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900 9 IE999 to be received in our office or service will be interrupted Service is not permanently restored by the Utilities Department until, at a minimum, the past due amount and a reconnection charge are paid. Customers can have service restored for the evening by calling our after hours answering service. Should the bill and reconnect charge not be paid by noon the next business day, the service is interrupted again and an additional reconnect charge is owed. On the third disconnect the meter is `red tagged' and the on call person will not unlock the meter without authorization from the office. There are cases of meter tampering. We have found instances of locks being removed by non - Utility personnel. Unfortunately we do not have a computer tracking system for locked meters. The system does not flag accounts where the next meter reading is higher than when the meter was locked and no reconnect was ordered. As we find an account with more than one shut off work orders, no reconnect orders and continuing consumption, a meter check is done. Should the. current read be higher than on the last completed work order, the meter is removed and service is interrupted until the balance is paid, plus meter removal and reinstallation charges are paid. Attached is the most recent case of meter tampering uncovered. My staff reviews billing information for large outstanding (past due) balances as time permits. Should the account belong to the property owner alien is place, on the property to secure the debt. If the account belongs to a nonowner, the account is finaled (closed) and the owner's account is activated. The owner is then billed for current base facility charges. Should there be a remaining balance on the nonowner account after the deposit is applied, unpaid base facility charges are transferred to the owner's account. Attached is a copy of the letter sent to the property owner informing them of the transferred base facility charges. This letter has been in use for two to three months. A meter check is completed to ensure the meter is locked and has not been tampered with. Attached are examples of the above practices used by the department. More examples are available. Should this policy be changed, please advise of the correct procedures to be followed. Accounts will be reviewed on an individual basis and any discrepancy in the charges will be corrected. DATE: APRIL 24, 1996 TO: i CUSTOMER SERVICE DATA PROCESSING THRU: HARRY E. AS ASSISTANT R OF UTILITY SERVICES FROM: MARY BLUMSTEINP-t) ACCOUNTING CLERICAL SUPERVISOR SUBJECT: OWNER RESPONSIBLE FOR CHARGES Once again, property owners are ,legally responsible for base charges only. Prior to a new tenant moving into a rental property, base charges must be paid. Consumption and penalties are the responsibility of the tenant. In the case of a new owner, base charges go with the property. According to Ordinance 95-17, Section 201.11; "Charges for which - the owner is responsible shall constitute an automatic lien in favor of the County against the property serviced." If you have any questions about how to calculate base charges, please see me. 84 MAY 79 1996