact is not made with the customer, he will leave a notice stating substantially as follows: “Your unpaid account amounts to $______. If you question whether the amount shown is due, you must immediately contact (title of authorized representative to review disputed bills and correct errors) at ____ between the hours of ___ and ___, Monday through Friday and discuss the matter or make an appointment with (employee or title of officer or title of person authorized to review disputed bills and correct errors). Otherwise, if the amount is not paid by ____, the service will be cut off without further notice.”

B.    Service will be restored during regular hours only after the full amount due and a fifteen dollar reconnection charge has been paid. (Ord. 585-79 § 4, 1979)

14.32.050 Shutoff notice.

When the water has been shut off, a notice shall be left notifying customer. (Ord. 585-79 § 5, 1979)

14.32.060 Review of disputed bills.

The budget and finance director, or person he designates, shall be authorized to review disputed bills and correct errors. Customers who question or dispute their bills shall have the right to an informal conference with an employee or officer of the city so authorized by the budget and finance director to review disputed bills and correct errors, during regular business hours, eight a.m. to four p.m., Monday through Friday at _____. (Ord. 585-79 § 6, 1979)

14.32.070 Right of appeal.

A.    Customers who disagree with the decisions of city officers or employees after informal conferences shall have the further right to appeal to the budget and finance director, or such supervisory officer as the budget and finance director may designate.

B.    Customers who are appealing the decision of the informal conference will not be subject to water shutoff during the appeal proceedings; provided, that undisputed amounts are paid.

C.    Appeals resulting from informal conferences must be submitted with the reasons therefor within five business days following the decision from the informal conference. Appeals shall be made in writing and be addressed to the Budget and Finance Director, City Hall, Everett, Washington, 98201.

D.    Appeal hearings shall be conducted during the hours of nine a.m. to four p.m., Monday through Friday, within seven business days following appeal of the employee decision.

E.    A written decision shall be delivered to the customer by hand or certified mail within three business days following the appeal hearing. If the customer refuses to accept delivery of the written decision or fails to make the payments required by the decision, the city may disconnect the customer’s service without further notice. (Ord. 585-79 § 8, 1979)

14.32.080 Deferred payments.

The budget and finance department shall establish uniform procedures for deferred payment arrangements. (Ord. 585-79 § 7, 1979)

14.32.090 Additional costs.

The budget and finance department may assess reasonable charges for costs relating to certain collection actions to partially offset operational expenses involved for the sewer and water utility. (Ord. 585-79 § 9, 1979)