For purposes of this article utility services shall include water, electrical, sewer, solid waste (refuse) and other utility services provided by the city.

(Code 2014)

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 15-103:104.

(Code 2014)

The due date (hereafter “Due Date”) for payment of utility bills shall be the 10th of the month.  If payment is not made on or before the 10th of the month, a $10 late payment fee shall be assessed, and a door hanger shall be placed on the utility customer’s door setting forth the customer’s rights and responsibilities.  If payment is not received by the 21st of the month, the utilities may be subject to termination.

A Utility Extension may be requested, in writing, to the City Clerk.  All requests must be received prior to the 21st of the month or by 12:00 p.m. on the 3rd Monday of the month, whichever occurs first. The extension request shall contain the date that the bill will be paid in full.  All extension requests must be paid in full prior to the 10th day of the following month.  If the request set forth therein for extension of time to pay is granted by the governing body, no additional penalties will be assessed. If payment is not made by the agreed upon date stated on the Utility Extension Request, then services will be discontinued without further notice.

If the utilities become subject to termination for failure to pay as set forth above and a door hanger is to be placed on the utility customer’s door setting for the customer’s rights and responsibilities, the door hanger shall state in substance as follows:

“YOUR UTILITY SERVICE WILL BE SHUT OFF unless your delinquent City utility bill is paid by 5:00 p.m. on the 7th business day following today’s date, which is ______________, or unless you request, in writing, a hearing by notifying the City Clerk of that fact, by 12:00 p.m. on the 7th business day following today’s date. If you, timely request in writing, such a hearing, you will be notified of the time and location of the hearing that will be held before the designated hearing officer.

Note: A $____ reconnect fee will be charged before service is restored if your water is shut off.

Amount Due: $_____________________

For Services at [address]: ______________________

City of Carbondale”.

(Code 2014; Ord. 545; Ord. 548)

Following any hearing named in Section 5-103, above, if the designated hearing officer shall find that service should not be terminated, then notice of such finding shall be presented to the city clerk and to the customer.  If the designated hearing officer finds that service should be terminated, an order shall be issued terminating service five days after the date of the order.  The utility customer shall be notified of the order either in person or by mailing a letter to such person’s 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 the right, for good cause shown, to grant an extension, not to exceed 10 days, for the termination of such service.

(Code 2014; Ord. 545; Ord. 548)

(a)   Connection fee.

(1)   A non-refundable connection fee of $50.00 total shall be charged at the time a customer requests and is granted water, sewer, solid waste, or any combination thereof.  The full amount of the connection fee shall be paid to the City Clerk before any service connection shall be made.

(2)   If a customer requests a temporary suspension to any utility, a $25.00 fee will be required to reinstate the utility.

(3)   No connection or reinstatement shall be made for any customer who owes an unpaid balance to the city for prior or existing service at any location.

(b)   Transfer and transfer fee.

(1)   Should an existing customer move to another address in the City’s service area, utilities may be established at the new address without paying the full connection fee provided the following are met:

(A)  The customer cannot have been disconnected due to failure to pay during the past 24 months;

(B)  The customer must have a good payment record which is defined as no more than one late payment in a 12 month period;

(2)   A transfer fee of $25.00 will be required to transfer the utilities.

(3)   Connection fees cannot be transferred from one customer to another.

(4)   Service at the previous address must be closed out or transferred within 60 days.  If the prior service is still in effect after 60 days, full connection fees will be assessed to the new address account.

(Code 2014; Ord. 479)

(a)   In the event that any person, except the United States or the state of Kansas, shall fail to pay the fees or charges for such utility services(s), utility service shall be terminated as provided in sections 15-102:104. The governing body may refuse the delivery of utility service(s), as permitted by law, until such time as the fees and charges are paid in full.

(b)   If at the time of application for utility service the applicant has an outstanding balance or unpaid fees or charges for utility services provided by the city, the application shall not be accepted until all fees or charges are paid in full.

(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 be made directly to the lessor, and the lessor shall be fully liable for the cost of service furnished.

(K.S.A. 12-808c; Code 2014)

An insufficient funds utility payment made by a customer shall constitute nonpayment of services.  In the event a utility customer presents such a nonpayment either by insufficient funds check or otherwise, the customer will be charged an insufficient payment fee of $30.00.  In addition, a door hanger shall be placed on the utility customer’s door setting forth the customer’s rights and responsibilities.  Such door hanger shall state in substance, the provisions of the door hanger named in Section 15-103, above.  Any hearing held pursuant to the provisions of such door hanger, shall be in conformity with and shall be subject to, the provisions of Section 15-104, above.  In the event of a second insufficient funds payment by a utility customer, such customer shall be allowed to pay utility bills only in cash for a period of one year following such insufficient funds payment.  In the event of a third insufficient funds payment by a utility customer, such customer shall be allowed to pay utility bills only in cash thereafter on a permanent basis.

(Ord. 545; Ord. 548)