HomeMy WebLinkAboutUVWA Reso 2025-01 - Establishing Utility Payment Info UKIAH VALLEY WATER AUTHORITY
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-01
A RESOLUTION OF THE UKIAH VALLEY WATER AUTHORITY (UVWA) ESTABLISHING
UTILITY PAYMENT DUE DATES, FEES, DEPOSITS, AND DELINQUENCY DATES AND
PENALTIES.
WHEREAS Ukiah Valley Water Authority has the authority to establish regulations covering
payment regulations governing utility billing procedures and fees; and
WHEREAS it has been determined that certain deposits and rules are necessary and reasonable
to ensure that customers of utility services provided by the Ukiah Valley Water Authority pay for
the services they receive.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Due Dates for Payments: Utility service bills will be sent to customers monthly.
Payment on all utility service bills are due within 26 days of the bill date.
Section 2.Application Fees:
• New Service Application Fee: $25.00. This fee is not refundable once the application
has been submitted.
Section 3. Rules Governina Utility Deposits:
• Use of a Credit Reporting Agency: The UVWA uses a Credit Reporting Agency to
provide Collection Risk Information.
• Deposits Required: Prior to the UVWA connecting utilities to any property, the applicant
for service shall deposit funds with the Finance Department in the amount specified unless
a deposit is excused.
o Property Owner Exception:
Deposits may be waived for any applicant who is the owner of record of the
property to be served unless service has been disconnected previously for
nonpayment.
o Domestic Water service:
■ New service applicants who pose no credit risk will be charged no deposit.
■ New service applicants who pose minimal risk: The greater of the estimated
average monthly consolidated bill averaged over a 12-month period or a minimum
of a 50.00 deposit.
■ New service applicants who pose substantial credit risk: The greater of twice the
average monthly consolidated bill for water averaged over a 12-month period or a
minimum of a $100.00 deposit.
o Commercial Water service
■ The greater of twice the estimated average monthly consolidated bill of a similar
business averaged over a 12-month period or a minimum of a $100.00 deposit.
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o Domestic and Commercial customers utility service that is disconnected due to non-
payment will be required to provide an additional deposit equal to greater of twice the
average monthly consolidated bill for water service averaged over a 12-month period
or a minimum of$150.00.
Section 4. Delinauency Penalties and Fees:
Utility bills are due and payable upon presentation and considered late if not paid in full 26 days
following the bill date. The following delinquency penalties and fees will apply to unpaid utility
service accounts:
• Delinquent Penalty: If payment is not received by the 26th day following the bill date, a
$15.00 fee will be automatically assessed.
• Final Notice: $15.00 fee will be assessed if the delinquent amount is not received within
7 days of the Delinquent Penalty. The Final Notice will be mailed to the address on record.
• 48-Hour Notice: $40.00 fee applied if the delinquent amount is not received within 7 days
of the Final Notice. This notice will be communicated to the customer through multiple
channels, including email, text, and phone call.
• Disconnection Fees: In addition to increased deposit requirement in Section 1.
o Service Disconnect Fee: $85.00
o Premium Disconnect Fee: $100.00
o Service Reconnection Fee: $50.00
o Premium Reconnect Fee: $90.00
Premium Fees are disconnections and reconnections requiring special handling, such as
after-hours requests.
• Other Fees:
o Tampered Meter/Vandalism Penalty: $100.00
o Cut Lock Fee: $100.00
o Returned Payment Fees: $25 for the first returned item and $35 per item if more than
one item is returned within the 12-month period. The fee may adjust annually,
depending on adjustments to bank fees not to exceed 20% at any given year.
Section 5: Property Owner Responsibility for Service to Leased or Rented Properties:
Property owners shall be obligated for all utility service accounts for rented or leased properties.
• Obligation for Water Use: The property owner is ultimately responsible for all utilities
used at their property, regardless of whether it is occupied by tenants.
• Delinquent Water Bill Notifications: If a bill becomes delinquent (unpaid after its due
date), the property owner will be provided with copies of the delinquent bill. This ensures
they are informed of any issues with non-payment.
• Liability for Unpaid Bills: Regardless of the arrangement between the property owner or
the tenants regarding payment responsibility for utility services; the property owner will be
held liable for any utility bills that are unpaid.
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Section 6. Effective date:
This resolution shall become effective 60 days after adoption. Customers will be notified of the
change through standard communications, which may include one or more of the following: bill
inserts, email notifications, and outreach efforts targeting delinquent customers.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 3011 day of January 2025, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Members Prince, Shoeneman, Orozco, Crane, Nevill, Gordon, Cardoza, and Chair Gaska
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT None _ w
i
m Gaska, Chair
ATTEST:
Kristine Lawler, CMC/CPMC
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