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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 2025-63 Utility Billing UpdatesORDINANCE NO.. 4 2 d� -- � 3 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, AMENDING SECTIONS 13.04.190, 13.04.220 AND 13.04230 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES RELATED TO UTILITY DEPOSITS AND REPAYMENT PLAN TERMS; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS; INCLUDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City Charter grants the City Council the authority to adopt and amend ordinances necessary for the management of City and fiscal operations; and WHEREAS, City staff conducted a comprehensive review of the City's billing policies, including utility account deposits, repayment plan administrative fee, and repayment plan terms, and recommends the proposed revisions include increasing the deposit fees, removing the Repayment Plan Administrative Fee, and extending the repayment period from six (6) months to twelve (12) months; and WHEREAS, the proposed revisions align with current service costs and improve the City's ability to recover unpaid charges in a timely and equitable manner; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Georgetown wishes to amend the current residential deposit requirements and nonresidential minimum deposit amount, and finds that extending the repayment term and removing the existing administrative fee will support equitable access to repayment plans while maintaining appropriate cost recovery. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF 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 551. 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 13.04.190 of the Code of Ordinances is hereby replaced in its entirety and amended as shown in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein. Section 4. Section 13.04.220 of the Code of Ordinances is hereby replaced in its entirety and amended as shown in Exhibit B attached hereto and incorporated herein. Ordinance Number: ;UO,Z,5 —(0 3 Page 1 of 7 Description: Utility Billing Updates Date Approved: M, 20�L5 Section 5. Section 13.04.230 of the Code of Ordinances is hereby replaced in its entirety and amended as shown in Exhibit C attached hereto and incorporated herein. Section 6. 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 7. If any provision of this ordinance, or application thereof, to any person or 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 8. The Mayor is hereby authorized to sign this ordinance and the City Secretary to attest. This Ordinance shall become effective and be in full force and effect December 1, 2025.in accordance with the provisions of the City Charter of the City of Georgetown. PASSED AND APPROVED on First Reading on the 1211 of November,2025. PASSED AND APPROVED on Second Reading on the . Hof �,� 2025. CITY OV/GF)ORGETOWN, TEXAS ATTEST: Robyn Den ore, City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: al'. - - � � ye Masson, City Attorney Ordinance Number: 0'Zp.'Z5 — 63 Page 2 of 7 Description: Utility Billing Updates Date Approved: Ordinance Number: Page 3 of 7 Description: Utility Billing Updates Date Approved: EXHIBIT A Sec. 13.04.190. Payment and collection. A. Payments shall be considered timely and not delinquent if the payment is received prior to the due date (15 days following the billing date for service), or payment is received in the overnight depository by 8:00 a.m. the following day. If the due date falls on a weekend or a legal City holiday, such time for payment shall be extended to the next business day. B. When payment is not received by the due date, a ten percent penalty will be added to the account, and a final notice will be mailed. If payment is not received by the following month's due date (or the next business day, if a weekend or City holiday,) a Field Customer Service Representative (FCSR) will be dispatched to the location to disconnect the utility service. If the account is disconnected, the customer will be required to pay the account in full, by cash, credit card, or money order, before services will be reconnected. In addition, the customer may be required to make the standard utility deposit pursuant to Section 13.04.230. C. After a utility bill has been mailed to the address provided by the customer for that account, the customer is responsible for payment. If the customer has not received a bill, the customer is responsible for obtaining the amount of the bill from the Utility Office and for making timely payment. D. Repayment Plan Administration. 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 twelve 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. E. Exceptions to Service. 1. Utility customers that do not have water and electric service through the City, but do have unmetered City services; including, but not limited to garbage, wastewater, and stormwater drainage, may have their water or electric service disconnected by their non - City provider through an inter -local agreement between the City and that entity, if payment for their City utility account is not received by the tenth day following the due date on the utility bill (or the next business day, if a weekend or City holiday.) 2. A final notice will be provided to past due City utility customers on the tenth day following the due date (or the next business day, if a weekend or City holiday) informing them that a disconnection of utilities has been scheduled with their non -City provider of the utility, and that they have 24 hours to pay the past due balance to the City or the disconnection will be completed. If the account is disconnected, the customer will be required to pay the account in full, by cash, credit card, or money order, before services will be reconnected. Rules and times of reconnection will be determined by the entity performing the reconnection of utilities. Ordinance Number: Page 4 of 7 Description: Utility Billing Updates Date Approved: EXHIBIT B Sec. 13.04.220.Other services and charges —All utility services. 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 new account. B. Reconnection of Service Fee: $100.00. This fee applies to same day service reconnection requests if received by 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday excluding weekends and City holidays. C. After Hours Reconnection of Service Fee: $130.00. This fee applies to same day service reconnection requests received after 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and is applicable to utility meter connects and reconnects taking place any time other than Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 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 with water utility service. E. Reserved. E. 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. F. Exceptions/Fees. 1. Disconnection by Noncity 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 noncity 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. Nonpayment 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. Nonpayment of the utility account by the disconnect date on the late notice will result in disconnection. Ordinance Number: Page 5 of 7 Description: Utility Billing Updates Date Approved: 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. Nonpayment 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. Ordinance Number: Page 6 of 7 Description: Utility Billing Updates Date Approved: EXHIBIT C See. 13.04.230. Deposits. A. Residential. A $250.00 deposit is required on each dwelling unit unless otherwise specified by this Section or unless the customer can provide an original letter of credit from another utility company for the most recent 12-month period preceding the connect date that has no late payments or insufficient checks; or if the customer elects to pay their utility bill via automatic draft from their credit or debit card or bank account for the following 12-month period. B. Nonresidential. Unless otherwise specified by this Section, or by the City Council, nonresidential establishments must post a utility deposit equal to at least twice the average monthly bill of that establishment or a similar establishment of its kind. The minimum nonresidential deposit is $250.00. The deposit may be waived with a letter of credit or surety bond from a financial institution for the amount of the deposit for a 12-month period following service initiation. The deposit may also be waived with a letter of credit from another utility company for the most recent 36-month period preceding the connect date that shows no late payments or insufficient checks. The business represented in the letter of credit must have the same owner and be of a similar size and usage, as determined by the City, as the business requesting services. The deposit may be waived if the customer elects to pay their utility bill via automatic draft from their credit or debit card or bank account for the following 12-month period. Ordinance Number: Page 7 of 7 Description: Utility Billing Code Updates Date Approved: