(A) The
city shall require of each utility customer a deposit with the city as security
for the payment of bills owing and to become owing. Such deposits shall, at a
minimum, be equal to two average monthly bills for service furnished as
estimated by the city. The city may accept in lieu of a cash deposit, a bond or
certificate of deposit as security for payment.
(B) Such
deposit may be applied to the payment of any water, sewer or garbage charge
overdue to the city. The deposit may also be applied to cover the expenses
associated with replacing a damaged (caused by other than normal use) or
missing city garbage container. Any unused portion of the deposit shall be
refunded to the customer at any time service is discontinued. Upon evidence
that a customer has proved to be responsible in his payment of city bills, the
city may refund the customer's deposit prior to discontinuance of service.
(1962 Code, § 3-1-11; Ord. 84030, passed 10-29-84)
Cross reference Penalty, see §
5-3-99.
Sec. 5-3-51. - Minimum monthly charge; rate schedule.
(A) The
following monthly rates shall be charged inside-city customers for the use of
city water, provided that minimum monthly charges shall be made and bills
rendered accordingly, under the standard water rates schedule as follows:
Minimum Monthly Bill Water Service
|
Meter Allowance Size |
Single-Family Residential |
Multi-Family Residential |
Commercial |
Irrigation |
Gallons |
|
?Ύ inch |
$11.81 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
0 |
|
?Ύ inch |
|
22.38 |
23.27 |
26.67 |
3,000 |
|
1 inch |
24.20 |
27.22 |
29.41 |
33.42 |
5,000 |
|
1Ό inch |
29.43 |
32.53 |
35.55 |
42.54 |
7,000 |
|
1½ inch |
36.08 |
40.15 |
44.76 |
54.44 |
10,000 |
|
2 inch |
52.61 |
55.38 |
63.18 |
78.24 |
16,000 |
|
3 inch |
|
103.62 |
111.73 |
153.63 |
35,000 |
|
4 inch |
|
167.08 |
172.28 |
252.81 |
60,000 |
|
6 inch |
|
332.10 |
329.11 |
510.69 |
125,000 |
|
8 inch |
|
|
627.51 |
|
200,000 |
* Includes apartments of 3-4 units.
** Includes hotels, motels, and apartments over 4 units.
(B) The
following monthly rates shall be charged outside-city customers for the use of
city water, provided that minimum monthly charges shall be made and bills
rendered accordingly, under the standard water rates schedule as follows:
Minimum Monthly Bill Water Service
|
Meter Allowance Size |
Single-Family Residential |
Multi-Family Residential |
Commercial |
Irrigation |
Gallons |
|
?Ύ inch |
$13.58 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
0 |
|
?Ύ inch |
|
25.73 |
26.75 |
30.66 |
3,000 |
|
1 inch |
27.84 |
31.30 |
33.81 |
38.42 |
5,000 |
|
1Ό inch |
33.84 |
37.41 |
40.88 |
48.41 |
7,000 |
|
1½ inch |
41.48 |
46.17 |
51.47 |
62.60 |
10,000 |
|
2 inch |
60.51 |
63.69 |
72.65 |
89.97 |
16,000 |
|
3 inch |
|
119.16 |
128.48 |
176.66 |
35,000 |
|
4 inch |
|
192.14 |
198.12 |
290.72 |
60,000 |
|
6 inch |
|
381.91 |
378.46 |
587.28 |
125,000 |
|
8 inch |
|
|
721.62 |
|
200,000 |
|
* Includes apartments of 3-4 units. |
|
** Includes hotels, motels, and apartments over 4
units. |
(C) For
all water furnished in excess of the minimum allowance, the charge per 1,000
gallons of water delivered per month shall be shown as follows:
|
|
Inside City |
Outside City |
|
Single-family residential: |
|
|
|
05,000 gallons |
$2.48 |
$2.86 |
|
5,00110,000 gallons |
2.61 |
3.00 |
|
10,00115,000 gallons |
2.72 |
3.14 |
|
15,00120,000 gallons |
2.85 |
3.28 |
|
20,00130,000 gallons |
2.97 |
3.41 |
|
30,000+ gallons |
3.84 |
4.42 |
|
Multi-family |
2.63 |
3.02 |
|
Commercial |
3.14 |
3.61 |
|
Irrigation |
3.96 |
4.55 |
(D) These
rates shall be applied to all water that passes through the meter regardless of
whether the water is used or not.
(E) Industrial
rates by special contract with the city.
(1962 Code, § 3-1-12; Ord. 89041, passed 9-11-89; Ord. 94027, passed
9-28-94; Ord. 97030, passed 9-29-97; Ord. 2005-29, passed 8-10-05; Ord.
2006-40, passed 9-25-06; Ord. 2007-22, § I, passed 9-17-07; Ord. 2010-30,
passed 9-13-2010, eff. 9-29-2010)
Sec. 5-3-52. - Tapping charges.
(A) All
taps on active city water lines shall be made only by City Water Department
personnel unless previously approved by the City Utility Director and/or City
Engineer. Private contractors shall perform taps only under the direct
supervision of city inspectors. Every person, firm or contractor performing any
tap on city water lines shall first secure a permit prior to excavating any
city water line or commencing work. Tapping and meter fees shall be paid to the
utility billing office prior to any tap being made.
