10.10.095 Adjustments, back-billing, credits, and refunds.
(1) The utility may make adjustments, back-bill, apply credits, pay refunds, or waive fees and charges in accordance with City Council policy. If no Council policy exists, the utility may make adjustments where it is deemed necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the utility. A full explanation of the reason for the adjustment or refund must be filed with the office records and will be made available upon request. Refunds are to be made to the party that made the payment.
When the utility determines that a customer has been mistakenly charged too much for sewer services, the utility will apply a credit to the account based on the date the error first occurred, the date the current customer became responsible for the bill, or a period not to exceed six years, whichever is less. If the date cannot be reasonably determined, the utility will estimate the amount of the credit based on a period not to exceed six years.
When the utility determines that a customer has not been charged or has not been charged enough for sewer services, the utility will back-bill the account based on the date the error first occurred, the date the current customer became responsible for the bill, or a period not to exceed six years, whichever is less. If the date cannot be reasonably determined, the utility will estimate the bill for a period not to exceed one year. Customers who receive such a delayed bill will be offered the opportunity to make arrangements for installment payments.
(2) Nonregistering Meters. The utility may bill the customer for water consumed while the meter was not registering. The sewer bill will be calculated using an estimate of consumption based either upon the customer’s prior use during the same season of the year or upon a reasonable comparison with the use of other customers receiving the same class of service during the same period and under similar circumstances and conditions.
(3) Adjustments Due to Leaks.
(a) Where a water leak exists underground between the meter and the building during the monitoring period for wastewater flow charges, the utility may allow for an adjustment on the wastewater variable charges. In order to qualify for a credit, the leak must be large enough to cause the total consumption to be greater than one and one-half the average amount that has been previously charged to the premises, and the leak must be repaired within 30 days after the customer has been notified of such leak.
(b) For most customers, the variable charges will be adjusted to reflect past winter water consumption records for the property. For customers that are billed based on actual monthly water consumption, the variable charges will be calculated using an estimate of consumption based either upon the customer’s prior use during the same season of the year or upon a reasonable comparison with the use of other customers receiving the same class of service during the same period and under similar circumstances and conditions. Where past water consumption records are not available, the variable charges will be adjusted to reflect the average water consumption for similar accounts.
(c) No adjustment to the sewer bill will be allowed where it is determined that excess water consumption is due to the apparent continued waste of water due to a negligent failure to repair a leak. (Ord. 156, passed 8-13-2019)