As soon as reasonably possible after the reading of the utility meters, the city clerk is directed to send notices to all customers informing them the amount owed to the city. All utility bills shall be due within 28 days of the meter reading date. If the utility bill is not paid in full within the 28-day period, the city clerk is directed to send a delinquent notice to the customer informing them that their bill is delinquent and advising them that if the bill is not paid in full within 12 days of the date of the notice, the utility service will be disconnected without further notice. Any consumer receiving such notice shall have the right to appear and be heard concerning such bills or the deadline for payment of the bills. The hearing shall be before the governing body or its designated representative prior to the time designated as the deadline for payment of such bills. A hearing should be requested by contacting the utilities office in City Hall.

(Code 1988, §§ 15-117(b), 15-128; Ord. 3109, § 1, 10-8-91; Ord. 3300, § 1, 1-28-03; Code 2016, Sec. 94-151)

Rates to be charged for the service rendered by the public utilities of the city shall be as established by the city. Any change in rates shall be made by ordinance or resolution and be published in the official paper of the city at least one time.

(Code 1988, § 15-117(a); Code 2016, Sec. 94-152)

Whenever the owner of any property served by utilities from the city shall be in arrears in the payment of utility bills and shall have been served a notice of such delinquency, and a deadline for payment of such bills is set, utility service shall not be connected or extended to any other person until such bills, and applicable reconnect fees shall have been paid in full.

(Ord. 3109, § 2, 10-8-91; Code 2016, Sec. 94-153)

The city reserves the right to determine what utility should be discontinued or interrupted.

(Ord. 3109, § 3, 10-8-91; Code 2016, Sec. 94-154)

If the total amount due for utilities and other services provided by the city are not paid on or before the deadline established, and the billing determined to be proper according to the ordinance of the city and records show that the customer has had due notice of such billings and of the right to be heard concerning the billings, then the city clerk shall cause such services to be discontinued. The city reserves the right to terminate utilities at a second location even if the customer’s bill and charges are current at the second location.

(Code 1988, § 15-129; Ord. 3121, § 1, 11-24-92; Code 2016, Sec. 94-155)

(a)   When any utility service or services have been discontinued as provided in the city’s fee resolution, such service or services may be reinstated after payment in full of all bills for utility service due the city, but before any such services are reinstated, there first must be paid to the city clerk’s office, in addition to the bills due, the following charges:

(1)   For reinstating gas and/or water service an amount established in the city’s fee resolution. For reinstating electric service an amount established in the city’s fee resolution.

(2)   Payment must be made prior to 4:00 p.m. for service to be reinstated on the same day. For payments 4:00 p.m., service will not be reinstated until after 8:00 a.m. on the next working day, unless an afterhours surcharge is paid according to the city’s fee resolution.

(b)   No utilities service disconnected under the provisions of section 15-505 shall be reinstated after normal working hours or on weekends or holidays, unless an afterhours surcharge is paid.

(Code 1988, § 15-130; Ord. 3103, § 1, 8-13-91; Ord. 3300, § 2, 1-28-03; Ord. 3415, § 1A, 3-11-13; Code 2016, Sec. 94-156)

(a)   All gas, water and electricity furnished to consumers, except in a level payment method administered by the city clerk’s office, shall be measured through a suitable meter or meters, and no service will be furnished on a flat rate.

(b)   Due to the liability risk involved, no replacing of fuses or other work on the customer’s side of the meter will be performed by the city personnel. The city’s responsibility stops at the meter, and any work necessary past the meter should be done by a licensed electrician or plumber of the owner’s choice.

(Code 1988, § 15-102; Code 2016, Sec. 94-181)

(a)   All meters installed shall be set in such places as to be easily accessible for reading, and all meters heretofore set that are not in accordance with this section shall be reset so as to comply herewith.

(b)   Upon enlargement of any building where the improvement will cause the electric meter to be enclosed within the building, including a porch, the meter shall be moved to the outside of the building by the electric department at no charge to the customer. All necessary wiring from old meter location to the new location shall be at the expense of the customer.

(c)   Gas and water meters shall be removed from within all buildings, at the expense of the customer, when any of the following conditions exist:

(1)   Nonaccessible location;

(2)   Building enlarged;

(3)   Leak developing at any point from the stop into the building, including leakage on any piping within any building; or

(4)   Any alteration or changing of existing piping with any building.

(d)   Water meter lids, rings and barrels will be furnished without cost to the owners of the city.

(Code 1988, § 15-103; Code 2016, Sec. 94-182)

(a)   Meters will be placed as near to the respective gas or water stop as practicable. Whenever possible, gas meters will be placed in the alley and water meters on the parking area.

(b)   The city assumes responsibility for the maintenance of all portions of gas or water service lines from the stop to the meter if the meter location is on the public right-of-way. Determination of property lines shall be made by owner. If the stake is lacking, it is to be assumed that all streets are constructed in the center of the dedicated public right-of-way, and a measurement from the center of the street one-half of the distance of the platted right-of-way will be assumed to be the property line.

(c)   No inspection charge will be made by the city for any meter change made for any of the reasons described in this section.

(Code 1988, § 15-104; Code 2016, Sec. 94-183)

(a)   The city will reread and check (not test) utility meters free of charge, at the customer’s request, on a one-time or two-time basis, for all customers within and outside the city limits. The city will reserve the right, if normal and reasonable efforts have been made to determine that the meters are measuring correctly, to discontinue any further checking unless the customer requests the meters to be tested.

(b)   Meters shall be tested before being set and at any other time thereafter when they appear to be measuring incorrectly, or on the application of the consumer. If on application the meter is tested and found correct, a charge in an amount established in the city’s fee resolution will be made to the consumer. If tested other than on the consumer’s application, it shall be at the city’s expense except that the consumer shall pay for the service during the time the meter is out for test, and when, on such test, the meter is found to be measuring incorrectly, an adjustment shall be made for the service during the preceding month, but no further. If the meter is within two percent of being accurate, the meter will be deemed correct. No meter, whether owned by the city or consumer, shall be removed or repaired, except by the employees of the city.

(Code 1988, § 15-109; Code 2016, Sec. 94-184)