HomeMy WebLinkAbout97-53RESOLUTION NO. 97-53
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF UKIAH
APPROVING USE OF SERVICE LIMITER ADAPTERS FOR ELECTRIC METERS
WHEREAS, the process of electric service terminations for non payment is costly
to the City of Ukiah and disruptive, time consuming, and a source of irritation to the City's
residential customers; and
WHEREAS, electronic devices can govern the amount of electricity a customer
utilizes so he or she can meet payment requirements for continuing service; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to provide a means whereby consumers may
control their electrical usage in an effort to reduce the likelihood of service terminations
and take charge of their utility costs.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City
of Ukiah approves the use of service limiter adapters for electric meters for those
customers authorizing such use in compliance with the "Guidelines For Service Limiters",
attached hereto as Exhibit A.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 5th day of February, 1997 by the following roll call
vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
ATTEST:
C611een B. Henderson, City Clerk
Councilmembers Chavez, Ashiku, Kelly, Mastin, and Mayor Malone
None
None
~heridan Malone,
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EXHIBIT A
CITY OF UKIAH
GUIDELINES FOR
SERVICE LIMITERS
BASIC GUIDELINES
1. Maximum Time Limit of installation of a Service Limiter should be 3 months unless
extreme circumstances warrant an extension for up to an additional 3 months.
2. The limiter would be installed no more than twice in a twelve month period, due to
the limited number of adapters purchased and available.
3. Location identification and inventory control will be coordinated between the Billing
and Collection Division and the Electric Department.
4. If payment arrangements are not met after a Service Limiter Adapter is placed on
a customers meter, the Service Limiter Adapter will be removed and the electric
service will be disconnected.
ACCOUNT QUALIFICATIONS
The following situations are eligible for this program:
Any customer who has had his/her Dower disconnected and cannot pay the entire
balance to have Dower restored. The entire balance includes: the past due charges
and late fees, the current charges, disconnection fee, reconnection fee, two times
an ave~ age monthly bill to be kept on deposit. The customer requests to pay only
the past due balance on the account plus fees and that the City make payment
arrangements for the deposit and current charges.
The Service Limiter would be placed on the electric meter for the length of
time arrangements are extended on the account, not to exceed three (3) months.
Any customer requesting arrangements on the day of disconnection to evoid having
power terminated. He/she has only a partial payment of the past due balance and
fee amount, leaving a balance of the past due amount, current charges and deposit
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to be billed.
The Limiter would be placed on the electric meter for the length of time
arrangements are extended on the account, not to exceed three (3) months.
Customers with extremely high usage who receive a Final Notice monthly and are
habitually scheduled for disconnection.
In this case the Limiter would be used as a collection tool. The goal is to limit
usage, therefore, reduce the monthly bill while collecting the previous, balances and
potentially avoiding additional late fees. Collection Staff would use the limiter in
these cases only on rare occasions.
The limiter would be placed on the electric meter for the length of time
arrangements were extended on the account to acheive a current status. The
possible length of time the limiter would be placed is 1 - 3 months while the
account balance is being reduced.
A previous customer with an outstanding bad debt requesting new service. Many
times these customers do not have the entire amount to clear the bad debt plus the
required deposit to secure the account.
The Limiter would be used as a collection tool. The goal is to limit the electric
usage while the customer is paying off the old debt owed to the City. This allows
realistic payment arrangements to be offered to the customer. It would be placed
at the location for the period of time required to complete the payment
arrangements.
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