(a) Accounts. All utility deposits collected by the city pursuant to this chapter shall be maintained in a non-interest bearing account.
(b) Credits on deposits for residential customers. On December 1st of each year the city will refund utility deposits to residential customers who have maintained a consecutive twelve (12) month satisfactory payment record and have established services for a consecutive twenty-four (24) month period. Accounts classified as commercial are not eligible for refunds described in section (b) hereof prior to termination of service. For purposes of this section a "satisfactory payment record" shall mean that the customer:
(1) Has not made more than one late payment after the expiration of 30 days from the date of mailing.
(2) Has not paid with a check refused by the bank.
(3) Has not been disconnected for non-payment.
(4) Has not tampered with the meter.
(5) Has not used service in a fraudulent or unauthorized manner.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if subsequent to the refund of the deposit to the residential customer, the customer shall become delinquent for a period in excess of 30 days the city may require the customer to pay a new deposit within 15 days of written notice. Said deposit shall also be subject to refund in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(c) Termination of service. Upon termination of service the deposit, if not already refunded to the customers account, shall be credited against the final bill and the balance, if any, shall be returned to the customer in the form of a check.
(d) Re-connection. Customer shall be required to place a new deposit on account according to the then current rate upon reconnection to the city system.
(e) Billing for utility service for parcels that will receive both water and sewer service shall commence on the first day that either a sewer connection is made, or the water meter is set in place. Billing for parcels receiving sewer service shall commence on the day that the sewer service line is connected to the City's utility system. For initial billing periods of less than thirty (30) days, the base facility charge will be pro-rated by multiplying the standard base facility charge by the number of days the service was provided, and then dividing by thirty (30).
(f) Base facility charge. The base facility charge is defined as the monthly base fee charged per unit that shall be levied upon the initiation of service. The base facility charge is used to defray those non-consumption related operational expenses such as salaries, debt service, meter reading, billing and maintenance activities associated with the City's utility department, that are incurred regardless of water usage.
(g) Temporary account activation for purpose of property inspection. Customer shall be required to open a new account including a deposit under current rates. All charges will be applied in same manner as they are for all new accounts.
(Ord. 95-32, § 1, 9-19-95; Ord. No. 00-54, § 2, 10-17- 00; Ord. No. 12-007, § 3, 6-5-12)
