The text
46.
Separate premises shall be separately billed.
47.
Bills are payable when rendered. Failure of the customer to receive the bill or notice does not relieve him from the obligation of payment or from the consequences of its non-payment.
48.
Water supplied to a building occupied by more than one tenant shall be charged to the owner or his agent and shall not be charged to the various tenants in the building. However, upon written request of an owner, the commission will meter each tenant separately and bill the owner for each metered tenant, in addition to his own bill from which the tenant's metered water shall be deducted. In any event, the owner shall be primarily liable and responsible for water supplied.
49.
Whenever a metered customer is receiving water for more than one purpose, predominant use as determined by the commission shall determine whether he is to be billed at residential, commercial or industrial rates.
50.
Where a premises is supplied by two or more meters connected to a single service, the minimum charge for each meter shall be applied and the registrations combined in the computation of consumption charges. Where a premises is supplied through more than one service the minimum charge shall be applied to each meter and the registrations shall not be combined. Combined billing will not be allowed except on the same premises.
51.
Bills for residential and commercial metered service rendered quarterly, shall cover consumption during the previous quarter except the minimum meter charge is billed in advance.
52.
Bills for industrial and commercial customers and large consumers shall be rendered monthly and may cover consumption during the previous month, except the minimum meter charge is billed in advance.
53.
First and final bills, shall be prorated so as to adjust the bill to the periods for which service was rendered. Bills for seasonal metered service, including installation and minimum meter charges, shall be rendered at the time the meter is installed. Bills for removing, testing and storing the seasonal meters and for all water used above the minimum allowed shall be rendered at the time the meter is removed. No seasonal meter shall be installed unless and until all charges against the account have been paid in full. Prorated charges will be made in cases where new cottages are occupied for the first time subsequent to July 15.
54.
Private fire protection charges shall be billed quarterly and shall be billed in advance.
55.
Public fire protection charges shall be billed quarterly and shall be billed in advance.
56.
Water for construction purposes will be sold at regular commercial meter rates. If it is not practicable to install a meter, the minimum commercial meter rate will apply.
57.
Miscellaneous sales and temporary services are billed as the service is rendered.
58.
All bills are due upon presentation. If any part of a bill is unpaid 30 days after presentation, the commission may, after 15 days written notice, discontinue service. If water is turned off for non-payment there will be a charge for turning on the water again.
Customers are warned that under the Enabling Act of the legislature establishing the water commission, interest at the rate of eight percent per annum must be charged on all unpaid bills from 30 days after due date until date of payment. Also under the Enabling Act, the collector of taxes shall present a certificate to the town clerk stating the amount of the delinquent bill, its due date and the name of the owner of the real estate as a public record, notice of which shall be mailed to such owner. From the date of such filing until the same is paid in full, such delinquent bill plus any interest and charges accruing thereon shall constitute a lien upon the real estate on a parity with the lien for town taxes.
Listed below is a schedule of the billing:
Bill sent out = Due date
Due date + 20 days = Reminder notice
Due date + 30 days = Turn off notice
Note—This also starts interest charges and the filing of the lien.
Turn off notice + six days = Telephone call or letter to address of record.
Turn off notice + 15 days = Shut off water service.
Total days to shut off = 45 days
Note—No shut offs under Rule 61 will be done on the day immediately prior to a weekend or Holiday.
59.
Bills which are incorrect due to meter or billing errors will be adjusted as follows:
Whenever a meter in service is tested and found to have over-registered more than two percent, the commission will adjust the customer's bill for the excess amount paid, determined as follows:
If the time at which the error first developed can be definitely determined, the amount of overcharge shall be based on that period of time. If the time at which the error first developed cannot be determined, the amount of the overcharge shall be for a period equal to one-half of the time since the meter was last tested. If more than one customer received service through the meter during the period for which the refund is due, a refund will be paid to the present customer only for the time during which he received service through the meter.
Whenever a meter in service is found not to register, the commission may render an estimated bill. The commission will estimate the charge for the water used by averaging the amount registered over a similar period preceding or subsequent to the period of non-registration or for corresponding periods in previous years adjusting for any changes in the customer's usage.
Billing adjustments due to faulty meters will be calculated on the basis that the meter should be 100 per cent accurate. For the purpose of billing adjustment the meter error shall be one-half of the algebraic sum of the error at maximum test flow plus the error at intermediate test flow.
When a customer has been overcharged as a result of incorrect reading of the meter, incorrect calculation of the bill, incorrect connection of the meter or other similar reasons, the amount of the overcharge will be refunded or credited to the customer.
When a customer has been undercharged as a result of incorrect reading of the meter, incorrect calculation of the bill, incorrect connection of the meter or other similar reasons, the amount of the undercharge will be billed to the customer.