Chapter 3.30
UTILITY BILLING AND COLLECTION
Sections:
3.30.020 Meter reading and billing frequency.
3.30.030 Billing for fractional month service.
3.30.040 Delinquency and utility collection charges.
3.30.050 Adjustments for overbilling, underbilling.
3.30.010 New account fee.
Each prospective customer desiring utility service shall be required to pay a new account fee of $15.00 when service is supplied. A new account fee shall be required for each new service location for which utility service is requested. [Ord. 15-03; Ord. 12-07; Ord. 07-18 § 1].
3.30.020 Meter reading and billing frequency.
Meter reading and billing will be done as follows:
A. All meters will be read and the customer billed on a monthly basis. Meters will be read each month on as nearly the same day as possible.
B. When the meter reader does not obtain the read on the scheduled reading day, the meter reading will be estimated and billings may be rendered on the basis of these estimated readings. Adjustments to correct for errors in estimating will be made on a subsequent billing.
C. When a meter fails to register properly, the charge will be calculated on the average consumption on a seasonal basis. [Ord. 15-03; Ord. 07-18 § 1].
3.30.030 Billing for fractional month service.
A. Except for the electric utility, monthly base rates will be prorated based on the number of days service is provided divided by 30 days. The electric utility bills a daily service charge based on the number of days of service provided in a billing period. Consumption will be billed in addition to the daily or prorated base rates.
B. Demand charges will be computed on monthly demand meter readings. If service has been for a fractional month, the demand charge will apply for a full month. [Ord. 15-03; Ord. 07-18 § 1].
3.30.040 Delinquency and utility collection charges.
Bills are due and payable upon receipt, and are delinquent after 20 days from the billing date. Failure to receive a bill does not release the customer from payment of the obligation. Whenever a utility customer is contacted as the result of failure to make application for service or for nonpayment, a collection charge of $10.00 will be charged. Interest may accrue on delinquent accounts at 12 percent per year. If the utility dispatches personnel to a customer’s service location because of failure to make application for service or for nonpayment prior to dispatch then a collection charge of $50.00 will apply. Services will be disconnected until the customer makes satisfactory application for service, full payment including collection charges has been made or a payment arrangement agreement has been properly signed. Discontinuance of service does not release the customer from their obligation to pay charges for service provided. Upon execution of a utility application for service, payment arrangement or satisfactory payment, service will be restored before 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (except for holidays) without an additional service fee. Services restored after 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday or holidays will also incur a $75.00 after-hours service fee. Active renter accounts that become 120 days past due will be terminated and turned over to collections. If a renter vacates the property and fails to request services be terminated, the service charges and associated fees or penalties remain the renter’s responsibility up to the point in time the account and/or services are terminated. At the time the renter account is closed due to the 120-day past-due status, the owner will be responsible for subsequent services or charges at that service location. Delinquent owner accounts are subject to a service lien in accordance with Chapter 3.28 RMC. The finance director, or his or her designee, may use the services of a collection agency to collect delinquent service charges in the manner and extent provided in RCW 19.16.500 as currently enacted or hereinafter amended. The collection agency fee shall be added to the amount of delinquent service charge. The finance director, or his or her designee, is authorized to waive the late penalty charge, disconnection, and/or reconnection charges under the following circumstances:
A. Where a utility customer has made payment arrangements with the city 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. [Ord. 15-03; Ord. 20-08; Ord. 17-13; Ord. 07-18 § 1; Ord. 2022-29 § 8].
3.30.050 Adjustments for overbilling, underbilling.
A. The city shall collect all amounts identifiable as due and owing for utility services. The city reserves the right to collect such charges on the basis of joint and several liability from the owner of premises served, the occupant of the premises, or from any person otherwise determined to be legally responsible for the charges, as may be most convenient to the city.
B. Underbilling or underpayment because of customer errors or other reasons not the result of city error will be collected in full.
C. Underbilling or underpayment because of city error may be adjusted, considering the following criteria:
1. In general, the public is presumed to know that a reasonable charge for utility services rendered must be paid. Where it appears a customer or other person from whom payment is sought did not have actual or constructive knowledge of the error, charges accruing prior to January 1st of the current billing year from the discovery of the error may be waived in whole or in part.
2. Underbillings based on city error that was caused by customer error, or where it appears a customer had actual or constructive knowledge of the error, shall be collected in full. [Ord. 07-18 § 1].