(B) The
fee schedule for water taps made by city personnel within the city limits shall
be:
|
Size of Tap |
Fee |
Meter Cost |
|
? and Ύ inch |
$ 230.00 |
$ 35.00 |
|
1 inch |
250.00 |
100.00 |
|
1½ and 2 inch |
325.00 |
250.00 |
|
6 inch |
500.00 |
2,500.00 |
|
8 inch |
630.00 |
3,650.00 |
|
12 inch |
1,100.00 |
5,250.00 |
(C) Charges
for tap sizes not listed shall be charged the next larger size tap fee. Taps
which require a street or alley cut shall be assessed an additional fee based
upon the estimated cost of repairing the street or alley. The charge for meters
not listed shall be determined by actual cost to the city plus 10%. Applicants
for service outside the city shall pay the in-city tap fee and meter cost as a
minimum fee prior to the tap being made by the city. Outside city limit
customers shall be billed for all actual costs in excess of the tap fee.
(D) Taps
requiring a street cut using a trencher shall be assessed a fee of $20.00 per
linear foot of trench in addition to the tapping fee.
(1962 Code, § 3-1-14; Ord. 85062, passed 12-16-85; Ord. 2002-20, passed
9-9-02)
Cross reference Penalty, see §
5-3-99.
Sec. 5-3-53. - Failure to pay; discontinue service.
(A) All
charges for water service furnished or rendered by the City Water Department
shall be due when rendered and are payable, unless otherwise specified, on or
before the date shown on the face of the bill. Bills not paid by this date are
in default and service shall be discontinued for such default.
(B) Notice
of default shall be sent to the customer by U.S. Mail to the address shown on
the customer's application.
(C) When
service has been discontinued for failure to pay for services rendered, a charge of $20.00 shall be levied for each and
every meter discontinued. Where a meter has been removed or locked for failure
to pay for services rendered, an additional charge of $25.00 shall be levied
for each and every meter removed or locked. These charges must be paid before
such service shall be restored or water turned on. An additional fee of $50.00
shall be charged for restoration of service after regular working hours; the
payment shall be due at the time of service, such payment being accepted only
in the form of check or money order.
(D) Failure
to receive a bill in no way exempts a customer from payment of bills or the
provisions of these terms and conditions.
(E) Any
customer owing water, garbage or sewer bills, and removing to other premises
where there are water connections or where connections are thereafter made,
shall, before being permitted to use the water, pay all former delinquencies.
Further, a customer's current unpaid water, sewer and garbage charges may be
transferred to another premises where water service is
currently in use when services are being rendered to the same person at the
same time, and one is disconnected.
(F) It
is the policy of the city to discontinue water service to customers by reason
of nonpayment of bills only after notice and a meaningful opportunity to be
heard on disputed bills. The city's form for application for water service and
all bills shall contain the address and telephone number for billing inquiries,
clearly visible and easily readable provisions to the effect:
(1) That
all bills are due and payable on or before the date set forth on the bill; and
(2) That
if any bill is not paid by or before that date, a second bill will be mailed
containing a cutoff notice that if the bill is not paid within eight days of
the mailing of the second bill, service will be discontinued for nonpayment;
and
(3) That
any customer disputing the correctness of his or her bill shall have a right to
present orally or in writing his or her complaint and contentions to the city
official in charge of water billing. This official shall be authorized to order
that the customer's service not be discontinued and shall have the authority to
make a final determination of the customer's complaint.
(G) Requests
for delays or waiver of payment will not be entertained; only questions of
proper and correct billing will be considered. In the absence of payment of the
bill rendered or resort to the dispute procedure provided herein, service will
be discontinued at the time specified, but in no event until the charges have
been due and unpaid for at least 30 days.
(H) When
it becomes necessary for the city to discontinue water service to a customer
for nonpayment of bills, service will be reinstated only after all bills for
service then due have been paid, along with the charges listed in division (C)
above.
(1962 Code, § 3-1-13; Ord. 84030, passed 10-29-84; Ord. 2002-20, passed
9-9-02)
Cross reference Penalty, see §
5-3-99.
Statutory referenceConnection and disconnection
for municipal utility service, see Tex. Loc. Gov't
Code § 402.0025.
Sec. 5-3-54. - Interest charge on late payments.
In addition to the terms and conditions stated in § 5-3-53, all customer
classes shall pay a penalty if not paid by the due date printed on the
customer's bill. The penalty shall be the greater of $3.00 or 3% of the current
billing due as stated on the bill. An interest charge shall be assessed on all
accumulated arrears, penalties, and interest which are not paid by the
subsequent month's billing. The interest charge shall be the greater of $3.00
or 4% per month and shall be assessed on all amounts shown as arrears,
penalties or interest due.
(1962 Code, § 3-1-13; Ord. 89043, passed 9-11-89; Ord. 2002-20, passed
9-9-02)
Sec. 5-3-55. - Waiver of late charges; exemption.
Utility bills are due and payable by the 14th day after the date on the
bill. The greater of $3.00 or 3% of the bill due will be assessed as a late
charge on bills not paid by the due date. However, the late service charge may
be exempted for a period of 25 days upon request of an individual customer who
is receiving social security benefits (retirement or disability) and is low
income. Persons receiving social security benefits are considered low income if
their sole source of support are social security payments and their outside
income, if any, does not exceed $3,850.00 annually.
(1962 Code, § 3-1-13; Ord. 90026, passed 6-25-90; Ord. 2002-20, passed
9-9-02)
Sec. 5-3-56. - Bulk water purchases.
Prior to attaining water at the city public works facility, applicants are
responsible for setting up a commercial account for bulk purchases with the
city water department. Bulk water purchases shall be billed at the rate of
$4.00 per 1,000 gallons.
(Ord. 2003-23, passed 9-22-03)