A.
The owner of property or other consumer of water responsible for
the payment of water charges or rents who intends to discontinue water
service to the property shall first give written notice to the Water
and Sewer Billing Division as provided in this section:
[Amended 8-13-1981 by Ord. No. MC-1766; 1-23-1997 by Ord. No.
MC-3269]
(1)
In the case where the charge for water supply is metered, as provided in § 840-23, the notice shall be given and arrangements made for the removal of the meter and the water service shall be deemed discontinued for billing purposes as of the end of the current quarter in which the meter is removed.
(2)
In the case where the water supply is charged on an annual flat rate basis, as provided in § 840-24, the notice shall be given on or before the 30th day of November in any year; and upon failure to give such notice on or before said date, the flat water rates for the next ensuing year shall be charged.
(3)
In the case where the charge for water supply is unmetered, the owner
shall arrange for the installation of a meter and remote meter reading
device, before the water service shall be deemed discontinued for
billing purposes, and a final bill issued. If the installation of
the meter and remote reading device occurs after the 30th day of November
in any year, the flat water rates for the next ensuing year shall
be included in the final bill.
[Amended 6-12-2018 by Ord. No. MC-5117]
B.
In case of voluntary discontinuance of water service, as provided in Subsection A hereof, there shall be a turnoff charge of $40 and a turn-on charge of $40 for restoring the service if such services are performed on weekdays during normal City working hours. If this service must be performed at any other time, there shall be a turnoff charge of $60 and a turn-on charge of $60. In no event shall the water be turned on unless or until all water charges, rents, penalties and interests have been paid.
[Amended 9-13-1979 by Ord. No. MC-1522; 4-16-2009 by Ord. No.
MC-4460]
[Amended 9-13-1979 by Ord. No. MC-1522; 8-13-1981 by Ord. No.
MC-1766; 4-9-1987 by Ord. No. MC-2289; 1-23-1997 by Ord. No.
MC-3269; 4-16-2009 by Ord. No. MC-4460; 6-1-2009 by Ord. No.
MC-4471]
A.
AR1 NOTICE
AR2 NOTICE
COLLECTOR
CURB STOP
CUSTOMER
DEBT
POST
SHUTOFF OR SHUT OFF
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
A system-generated notice reminding the customer that payment
has not been received (also referred to as a "reminder notice").
A system-generated notice telling the customer that his or
her service will be discontinued due to nonpayment (also referred
to as a "shutoff notice").
An employee of United Water Camden who collects payments
that are past due for a customer's water usage and shuts off the water
supply for nonpayment.
The valve that controls the water on the service line. It
must be located within the street right-of-way to meet the definition.
The owner of property receiving water and or sewer services
from the City of Camden.
Any obligation of a consumer to pay money arising out of
the provision of water and/or sewer service services.
Notification posted at a property informing the customer
and/or the tenant that the water service will be shut off if certain
criteria are not met by a certain date.
B.
Collections overview.
(1)
The United Water (UW) billing system generates bills based on usage
derived from the meter readings obtained at a customer's property.
All bills have a due date for payment of 30 days from the issuance
of the bill. If payment is not received within the thirty-day period
the United Water (UW) billing system, Wins II, generates an AR1 notice
(reminder notice) on the 33rd day from the bill date. The notice gives
10 days for payment of the outstanding receivable. If payment is not
received, an urgent and final Notice AR2 (shutoff notice) is sent
instructing the customer to pay the debt within 10 days of the date
of the shutoff notice to avoid interruption of service. If payment
is not received within 10 days after the date of the shutoff notice,
then a collector will post the property for shutoff. If payment has
not been received within 24 hours of the posting of the property,
then the collector will shutoff the water supply at the property.
C.
Shutoff times.
(1)
Shutoffs are performed when the debt remains unpaid after all required
notices have been given. The discontinuance of service shall occur
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday,
unless there is a safety-related emergency. There shall be no involuntary
termination of service on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, or on a
day before a holiday or on a holiday absent such emergency.
(2)
If the United Water Camden representative during the process of a
shutoff observes a problem with the curb stop, a case is generated
and will be sent for repair. If the property does not have a curb
box, the collector cannot shutoff the service and a curb box must
be installed.
D.
Shutoffs for multiple dwellings.
(1)
If payment is not received within 30 days from the issuance of the
bill, then Wins II generates an ARI Notice (reminder notice) on the
33rd day from the bill date. The reminder notice gives the customer
10 days to pay the outstanding receivable. If payment is not received
by the 10th day, an urgent and final notice AR2 (shutoff notice) is
sent, instructing the customer to pay the debt within 10 days of the
date of the shutoff notice to avoid interruption of service. A copy
of the shutoff notice shall be provided to the Camden County Health
Department and posted in a public place on the property. If payment
has not been received within 10 days after the date of the shutoff
notice, then a collector will post the property for shutoff. If payment
is not received within 24 hours of the posting, then the collector
will shutoff the water supply at the property.
E.
Medical emergencies. If a customer is unable to pay charges due to
a medical emergency, United Water Camden cannot terminate service,
provided that such medical emergency is certified by a local Board
of Health or doctor. Such initial certification is good for 30 days.
A certificate may be renewed, provided that the doctor states the
expected duration and explains either the nature of the emergency
or the reason why absence of service would aggravate the emergency.
A renewed certificate shall remain in force for 30 days, 60 days,
or such longer period as approved by the Chief Operating Officer or
the Business Administrator.
F.
Bankruptcy.
(1)
As soon as notification is received that a customer has filed for
bankruptcy protection, the City's Law Department should be notified.
United Water is to provide the City's Law Department with a signed
proof of claim showing the amount due for unpaid water and/or sewer
charges as of the date of the bankruptcy filing, together with estimated
interest over the life of the plan and documentation of the amounts
due.
(2)
Every two weeks, United Water shall provide the City's Law Department
with a list of the accounts for which it has received bankruptcy notices.
(3)
In all cases the customer of record must be the debtor. If a discrepancy
arises, all information should be verified with the attorney or trustee
for the debtor.
(4)
An individual debtor who is in bankruptcy may not include his business
establishment on the petition. Therefore, a customer of record should
be the named debtor on the bankruptcy petition. If this is not the
case, information should always be verified with the attorney for
the debtor and/or confirmed in writing prior to changing company records.
(5)
United Water may alter, refuse or discontinue service if neither
the trustee nor the debtor, within 20 days after the bankruptcy filing
date, furnishes adequate assurance of payment, in the form of a deposit
or other security, for service after such date. When a customer files
for bankruptcy, United Water should request an adequate assurance
payment equal to 1.5 times the average bill; however, the amount can
be negotiated.
(6)
Customers in an active bankruptcy may not have their water service
shut off without permission from the Bankruptcy Court; provided, however
pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 366, if a debtor is in a Chapter
11 bankruptcy and United Water does not receive from either the debtor
or the trustee an adequate assurance payment for utility service that
is acceptable to the United Water within 30 days of the bankruptcy
filing, then United Water may alter, refuse, or disconnect utility
service for that debtor.
G.
In case of involuntary discontinuance of water service, as provided in Subsections A through F of this section, there shall be a turnoff charge of $40 and a turn-on charge of $40 for restoring the service, if such services are performed on weekdays during normal City working hours. If this service is performed at any other time, there shall be a turnoff charge of $60 and a turn-on charge of $60. In no event shall the water be turned on until all the water charges or rents, penalties and interests have been paid and defects complained of have been remedied.
