17.36.090 Adjustment of Bills.

City Code Section

(Amended by Ordinance Nos. 187926 and 189506, effective June 21, 2019.)

A.  The Director may authorize an adjustment of up to $500 to a ratepayer’s utility account when it is deemed necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the Bureau to do so.

B.  When the Director determines that a billing error has occurred, the Director may authorize an adjustment of the ratepayer’s utility account for the period of the error, not to exceed 3 years from the date the error is identified.

C.  Except as set forth in this Subsection, a ratepayer’s eligibility for an adjustment will end 6 months after the date a final bill was issued for the subject account.  The Director may authorize an adjustment to the outstanding balance of a closed utility account more than 6 months after the issuance of the account’s final bill if:

1.  The ratepayer was billed for sanitary sewer services for a property that was not connected to the City’s sewer system;

2.  The error is discovered after the 6 month deadline for adjustments to a final bill;

3.  The request is made in writing by the ratepayer of record at the time the billing error occurred; and

4.  The adjustment is limited to the sanitary sewer user charge.

D.  Adjustments will be in the form of credits or additional charges to active utility accounts.  The Bureau may not issue refunds for billing adjustments unless approved by the Director.  Refunds are chargeable to the Sewer System Operating Fund.

E.  Ratepayers who receive a back billing or a delayed billing will be offered the opportunity to pay the balance due over a set period based on current City collection policies.