Sutter County Municipal Code Ch. 1710 Utility Services

The purpose of this Chapter is to prescribe and regulate the provision of water, wastewater, and stormwater services by the County. This chapter covers the provision of utility services and collection of service fees.

This Chapter shall apply to all persons and service areas within the County of Sutter receiving water, wastewater, or stormwater services from the County.

(a) Control Valve on Customer Property: Applications for new water service will require a control valve or meter stop to exist on the property unless the requirement is waived by the Director. The control valve or meter stop shall be located as close as is practicable to the street, highway, alley, or easement in which the water main service to the customer's property is located.

(b) Clean-Out on Customer Property: Applications for new wastewater services will require a sanitary sewer clean-out to exist on the property unless the requirement is waived by the Director. The clean-out shall be located as close as is practicable to the street, highway, alley, or easement in which the sewer main service to the customer's property is located.

(a) Applications for service shall be made to the County on forms provided by the Director.

(b) New water and/or wastewater service customers shall deposit with the County an amount equal to one months anticipated charge for the service requested. The deposit shall secure the customer's payment of the charges incurred. Should the customer fail to pay any charge incurred within 45 days of the date on which payment is due, the County may elect to deduct such charges from the customer's security deposit and may thereafter demand that the customer pay an amount equal to the amount deducted to restore the deposit to the amount set forth above. Failure to pay that amount within 45 days thereafter shall be grounds for discontinuance of service in accordance with Section 1701-100(a) of this code. The unused portion of the security deposit shall be returned to the customer upon discontinuance of service. Customer shall not be entitled to any interest on the security deposit.

(c) Applications for service shall require that all unpaid service charges incurred by the customer be paid in full prior to initiation or resumption of services.

(a) There is levied and assessed upon each premises having any utility connection with the public utility system of the County or otherwise receiving services from the public utility system, a service charge payable as provided in this Chapter, in an amount determined as set forth in this section. Fees will also be charged for services provided in accordance with this Chapter for special utility permits.

(b) Rates and charges for utility services shall be fixed, from time to time, through an ordinance approved by the Board of Supervisors.

(c) When service is provided for a period less than one billing cycle, the charge will be prorated for the time the service was provided.

(d) A customer who provides the County with at least 48 hours written notice may request that water service be suspended for any period which exceeds four consecutive weeks. The County's compliance with the request shall be conditioned upon the property being equipped with an operational, county-owned shut-off valve and the customer's agreement to pay any fees charged by the County for starting and stopping service. Service shall be reinstated within 48 hours of receipt of a written request by the customer.

(e) When more than one flat, dwelling unit or apartment building is supplied through one water line, the service charge shall be billed to the owner of the property and shall be charged individually for each unit connected to the system. If the units have different owners, separate lines shall be required for all units owned by each individual owner.

(f) When a customer disputes the charges for any service, fee, penalty, or other cost related to the service, the customer shall utilize the procedure set forth in Section 1701-160 of this code.

(a) All commercial and industrial water services and all new residential water services shall be metered and shall be charged based upon the metered rates set forth by an ordinance approved by the Board of Supervisors.

(b) Customers who are not otherwise required to do so may request that their service be metered. The County's compliance with the request shall be conditioned upon the customer paying the cost of installation of the meter together with a monthly meter rental fee and the metered rates set forth by an ordinance approved by the Board of Supervisors.

(c) Upon request from the customer and deposit of the sum established by the Board of Supervisors, the Director shall test an installed meter for accuracy. If the meter is found to over-register the amount of water used by an amount greater than 2%, the meter shall be replaced at the County's expense and the deposit shall be returned to the customer. If the meter is found to be accurate, under-registering or over-registering in an amount less than 2%, the testing deposit shall be retained by the County.

(d) If a meter is found to under-register usage, the County may estimate the actual usage based upon prior usage or the usage of comparable properties. Should the customer disagree with the County's estimate, the customer shall utilize the procedure set forth in Section 1701-160 of this code.

(a) The billing period will cover one month in arrears for metered service and one month in advance for flat rate service. Payment shall be due upon receipt of the billing statement.

(b) Opening and closing statements for a period shorter than the normal billing period shall be prorated.

(c) Payment shall be made in cash or by check, money order or certified funds. Any dishonored check shall be subject to fee established by ordinance approved by the Board of Supervisors. If two or more checks are dishonored within any six month period, the Director may require that all future payments be made in cash or by money order or certified funds.

(d) Interest shall accrue on all unpaid balances at the legal rate.

(e) The Director shall have the option of preparing separate billing statements for each service connection or to combine all of some of the connections onto a single statement if it is convenient for the County to do so.

(f) Commercial property owners and owners of all master-metered multi-unit residential buildings shall be responsible for payment of all charges for services provided to the property.

(Ord. 1495, Sec. 3, Sept. 30, 2008)