Payment Terms

On December 15, 2009 the board adopted a new policy and procedure for payment terms.  The following is a summary of the new payment terms policy:

• Meters are read on the 15^th of each month and invoices will be out on or before the 1^st of the following month. Payment is due the 15^th of the following month.  Payments made after the 15^th will incur a $25 late fee.  Payments not received in 60 days will incur a $50 late fee and customer will subject to termination of water service.  Payments not received in 90 days will incur a $100 late fee.
   
• Customers who are beyond 60 days past due will be notified by mail that their service will be terminated in 10 days and they can avoid termination of service by:
  • 1 - paying the amount in arrears before the scheduled shut off date; or
  • 2 - receiving a hardship deferment and signing a deferred (time) payment plan specifying payment terms before the scheduled shut off date.
    
    
• A customer may apply for deferred payment before the shut off date by claiming hardship and filing an appeal with the bookkeeper.  If the hardship qualifies, the customer will enter into a deferred payment plan.  Hardships eligible for time payment plans include: Loss of job, medical emergency, excessive bill (such as one resulting from a large leak), and extraordinary financial difficulty.  The maximum length of a deferred payment plan shall be 90 days and the minimum monthly payment shall not be less that one-third the total amount due, unless the approved plan specifies otherwise.  Deferred payment amounts shall be in addition to the regular service bill and shall include 10% annual interest. If a customer defaults on the deferred payment plan, late fees will be assessed and customer will be subject to termination.
   
• Customers desiring restoration of water service after termination for non-payment must: pay arrears in full; and pay a $75 reconnection fee.

These payment terms will be put into affect as of January 1^st, 2010.

In order to give members a chance to adjust to these changes, no fees will be assessed during the first billing period.  If your account is past due according to the new policy, bookkeeping will send out a statement and a note to let you know that you would have been assessed a late fee under the new terms.  The first billing cycle in which this new policy and procedure will be implemented will be the February billing cycle.  So members have until March 15^th to comply.

Please note that most members are already in compliance with these terms. 

I  Dates and Terms

1. Meters are read on the 15^th of each month
2. Invoices will be out on or before the 1^st of the following month
3. Payment is due the 15^th of the following month

II  Fees and Interest

1. Payments made after the 15^th (over 30 days) will incur a $25 late fee
2. Payments not received in 60 days will incur a $50 late fee and a termination notice will be sent
3. Payments not received in 90 days will incur a $100 late fee

III Termination of Service

1. Customers who fail to pay the entire amount due within 60 days of invoice date will be subject to termination of water service
2. Customers will be notified by mail that their service will be terminated in 10 days
3. Customers may avoid termination of service by : 1) paying the amount in arrears before the scheduled shut off date; or 2) receiving a hardship deferment and signing a deferred (time) payment plan specifying payment terms before the scheduled shut off date
4. Customers may appeal a notice of termination of water service.  The bookkeeper will hear these appeals and is authorized to correct errors in billing and adjust the amount due, receive payment to satisfy the amount in arrears and negotiate deferred payment plans.
5. Bookkeeper will keep a written record of customer appeals and results to be maintained on file
6. The Board will hear appeals only after the customer has followed the above administrative procedure

IV  Hardship Cases

1. A customer may apply for deferred payment before the shut off date by claiming hardship and filing an appeal with the bookkeeper.  If the hardship qualifies, the customer will enter into a deferred payment plan.
2. Hardships eligible for time payment plans include: Loss of job, medical emergency, excessive bill (such as one resulting from a large leak), and extraordinary financial difficulty.
3. The maximum length of a deferred payment plan shall be 90 days and the minimum monthly payment shall not be less that one-third the total amount due, unless the approved plan specifies otherwise.  Deferred payment amounts shall be in addition to the regular service bill and shall include 10% annual interest.
4. If a customer defaults on the deferred payment plan, late fees will be assessed and customer will be subject to termination.

V  Reconnection of Service

• Customers desiring restoration of water service after termination for non-payment must pay arrears in full; and pay a $75 reconnection fee.