12.20.060 Adjustments to bills.
(1) In the event a meter fails to register the correct amount of water used, the customer will be charged at the average rate of monthly consumption for the previous 12 months as shown by the meter when in working order.
(2) In the event a leak or failure of a private water system or private service between the meter and the structure located on private property results in excess consumption, the city may, through a determination of the city finance director, provide for a rate adjustment up to 50 percent of the volume consumed in any one billing period in excess of the bi-monthly average of water consumed over the previous 12 months at that service address.
(a) Customers shall be required to provide proof of repair to leak or failure prior to receiving any rate adjustment.
(b) Application for the credit or adjustment must be made in written form and approved by the city finance director or his/her designee.
(c) No more than one application for credit may be considered per service address in any 24-month period without city council approval. In order to grant a second adjustment the council must find one or more of the following circumstances exist:
(i) The leak could not have been readily detectable with reasonable diligence;
(ii) The customer does not occupy or use the subject property on a continuous basis;
(iii) Any prior leak for which an adjustment was made by the city was repaired within 30 days of discovery;
(iv) The customer account has been kept current and there have been no delinquencies within the previous 24 months.
(3) In the event of a leak or failure of a private water system or private service between the meter and the structure located on private property that was the result of a city project involving a public work as defined by state law, or maintenance performed at the expense of the city, the city public works director will have the authority to provide a rate adjustment for more than 50 percent of the volume consumed in excess of the bimonthly average of water consumed over the previous 12 months at that service address.
Adjustments are final and requests for reversal will not be granted and are not subject to appeal. (Ord. 1415 § 1, 2016; Ord. 1405 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2015; Ord. 1359 § 1, 2013; Ord. 1295 § 2, 2011; Ord. 1189 § 4, 2006).