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Home My WebLink AboutORD 2025-50 - Amending Code in Section 13.04.220 and 13.04.340 relating to Miscellaneous Utility FeesW1111 DIV M M 11W-R21M617*-,NV IVA 1110 1 - I - 1 0 111AEREAS, City Staff conducted a review of miscellaneous utility account fees an-i charges as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget process; and kVAM1-WAxWWWpSr., - 11111111111111111111 # MPITFIV of a standalone Same Dav Connect Fee for imnroved. trans-m.rert v-aid cost recovexv:-yf d WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Georgetown wishes to amend certai miscellzxc*ys vtili�,f fees zjdati1t yniqtseii fees, effective fvr all vtilil�f se? -vices prityii-e on and after October 1, 2025; 1 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY *IF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, THAT: Section 1. The meeting at which this ordinance was approved was conducted in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 55 1. Section 2. The facts and recitations contained in the preamble of this ordinance are hereby found and declared to be true and correct and are incorporated by reference herein and expressly made a part hereof, as if copied verbatim. Section 3. Section 13.04.220 "Other services and charges —All utility services" of the Code of Ordinances is hereby amended and replaced as shown in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein. Section 4. Section 13.04.240 "Damaging, bypassing, connecting, tampering, etc., of meters" of the Code of Ordinances is hereby amended and replaced as shown in Exhibit B attached hereto and incorporated herein. Section 5. All ordinances or resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed, and all other ordinances or resolutions of the City not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect. Section Y if any provision of ordinance, or • f' . •thereof,to any person circumstance, shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions, or application thereof, of this ordinance, which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby declared to be severable. Section •r is hereby authorized to sign this ordinance • the City Secretary to in accordance with the provisions of the City Charter of the City of Georgetown. attest. This Ordinance shall become effective and be in full force and effect on October 1, 2025.2025. `2025. .. J ski S eer,Mayor, "'ZRobyn De more, City Secretary Sky c n, ,~ity Attorney Ordinance Number: Page 2 of S Description: Date Approved: A. New account set-up or transfer account fee: $80.00. In order to transfer utilities from one location to another, any outstanding bill on the current account must be paid prior to transfer. The final bill for the original account will be transferred to and payable on the due date of the ncww%�(,t. B. Reconnection of Service fee:$100.00. This fee applies to same day service reconnection requests if received by 4:00 p.m. Monday —Friday excluding weekends and City holidays. C. After Hours Reconneetion of Service fee:$130.00. This fee applies to same day service reconnection requests received after 4:00 p.m. Monday —Friday and is applicable to utili meter connects and reconnects taking place any time other than Monday —Friday 8:00 a. - 5:00 p.m. including weekends and City holidays. D. Customer Service Processing Fee: $75.00. This charge is for the processing and review of required inspections needed outside the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction in connection wi water utility service. I E. Repayment Plan Administration fee: $15.00. Payment plans are approved on a case -by -case basis for unique circumstances such as a substantial water leak or substantial electric equipment malfunction. The City Utilities allow customers the ability to pay the balance owed in up to six monthly installments. The monthly installments will be added to the customer's monthly utility bill and any default by the customer will terminate the repaymeni plan and service will be disconnected if payment is not made in full by the customer. F. Same Day Service fee: $230.00. This fee applies when a customer requests new utility service connections, move -ins, or move -outs to be completed on the same calendar day as the request is submitted. Standard service requests require a minimum of two business days' notice. The Same Day Service Fee covers the additional costs associated with expedited scheduling, staffing, and equipment necessary to fulfill the request on an accelerated basis. G. Exceptions/Fees. I . Disconnection by Non -City Entity. Determined by entity disconnecting utility service. Payment is to be made to the City, in addition to the Final Notice Fee and past due balance. The City will reimburse the Non -City entity for the Disconnection Fee. 2. Late Penalty Waiver. a. A customer who is 60 years of age or older may request, in writing, a standing waiver of the late penalty, for utility payments made after their due date. Late payments will still initiate a late notice, and the actual payment history will be recorded. Non-payment of the utility account by the disconnect date on the late notice will result in disconnection. Age must be verifiable. Waiver applies only to the account holder or their spouse. b. An industrial or larger customer, with an existing contract or development agreement with the City, may enter an additional contract with the City to waive Ordinance Number: Page 3 of 5 Description: Date Approved: late penalties in return for specific payment arrangements. Late payments will st initiate a late notice, and the actual payment history will be recorded. Non- ,vakam-ent ♦ the utilitii account b1i the disconnect date ♦: the late notice will res I in disconnection. I utility payments made after their due date. Late payments will still initiate a late notice, and the actual payment history will be recorded. Non-payment of the utility ♦ by the disconnect date on the late notice will result in disconnection. A customer's disabled status must be verified by an Award Letter ♦ the Social Security Administration. Waiver applies ♦ to the account holder or their spouse. Ordinance Number: Page 4 of 5 Description: Date Approved: IRL41-11:11do Sec. 13.04.240. Damaging b p - ri g, 9 Y assing, connecting, tampe n etc., of meters. A. It is unlawful for any person to damage, destroy, connect, tamper or otherwise, in any way, interfere with the operation of utility meters or meter reading equipment within the City, including but not limited to the tampering, adjustment, connection, breakage, or removal of any seals, and including any hookup or connections that have the effect of bypassing a meter or meters, so that a customer is receiving utility service of any character by virtue of such hookup or connection. B. There shall be a presumption that the utility customer, as shown by City records, was the party who has damaged, destroyed, connected or otherwise tampered with such meter or appurtenances, as prohibited in this Section, but such presumption shall be rebuttable. C. Meter Tampering Fine:$880.00. This fee shall be assessed for any violation of the provisions of this Section, with each violation constituting a separate offense. This fee shall be in addition to any costs accrued for the replacement or repair of damaged meters or meter reading equipment, or unbilled consumption. Ordinance Number: Page 5 of 5 Description: Date Approved: A. New account set-up or transfer account fee:"O In order to transfer utilities from one location to Deleted: $75.00 another, any outstanding bill on the current account must be paid prior to transfer. The final bill for the original account will be transferred to and payable on the due date of the new account. B. Reconnection of Service fee;1�1t�tj pi This fee applies to same day service reconnection requests if received Deleted: by 4:00 p.m. Monday —Friday excluding weekends and City holidays. Deleted: $95.00 C. After Hours Reconnection of Service fee• �O,0 This fee applies to same day service reconnection requests Deleted:I I 11 , -- received after 4:00 p.m. Monday —Friday and is applicable to utility meter connects and reconnects taking place any time other than Monday— Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. including weekends and City holidays. Deleted: $125.00 D. Customer Service Processing Fee: $75.00. This charge is for the processing and review of required inspections needed outside the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction in connection with water utility service. E. Repayment Plan Administration fee: $15.00. Payment plans are approved on a case -by -case basis for unique circumstances such as a substantial water leak or substantial electric equipment malfunction. The City Utilities allow customers the ability to pay the balance owed in up to six monthly installments. The monthly installments will be added to the customer's monthly utility bill and any default by the customer will terminate the repayment plan and service will be disconnected if payment is not made in full by the customer. �G Exceptions/Fees, 1. Disconnection by Non -City Entity. Determined by entity disconnecting utility service. Payment is to be made to the City, in addition to the Final Notice Fee and past due balance. The City will reimburse the Non -City entity for the Disconnection Fee. 2. Late Penalty Waiver. a. A customer who is 60 years of age or older may request, in writing, a standing waiver of the late penalty, for utility payments made after their due date. Late payments will still initiate a late notice, and the actual payment history will be recorded, Non-payment of the utility account by the disconnect date on the late notice will result in disconnection. Age must be verifiable. Waiver applies only to the account holder or their spouse. b. An industrial or larger customer, with an existing contract or development agreement with the City, may enter an additional contract with the City to waive late penalties in return for specific payment arrangements. Late payments will still initiate a late notice, and the actual payment history will be recorded. Non-payment of the utility account by the disconnect date on the late notice will result in disconnection, C. A customer who is disabled, as authorized by the Federal Social Security Administration, may request, in writing, a standing waiver of the late penalty, for utility payments made after their due date. Late payments will still initiate a late notice, and the actual payment history will be recorded. Non-payment of the utility account by the disconnect date on the late notice will result in disconnection. A customer's disabled status must be verified by an Award Letter from the Social Security Administration. Waiver applies only to the account holder or their spouse. Formatted: Font: Not Bold . . .......... Formatted. Font: Not Bold Formatted: Font: Not Bold Formatted: Font: Not Bold, Not Italic Deleted: F, Sec. 13.04.240. Damaging, bypassing, connecting, tampering, etc., of meters. A. It is unlawful for any person to damage, destroy, connect, tamper or otherwise, in any way, interfere with the operation of utility meters or meter reading equipment within the City, including but not limited to the tampering, adjustment, connection, breakage, or removal of any seals, and including any hookup or connections that have the effect of bypassing a meter or meters, so that a customer is receiving utility service of any character by virtue of such hookup or connection. B. There shall be a presumption that the utility customer, as shown by City records, was the party who has damaged, destroyed, connected or otherwise tampered with such meter or appurtenances, as prohibited in this Section, but such presumption shall be rebuttable. C. Meter Tampering Fine;el 4 This fee shall be assessed for any violation of the provisions of this Section, with each violation constituting a separate offense. This fee shall be in addition to any costs accrued for the replacement or repair of damaged meters or meter reading equipment, or unbilled consumption. Deleted: i Deleted: $585.00