HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 5224i
I ORIGll"AL
RESOLUTION NO . 5224
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING RULE NOS. 4, 8, and 10 OF THE UTILITY RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as fol-
lows:
SECTION 1. Pursuant to Section 12.20.010 of the Palo Alto
Municipal Code, Rule No. 4 of the Rules and Regulations governing
utility services in the City of Palo Alto is amended to include
under subsection A. thereof, provision for the printing of
informati~n regarding the late payment charge on customers'
bills. Sheet 17a (replacing Sheet 17) entitled "RULE AND
REGULATION NO. 4, SPECIAL INFORMATION REQUIRED ON FORMS,"
constitutes such amendment and is attached hereto and incorpor-
ated herein.
SECTION 2. Pursuant to Section 12.20.010 of the Palo Alto
Municipal Code, Rule No. 8 of the Rules and Regulations govemi1J.g
utility-services in the City of Palo Alto is amended to provide
for bills based on estimated meter readings and for proration
of utility bills covering service periods that may be more or
less than thirty (30) days or that include a rate change.
Sheets 2lb and 22b (replacing Sheets 21a and 22a, respectively)
entitled "RULE AND REGULATION NO. 8, RENDERING AND PAYMENT OF
BILLS," constitute such amendment and are attached hereto and
incorporated herein.
SECTION 3. Pursuant to Section 12.20.010 of the Palo Alto
Municipal Code, Rule No. 10 of the Rules and Regulations govern-
ing utility services in the City of Palo Alto is amended to provide for a late payment charge to be added to current regular
bills which include unpaid charges from any prior bills. Sheets
24a, 25aJ and 26a and b (replacing Sheets 24, 25 and 26, res-
pectively) entitled "RULE AND REGULATION NO. 10, DISCOHTINUANCE
AND RESTORATION OF SERVICE," constitute such amendment and are
attached hereto and incorporated herein.
SECTION 4. The foregoing changes shall become effective on
July I, 1976.
SECTION 5. The Council finds that the enactment of this
resolution ls not a .. project" within the meaning of that term
as defined in Section 11.04.130 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code
and, therefore, no environmental assessment is neeeasary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:. June 28, 1976
AYES: BeUrs, Berwald.• Carey, Clayt Comstock, Eyerly, Norton, Sher, Wi.therspoon
NOES:
ABSENT: None
APPROVED TO FORM:
~ cyorney
b:_ 'WS 'fNfr'@d& ···j;· ±• §'
City of Palo Alto
California
Sheet No. l7a
Canceling Origi~ Sheet No. 17
RULE AND REGULATION ~O. 4
SPECIAL INFORMATION REQUIRED ON FORMS
A. CUSTOMERS 1 BULS:
On each bill for· utility service will be printed the following
statement~
"This bill is due upon presentation and is subject to
late payment charge if not paid within 20 days of
billing date."
B. DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICE NOTICES:
On each notice of discontinuance of service for nonpayment of
bills will be printed the substance of Rule and Regulation No. 10.
C. DEPOSIT RECEIPTS:
Each deposit receipt for utilities eeTVice will contain the
following:
"Deposit to be refunded without !Qterest when customer
vacdtes ~--isea and when all ~tility bills are paid.
This deposit may be applied on final bil1."
la•ued by
The City ~uncil
Date Effective: July 1, 1976
;' .•
City of Palo Alto
California
Sheet No. 22b
Canceling Sheet No. 22a
·'
RULE AND REGULATION NO. 8
METER READING AND PREPARATION OF BILLS
A. METERS BEAD AT ~NTHLY OR BIMONTHLY INTERVALS:
Water, gas and electric meters will be read by the Department of Utilities
as nearly as possible at regular·monthly intervals, acept in flreaa where
only water is served, the ?"egulat .. billing intena.1 will be bimonthly.
However·, -1~ is not· always possible to· read"1De'ter• on the same day of each
llOllth··due to··weiilltenda·, ·holidays, adverse weather conditions,. temporary
lockoata·and· the availability of-meter readin& personnel.
The service period for opening bills will be f roa the date of the opening
reading to the next regular reading day for·metera in area served. For
closin& bills, the· service period will be from the last regular readi.Da
day to the date of the· closing reading.
