For purposes of this article utility services shall include water, electrical, sewer, solid waste (refuse) and other utility services provided by the city.
(Code 1988)
All utility bills shall be rendered monthly for water, electricity, refuse collection and sewer, and shall be due and payable on the 15th day of each month. A penalty of 10% will be added to any utility bill not paid by the 16th day of the month; and if the bill and late charges are not paid by the 21st of the month, service may be disconnected. Whenever payment is not made by the 30th of the month, the city shall have the right to terminate utility service after notice and hearing, as provided for in section 17-103:105. Before service shall be restored, the customer shall pay the bill, penalty and connection fees.
(Ord. 2098; Code 2016)
Unless otherwise provided, water, electric, sewer, solid waste (refuse) or other utility service shall be terminated for nonpayment of service fees or charges in accordance with sections 17-104:105.
(Code 1988)
(a) If a utility bill has not been paid on or before the due date as provided in this chapter, a delinquency and termination notice shall be issued by the city clerk within five days after the delinquency occurs and mailed to the customer at his or her last known address. A copy also shall be mailed to the occupant of the premises if the occupant and the customer are not the same person.
(b) The notice shall state:
(1) The amount due, plus delinquency charge;
(2) Notice that service will be terminated if the amount due is not paid within 10 days from the date of the notice unless the date on the notice to pay the charges due shall be on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, in which event such notice will give the consumer until the close of the next business day in which to pay the charges;
(3) Notice that the customer has the right to a hearing before the designated hearing officer;
(4) Notice that the request for a hearing must be in writing and filed with the city clerk no later than three days prior to the date for termination of service.
(c) Upon receipt of a request for hearing, the city clerk shall advise the customer of the date, time and place of the hearing which shall be held within three working days following receipt of the request.
(Code 1988)
Following the hearing, if the hearing officer shall find that service should not be terminated, then notice of such finding shall be presented to the city clerk. If the officer finds that service should be terminated, an order shall be issued terminating service five days after the date of the order. The customer shall be notified either in person or by mailing a letter to his or her last known address by certified mail, return receipt requested. However, if the order is made at the hearing in the presence of the customer, then no further notice need be given. The hearing officer has a right, for good cause, to grant an extension, not to exceed 10 days, for the termination of such service.
(Code 1988)
(a) At the time of making application for utility service, the property owner or customer shall make a cash deposit in the amount set by the governing body to secure payment of accrued bills or bills due on discontinuance of service. Receipt thereof shall be issued to each such depositor.
(b) Cash deposits for the various utility services shall be in amounts as set forth in the governing body’s fee resolution.
(c) The deposit so made shall be kept by the city clerk in a separate account and deposited in a fund designated as the “meter deposit fund.” Interest shall be payable at the rate determined by the state corporation commission yearly and credited to the customer’s account January 1st of each calendar year.
(d) On the second interest payment date following the deposit required above, the city clerk shall refund the deposit of any depositor who is owner of the premises wherein such utility service is being furnished and has not been delinquent in payment of any utility service charge during the past year. Interest due and accrued shall not draw interest.
(e) Upon the discontinuance of any service at the request of the depositor, the deposit shall be refunded upon surrender of the original receipt therefor together with the accrued interest thereon less any amount due and owing the city for services furnished prior thereto or it may be credited towards the payment of the final bill rendered to the customer.
(f) Any security deposit not refunded within three years after discontinuance of service shall be deposited in the utility fund of the city upon compliance with the provisions of K.S.A. 12-822 as amended.
(Code 1988; Code 2016)
(a) Lessors of leased premises served by utility service furnished by the city shall be ultimately liable for payment of the cost of any utility service furnished by the city to such leased premises, whether the service is furnished upon the application and request of the lessor or the lessee of such premises.
(b) If utility service is furnished by the city to leased premises, upon the application and request of the lessee, then all billings for such service furnished shall be made to the lessee. However, if the cost of such service is not paid, as and when they become payable, the lessor of the premises served shall be liable for the payment of such cost, plus all interest and penalties as provided by the laws of the city. The lessor shall be notified in writing by first class mail within 10 days after a billing becomes delinquent.
(c) If utility service is furnished to leased premises on the application and request of the lessor of the premises, then all billings for utilities furnished to such leased premises shall he made directly to the lessor, and the lessor shall be fully liable for the cost of service furnished.
(d) Such charges shall constitute a lien upon the real estate served, and shall be certified by the city clerk to the county clerk, to be placed on the tax roll for collection, subject to the same penalties and collected in like manner as other taxes collectible by law.
(Code 1988)
In lieu of terminating utility service, the governing body may elect to assess such delinquent charges as a lien upon the real estate serviced and the city clerk shall certify such delinquent charges to the county clerk to be placed on the tax roll and collected in like manner as other taxes are collected.
(Code 2016)
After at least three attempts to collect a debt from a customer, the City of Beloit may submit utility bill debt and relevant debtor information to the State of Kansas Department of Administration Kansas Setoff Program for collection.
(Code 2016)