City Code Section
- A. The Portland Water Bureau calculates charges and bills ratepayers every month, every other month or every quarter, as requested by the customer.
- B. The Portland Water Bureau is responsible for receiving, adjusting and refunding ratepayer money. The Portland Water Bureau must make sure that charges and credits are updated in ratepayers’ accounts.
- The Portland Water Bureau may adjust bills, pay refunds or waive fees and charges.
- To make an adjustment, the Portland Water Bureau must either credit or charge an account.
- C. The Portland Water Bureau may authorize an adjustment (a charge or credit) after a billing error. The Portland Water Bureau may only adjust bills within three years after the Portland Water Bureau became aware of the error.
- An account is eligible for this kind of adjustment as long as it is active, or for 6 months after the Portland Water Bureau issues a final bill. The Annual Rates Ordinance describes the threshold for refunds.
- D. Ratepayers (typically the property owner or tenant) must inform the Portland Water Bureau if the person responsible for paying the bill changes. If the Portland Water Bureau needs to bill a person other than the current customer or ratepayer, the Portland Water Bureau will reissue the bill from the date the new person became responsible. Refer to Section 21.16.030.
- E. The Portland Water Bureau may create administrative rules with the Bureau of Environmental Services regarding adjustments, refunds or waivers of sanitary sewer and stormwater management charges.