B. ESTIMATED READINGS:
Under nonnal. conditions, bills will be based upon actual readings taken
from·metera• However• in the event of·meter malfunction, continuing
lockout or the acute unavail.ability of-meter· reading personnel, the bill
fo~ a particul.ar 111D11th may be prepared from estimated meter readings
based upon the historical record of.utilities consumed on the particular
premises served.
Provided, however, that unless conditions are beyond the control of the
City, the bili for the next following month will be.based on actual
readings so as to coapasate forany inaccurac:ies arlsing from the use
of the prerlously eatillated readiDgs.
C. READING OF SEPARATE METERS MOT COMBINED:
For the purpose of sakina charges. each meter upon the customer's premises
will be cond.dered separately, and· the readings of two or 110re meters
w1.ll not be comb~·,· except as follows:
(1) Where combinations of meter reading ... _ are specifically provided
for in rate acbedulea. '·. _,
(2) Where the City's operating convcmi.ence or necessity shall require
the instUlation·of two· or more aeteTa upon the ·customer's
premises instead of one meter.
Iaaued by
The City Council
(Continued)
Date Effective: July l, 1976
.•
•
City of Palo Alto
California
RULE AND llEGULAIION NO. 8
METER READING AND PREPARATION OF BILLS
(Continued)
D. PREPARATION OF BIL!.S:
Sheet No. 22b
Canceling Sheet No. 22a
Bills for utilities services will be p1·,-llred by the Office of the City
Controller in accordance with the Tate sc iule applicable to the
residential or c01111Dercial premises serv~d is determined by the
Department of Utilities.
The monthly llin1maJll or service charge for metered water (and related
sewer), gas or electric services as well as the monthly demand and/or
c.onsU111ption "blocks" for opening, closing or regular bills will be
prorated on the basis of the number of days in the servi.ce period to
the number of days in an average_ month which shall be taken as 30.4
days. The effect of soch prorationwi.11 be such as to produce a
uniform average unit cost of the·commodity regardless of .the number
of days in the se1~ce period recognizing that the length of the service
period·is detel'11lined by the City rather than the custoaer.
The monthly (or bimonthly) flat-rate charge for refuse and sewer or
other nonme.te:ctd·services·wi.11bebilled12 ciaes (or 6times) per year
on·regular·bills. Such charges will only be prorated on opening_or
closing bills ,
In the event: that· .i:ares ·may change. during the service period, charges
Will be prorated on the· basis of the ratio·of the nUliber of days
covered by· the previous rate schedule c01RP3red to the new rate schedule .
lssued by ·
The City Council
.
Date Effective: July l, 1976
... .. . .
City of Palo Alto
California
Sheet No. 24a
Canceling Original Sheet No. 24
RULE AND REGULATION NO. 10
DISCONTINUANCE AND RESTORATION OF SERVICE
A. BILLS DUE ON PRESENTATION:
Bills for·utility service are· due and payable upon presentation and will
be considered past due if·DOc paid .. within lS·days after date of presenta~
·tion. Payment shall be made at the Treasurer's Office at the Civic
Center. 250 Hami.J.ton Avenue, Palo Alto, or to duly authorized collectors
of the City.
B. LATE PAYMENT CHARGE:
(1) A late payment charge will be added to any current regular bill
that iucludes unpaid charges from a prl.orbill, provided that
20 days have elapsed-since .the date·of last billing. For closing
bills and bimonthly water bills, the elapsed time will be 30
days.
(2) The late payaent charge will be computed on the balance forward
using the following schedule:
If Balance is :
$ 00.00 to $ 99.99
100.90 to 199.99
200.00 to 299.99
300.00 to 399.99
400.00 to :499.99
500.00 and up
C. NONPAYMENT OF BILLS:
Late Pa;ymeut Charge-per month
None
1.1 percent·
1.2 "
1.3 fl
1.4 ..
1.5 "
(1) When a bill for utility service bas becoae past due and a one-day
discoa.titmAAC• of service notice for n.onpa,.ent of bill bas be.ea
issued, service aay be discead.nued if the bill is not paid within
the ~me required 'by the notice.
(Continued)
Date Effectiva: July 1, 1976
,".. .. . . .
