A. Billing of Property Owners. Property owners shall be responsible and billed for utility service at all served properties; provided, that the owner may authorize direct billings to be made to and in the name of a tenant or other occupant(s) of the premises to which water service is furnished at the mailing address provided in MMC 13.02.005(A). Such authorization shall be evidenced by the owner’s execution of an agreement in a form provided by the city. No such arrangement shall in any manner relieve the owner of the premises from ultimate liability for the payment of the charges for furnishing water nor in any way affect the lien rights of the city against the premises to which water service is furnished. Failure to receive mail properly addressed to the mailing address provided above shall not be a valid defense for failure to pay the delinquent charges and penalties.

B. Due Date. All utility rates and charges shall be billed monthly on the first day of the billing month, shall be due and payable not later than the last day of the month, and shall become delinquent after that date.

C. Payment Allocation. All payments on a combined utility billing shall be applied first to fees or penalties, second to utility taxes, third to storm drainage, fourth to sewer, and fifth to water.

D. Consumption Estimates. An estimate on the average monthly consumption, based on previous history of usage, may be made in the event that the meter is not read during the billing cycle.

E. Unpaid Bills – Notice. All utility bills unpaid by the last day of each month shall be deemed delinquent and service may be shut off and remain shut off until all arrearages shall have been paid together with a shutoff fee and further fee for turning on the same, as established by the city council by periodic resolution. All delinquent accounts shall be charged a penalty per unit per month on the unpaid delinquent amount, such penalty to be as established by the city council by periodic resolution.

At least ten days before utility service is scheduled to be terminated, the finance director or designated city official shall notify in writing the owner and the occupant of the property. The owner shall be notified by mail at the address on the account, and the occupant shall be notified by mail, door hanger, or other form at the serviced property. Mailed notices shall be deemed received three business days after mailing. All notices shall contain the following: (1) reason for water termination; (2) delinquent amount that must be paid to avoid interruption of service; (3) instructions on scheduling an informal hearing to demonstrate that the account is not delinquent; and (4) day on or after which water service will be terminated.

After notification, the owner and the occupant shall be afforded the opportunity to present to the finance director or designated city official empowered to resolve billing disputes evidence that the delinquent charges have been paid. Such opportunity shall be afforded before water service is terminated; provided, that the owner or occupant requests an informal hearing within three days of presumptive receipt of the notice. Failure to receive mail will not be recognized as a valid excuse for failure to pay rates when due. Changes in ownership of property and change in mailing addresses must be provided in writing to city of Monroe utility department staff. The owner or occupant has the burden to prove that the delinquent charges have been paid. After reviewing the evidence presented by the owner or occupant, the finance director or designated city official shall decide whether or not the account remains delinquent. The owner or occupant shall be notified of the decision. This decision is not subject to appeal. If the account is found to be delinquent, water service will be terminated as previously scheduled or three days after the final decision, whichever is later.

F. Violation – Returned Check – Water Shutoff. In the event the city receives notice from the bank of nonsufficient funds or other reason for returned check which was tendered to the city of Monroe for utility payment, the city shall notify the owner or tenant of the premises of such violation. The owner or tenant shall be required to provide sufficient funds to the city of Monroe for the amount of the returned check plus the return check fee within forty-eight hours. In the event the owner or tenant of the premises does not respond, the city may turn off water to such premises and shall in no case be turned on until the charges have been paid in full unless special arrangements are made with the finance director or designee. The time period described herein shall not extend shutoff dates as described in subsection (E) of this section.

G. Shutoff – No Remission. When utility service has been shut off for any cause, and is turned on again or allowed or caused to be turned on by the owner, no remission of rates will be made on account of its having been shut off.

H. Charges – Lien – Fees for Turning Off and On. All utility service rates will be charged against the premises for which the service was installed. All charges for utility service, when the same become delinquent and unpaid, shall be a lien against the premises to which the same has been furnished. In case any charges for utility service shall become a lien against the premises, the water shall be cut off until such charges, with additional charges as established by the city council by periodic resolution for the expense of shutting the water off and again turning on such water, are paid.

I. Sewerage Lien – Extension of Coverage. Pursuant to RCW 35.67.215, the sewerage lien imposed in subsection (H) of this section shall be effective for one year’s delinquent charges without the necessity of any writing or recording of the lien with the county auditor. Pursuant to RCW 35.67.210, a sewage lien for more than one year’s delinquent charges shall be valid if properly recorded in the office of the county auditor.

J. Charges – Utility Lien Search – Property Closing Request – Water Meter Reading. All requests for a utility and lien search or meter reading at time of sale of property, shall pay a fee as established by the city council by periodic resolution. (Ord. 016/2021 § 2)