A. General Purpose Charges. Bills for general purpose service connections shall be based on volume usage, multiplied by the rate per one thousand gallons, plus the base service charge, as set forth under the rate schedule. The full monthly base service charge is due for any portion of a month that the connection is in service.

B. Usage Determined. Meters shall be read by the utility monthly for the purpose of determining usage. The utility shall attempt to read the meters at approximately the same time each month. However, no adjustment to bills shall be made for failure to read the meter at the same time each month. If meters can not be read, the utility may estimate usage based upon an average of the previous three months or three months of similar season on the year previous, whichever is the larger volume.

C. Due Date. The bill shall be due within fifteen days after the same has been mailed by the utility, or the fifteenth of each month, whichever is later. If the bill is not paid within such time, it shall be considered delinquent.

D. Contents of Bill. Bills shall show the following items:

1. The amount of the bill;

2. The consumption of water in gallons or units for the current billing period;

3. The last meter reading;

4. The billing date;

5. The present meter reading date;

6. The previous meter reading date;

7. The delinquency charge;

8. Other charges.

E. Payment Application. Payment for a utility bill shall be applied by the utility in the following manner: (1) first to any unpaid balance from previous billing, (2) second to current sewer charges, (3) last to current water charges.

F. Inclusion of Charges for Other Service. Bills for other services rendered by the utility may be included with the normal water usage bill.

G. Payment Plan for Large Bill. In cases where a customer is presented a water bill much larger than the previous month bill, for any reason, the customer may request a payment plan. The utility and the customer may enter into such a plan according to a written agreement signed by the customer. Such a plan may spread the unpaid portion of the bill over a period of time not to exceed six months. In such a case the utility shall charge a past due fee as set forth under the existing rate schedule.

H. Delinquency Charge. If a bill becomes delinquent, a penalty fee shall be added to the bill as set forth under the rate schedule.

I. Disputed Bills.

1. In cases where a customer disputes a bill, the account shall not be considered delinquent and subject to shutoff as long as the customer is taking all of the following steps:

a. Makes payment of the undisputed portion of the bill if such exists;

b. Has submitted the dispute in writing to the utility billing clerk for review.

i. If unsatisfied with the utility billing clerk’s determination, the customer may submit the dispute in writing to the water superintendent, who within five business days of receiving such must make a determination.

ii. If dissatisfied with the superintendent’s determination, then the customer may within five business days of receiving such submit the matter to the city manager, who within five business days of receiving such must make a determination.

iii. If dissatisfied with the manager’s determination, the customer must within five business days of receiving such, submit the matter to the city council for resolution at the next regular council meeting. The council’s determination on the matter shall be final.

2. A dispute, if being pursued diligently as outlined in this section, shall not become delinquent. But, if action on the dispute is not pursued, the bill shall become delinquent in thirty days.

3. Leakage in a system that results in a large bill is not a disputable item.

J. Adjustment for Meter Error.

1. In case of a dispute as to the accuracy of a meter, the consumer, upon depositing the estimated cost of making a test, may demand that the meter be removed and tested as to accuracy, in the customer’s presence. A meter is accurate if reporting within plus or minus two percent of test flow.

2. In case the meter is found to be registering correctly, the cost of disconnecting, testing and reconnecting the meter shall be borne by the consumer.

3. In case the meter is found to be registering incorrectly, the amount deposited by the consumer will be credited to their account and a reasonable adjustment made for the overcharge, based upon the corrected meter reading for a period not to exceed six months. If it can be shown that the error was due to some cause, the date of which can be fixed, the overcharge shall be computed back to, but not beyond such a date, or six months, whichever is the least. (Ord. 653 § 1(part), 2004)