•
City of Palo Alto
California
Sheet No. 25a
Canceling Original Sheet No. 25
RULE AND REGULATION NO. 10
DISCONTINUANCE AND RESTORATION OF SERVICE
(Continued)
(2) A customer's utility service may be discontinued for nonpayment
of a bill for s~rvice previously rendered at the same or another
location provided such bill is not paid within one-day after
demand for payment. The Ctty may refuse to render service to an
applicant indebted to the City for utility service previously
rendered.
(J) A customer receiving service at more than one location may have
service at any or all such locations discontinued for failure
to pay bills at any one or more locations within the time
specified in Paragraph A. However, domestic service may not be
discontinued for nonpayment of bills for other classes of service.
D. UNSAFE CONDITIONS:
The Cit) may discontinue or refuse to grant service to any customer whose
service, appliances, or apparatus have been determined by the City to be
unsafe, or if the utilization of such appliances or apparatus is forbidden
by law or municipal regulation. The City may continue to refuse service
until the customer shall put such service. appliances or apparatus in
safe operating condition and comply with all applicable laws, ordinances
and regulations.
The City assumes no duty·nor 11.ability for inspecting the customer's
service, appliances or apparatus. If the cust91Der finds utility service
installation to be defective, the customer is requested to 1111!1.ediately
notify the·City of the presumed. defect~
E. FRAUD:
The City shall have the right to ref use to serve utilities to any premises
and at any time to discontinue service withoot·notice when service has
been obtained. by fraudulent me.ans or when service baa been received through
unauthorized .connections. Service may not be restored until requirements
of thP. City are complied with and full payment has been aade to the City
for services rendered.
Iss_ued by
The City C.">uncil
(Coutinued)
Date Effective: July l, 1976
.... . .
-··
City of Pilo Al to
California
Sheet No. 26a
Canceling Original Sheet No. 26
·' RULE AND REGULATION NO. 10
DISCONTINUANCE .AJ.'11\ RESTORATION OF SERVICE
(Continued)
F. SERVICE WITHOUT PROPER APPLICATION:
Anyone using utilities services without having first complied with the
requirements for service shall be heid liable from the date of the first
service as determined by the r.ity. Failure to pay accumulated charges
shall cause services to be discontinued without further notice.
G. NONCOMPLIANCE WITH CITY'S RULES:
If the customer should fail to comply with any of the City's rules and
regulations from time•to-time in force, the City will advise the customer
of such fai.luTe. If the custom.er does not remedy same within a reasonable
time, the City shall have the right, after giving due notice, to discontinue
service to the customer.
Except in cases of emergency, or as otherwise provided, the City will not
discontinue the service of any customer for violation of any rule and
regulation. ~cept on five (5) days written notice, advising the customer
in what particular such a rule and regulation has been violated for which
service will be discontinued if the violation is not remedied. This
notice m&y be waived in the event of discovery of a dange~ous condition
on a customer's premises or in case of a customer utilizing the service
in such a manner as to make it dangerous or detrimental to others, thus
rendering the·immediate discontinuance of service to the premises impera-
tive. j ·
H. CUSTOMER ABOUT TO VACATE PRZMISES:
Each customer about to vacate any premises supplied with service by the
City shall give notice of his/he~· intended removal specifying the date
service is·to·be-discontinued; otherwise, the customer will be held
responsible-for all utilities furnished to such premises until the City
shall have notice of such removal.
I. FAILURE TO ESTABLISH CREDIT AFI'ER INSTITUTION OF SERVICE:
If for the convenience or at the request of customer, the City institutes
utility service to customer prior to having established credit (as
provided in Rule cllld Regulation No. 5), and if within five days from such
,.
Issued by
The City Council
(Continued)
Date Effective: July 1, 1976
.... ff ••
•
Cit)· of Palo Alto
california
RULE AND REGULATION NO. 10
DISCONTINUANCE AND RESTORATION OF SERVICE
(Contlnued)
Sheet No. 26b
.institution of setvice, such customer shall not have so established
credit, the City shall have the right, upon five days notice and
continued failure to establish credit; to discontinue further service
of utilities to such customer.
J. RECONNECTION SERVICE CHARGE:
A reconnection charge as set forth in the Schedule of Charges shall be
made and collected by-the City before-service is renewed where service
has been discontiDUed for DOUpayment of bills-as required by these rules
and regulations, or to protect the City against frau~, or for failure
to comply with· the· rules and regulations of the City.
Issued by
The City council
Date Effective: July 1, 1976