A. Generally. Service to a consumer may be discontinued in accordance with these regulations where the customer has committed the following acts or the following conditions exist at the premises serviced:

1. Nonpayment of utility bills;

2. Unsafe apparatus connected to the water system;

3. Fraud when providing required information to the utility for water service or using water in a manner or purpose not disclosed to the utility;

4. Noncompliance with these regulations.

B. Discontinuance by Utility Generally. The utility shall not discontinue service to any customer without first having provided the customer an opportunity to comply with its rules and regulations, or to pay for services rendered, unless the utility determines that the customer’s actions have created an immediate danger to the safety of the water system.

C. Records. Record of all notices sent to a customer, trying to induce compliance with the utility’s regulations shall be retained in accordance with city policy.

D. Discontinuance for Delinquency. Service to a customer shall only be discontinued after the following items have occurred in cases of delinquency:

1. The account is ten or more days delinquent;

2. The customer has been notified in writing that the account is delinquent and will be shutoff if payment is not made;

3. That a minimum of seven days has elapsed since the written notice was made;

4. That the day before the shutoff date, a second notice is delivered to the customer in person or delivered to the apparent front door of the premises. Such notice shall bear the current date and stipulate that the shutoff will occur the following day if the bill is not paid before ten a.m. that day. A fee shall be charged for this shutoff notice as set forth under the rate schedule.

E. Customer Options for Delinquent Accounts.

1. The delinquent account must be paid or an agreement made by ten a.m. on or before the date of shutoff. After such time and date, the shutoff fee will be charged even if the water was not physically turned off.

2. The customer and the utility may enter into an agreement that stipulates a payment schedule for all charges delinquent. The schedule may provide for a series of payments over a period not to exceed six months; a longer period must be approved by the city council.

3. If the customer fails to perform according to the agreement, a notice will be hung on the customer’s door stating the water will be shutoff the next business day unless the customer immediately complies with the agreement.

4. If the customer does not immediately comply with the agreement the utility may discontinue service, require payment of all past due amounts and refuse to enter into another agreement. Such refusal to enter into an agreement shall not extend beyond one year after the account has been made whole.

5. If the customer provides a check that is not honored, the customer, within twenty-four hours notice, shall deliver cash or a cashier’s check for the amount of the not honored check. If the customer provides more than one not honored check during a twelve-month period, the utility may require payment by methods other than personal check.

F. Discontinuance for Violation of Rules. Service to a customer shall only be discontinued after the following steps have been taken in the case of violation of utility rules:

1. The customer has been notified in writing that the rules are being violated and that such violation must cease;

2. That a minimum of seven days has lapsed since the written notice was made if the violation does not create a health, safety or damage risk to the utility.

G. Shutoff Schedule.

1. Shutoffs shall not be done on Fridays, weekends, one day prior to a holiday, or on holidays;

2. The utility shall try to make all shutoffs in the morning hours, but in no case shall a shutoff be made after three p.m. on any day.

H. Immediate Discontinuance. If unauthorized use of water or, equipment tampering occurs, or a dangerous condition, including without limitation a cross connection, is found to exist on a customer’s premises, the water may be shutoff immediately upon notice, and the customer may be charged with a misdemeanor offense. For the purpose of this subsection, notice shall mean delivering a written notice to the occupant of the premises or placing such notice at a conspicuous point of ingress to the connected structure. Notice shall provide a brief description of the problem, a phone number of address to contact the city, and time and date of shutoff. (Ord. 653 § 1(part), 2004)