Hughson Municipal Code Art. X Billings

The regular billing period will be monthly or bimonthly at the option of the city.

(Ord. 89-06 § 2, 1989)

Opening and closing bills for less than the normal billing period shall be prorated; provided, however, that the total period for which service is rendered is less than one month, the bill shall not be less than the monthly charge applicable. Closing bills may be estimated by the water department for the final period as an expediency measure to permit the customer to pay the closing bill at the time service is discontinued.

(Ord. 89-06 § 2, 1989)

Bills for water service shall be rendered on or about the first of each month, and if rendered monthly shall be for the service for the month in which rendered. On each bill for water service rendered by the city, there shall be printed substantially the following: "Water Bills for Service are due by the last day of the month in which they are billed, or a 10 percent penalty shall be added. If the bill is not paid by the last day of the following month, the water service may be shut off and an additional charge shall be paid in order to have the water turned back on. When service is discontinued due to nonpayment of bills, it shall not again be resumed until payment of all charges are made. All penalties provided for in this chapter shall be paid whether or not water service is discontinued."

(Ord. 89-06 § 2, 1989)

Combined bills may be rendered for all service connections to the same premises.

(Ord. 89-06 § 2, 1989)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, water service charges shall constitute a lien against the premises against which the charge was improved if the owner is the user and if the charge remains delinquent for a period of 60 days. Each bill for water service shall include a statement notifying the owner of the lien provided by this section. The lien provided by this section shall have no force or effect until recorded with the county recorder and when so recorded shall have the force, effect, and priority of a judgment lien and continue for three years from the time of recording unless sooner released or otherwise discharged.

(Ord. 89-06 § 2, 1989; Ord. 96-05 § 8, 1996)

A. The property owner, as determined by the real property tax roll of the county assessor, is liable for payment of water service provided by the city either directly, through contract or permit, and shall be liable for the rates, charges and fees for that service as established by the city. In situations where someone other than the property owner occupies the property receiving the service or the property owner directs that payment for services be directed to another person, the owner of the property shall be primarily liable for payment of services, though the occupant or other person may pay the charges on behalf of the owner.

B. It is the responsibility of the owner of the real property to provide the city with the current billing address and to notify the city of any changes of address.

C. It shall be and is hereby made the duty of each property owner to ascertain from the city the amount and due dates of any rates, charges and fees for which the property owner is liable. It shall also be and is hereby made the duty of each owner liable for the rates, charges and fees to inform the city immediately of all circumstances, and of any change(s) in any circumstances which will in any way affect the applicability or the amount of any rates, charges and fees to the premises where water service is being received.

(Ord. 19-01 § 2, 2019)