2004-259FILE REFERENCE FORM [ 2004-259 ]
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Amended by Ordinance No. 2004-387 12/07/04 J R
ORDINANCE NO. 2004- ,~--q
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS PROVIDING FOR THE
SCHEDULE OF MISCELLANEOUS FEES, DEPOSITS, BILLINGS AND PROCEDURES
FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO CITY CUSTOMERS AND TAXPAYERS
CONTAINED IN ORDINANCE NO. 2003-266; AMENDING THE DELINQUENT SERVICE
CHARGE; PROVIDING FOR A REPEALER; PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. That the schedule of charges for general utility services as generally
provided for in Chapter 26 of the Code of Ordinances; and for services to other City of Denton
customers and taxpayers, are hereby established as follows:
SERVICE CHARGES AND PROCEDURES SCHEDULES
Ao
ACCOUNT CONNECTION AND RECONNECTION CHARGES
Electric Meter Installation Charge
Electric and Water Meter Connection Charge
Delinquent Service Charge
Unauthorized Usage Penalty
PAGE
3
3
4
4
METER CHARGES
Meter Reading
Meter Testing
Meter Tampering and/or Damage Charge
Meter Inaccessibility Charge
5
5
5
6
MISCELLANEOUS FEES, CHARGES AND DEPOSITS
Returned Payment Charge
Service Deposits
7
7
Late Payment Charge Due on Delinquent Balances
Interest Charge on Past Due Account Balance
Credit Report Charge
Interest Earned on Contract Retainage
8
8
9
9
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ACCOUNT CONNECTION AND RECONNECTION CHARGES
(Effective 10/01/04)
For the purposes of this rate schedule, business hours shall be defined as Monday through
Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
ELECTRIC METER INSTALLATION CHARGE
APPLICATION
Apphcable when a customer requests electric service on a first time basis where no permanent
service previously existed and where a new account number is established.
CHARGE
First Service Requested
First Service Requested, after
business hours
$22.00
$35.00
ELECTRIC AND WATER METER CONNECTION CHARGE
APPLICATION
Applicable when a customer requests service at an address which has existing or previous
service, with an existing account number and history, and the electric and/or water meter must be
installed or activated for readiness.
CHARGE
Electric Service Requested
Water Service Requested
Electric Service Requested, after
Business Hours
Water Service Requested, after
Business Hours
$11.00
$11.00
$25.00
$25.00
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DELINQUENT SERVICE CHARGE
(Effective 10/01/04)
APPLICATION
Applicable when a customer's account is processed for disconnection due to nonpayment.
CHARGE
Delinquent Service Charge
(When service is disconnected at the meter socket)
Delinquent Service Charge
(When service is disconnected at the transformer)
Reconnect Charge, after business hours
(When reconnected at the meter socket)
Reconnect Charge, after business hours
(When reconnected at the transformer)
$22.00
$110.00
$55.OO
$165.00
UNAUTHORIZED USAGE PENALTY
APPLICATION
Applicable to any customer that fails to request connection of services within 24 hours of
occupancy in a new service location.
CHARGE
Unauthorized Usage Penalty $30.00
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METER CHARGES
(Effective 10/01/04)
METER READING
APPLICATION
Applicable to any electric or water utility customer who requests a reading ora city meter due to
a contested billing more than twice in the previous twelve (12) months, and no error is found.
CHARGE
Per Additional Reading $25.00
METER TESTING
APPLICATION
Applicable to any customer who requests the testing of a city meter previously tested within the
past four (4) years and the meter is found to be within accuracy standards.
CHARGE
Per Test
$27.00fKWH Electric Meter
$38.00/KW/KWH Electric Meter
ACCURACY STANDARDS
A meter is defined as within accuracy standards when found to be plus or minus two percent
(2%) or less.
METER TAMPERING AND/OR DAMAGE CHARGE
APPLICATION
Applicable to any person that tampers with, damages, or illegally connects to a city electric,
water, or wastewater utility system.
CHARGE
Per Event
$200.00 minimum per connection per system
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METER INACCESSIBILITY CHARGE
APPLICATION
Applicable to any customer who prevents the regular and routine reading, maintenance, repair or
removal of any city meter due to inaccessibility of the meter.
CHARGE
Per event $38.00
Page 6
MISCELLANEOUS FEES, CHARGES, AND DEPOSITS
(Effective 10/01/04)
RETURNED PAYMENT CHARGE
APPLICATION
Applicable when a customer's or taxpayer's check, or money order, or bank draf~ for payment of
fees, fines, court costs, taxes, utilities, or other charges has been dishonored by the maker's bank
and returned to the City of Denton unpaid.
CHARGE
Per Check $27.00
SERVICE DEPOSITS
APPLICATION
Applicable when a residential customer requests utility service in the City of Denton service area
and does not have twelve (12) months of good credit standing with the City of Denton or another
utility system for the type of service requested, or does not have a co-signer with twelve (12)
months of good credit standing with the City of Denton, or does not request and demonstrate a
passing credit rating through a credit reporting agency.
Applicable when a commercial customer does not have twenty-four (24) months of good credit
standing with the City of Denton, or a commercial letter of good credit from another utility
system. Not applicable when a commercial customer provides an irrevocable letter of credit to
the City of Denton as security for payment.
CHARGE
Residential Customer
$150.00 or an amount equal to 1/6 of the last
12 months of billing at the service location.
If utility service is disconnected for non-
payment, then the customer will be required
to pay a deposit sum up to but not greater
than 1/6 of the last 12 months of billing at
the service location.
Commemial Customer
$300.00 or an amount equal to 1/6 of the last
12 months of billing at the service location,
whichever is greater. If utility service is
disconnected for non-payment, then the
customer will be required to pay a deposit
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sum equal to 1/6 of the last 12 months of
billing at the service location.
Deposits will earn interest for the customer. The applicable rate of interest will be adjusted
semi-annually to equal the rate of a one-year United States Treasury Note on October 1 and April
1 of each year. If refund of deposit is made within thirty (30) days of receipt of deposit, no
interest payment will be made. If the City retains the deposit more than thirty (30) days,
payment of interest, at the current rate, shall be made retroactive to the date the deposit was paid,
A. Payment of the interest to the customer shall be made at the time the deposit is returned
or credited to the customer's account.
B. The deposit shall cease to earn interest on the date it is returned or credited to the
customer's account.
LATE PAYMENT CHARGE DUE ON DELINQUENT BALANCES
APPLICATION
To cover a portion of the administrative costs of collecting past due balances, a late payment
charge shall be assessed on the fifth business day following the due date.
CHARGE $10.00 late payment charge
INTEREST CHARGE ON PAST DUE ACCOUNT BALANCE
APPLICATION
Interest shall be assessed on any past due account balance (excluding late payment charges) that
remains unpaid at the time of the current month's billing calculation. The interest provided for
and assessed herein shall be due and payable on the due date of the current month's billing
statement.
CHARGE
1% / month on all past due charges and account balances
unpaid at the time of the current month's billing
calculation.**
**Under no circumstances shall the interest charge provided for herein exceed the legal rate of interest. To the extent that it does so, the charge
is inadvertent, and the City intends only to assess, charge and collect such interest rate that does not exceed the highest lawful rate.
P~e8
CREDIT REPORT CHARGE
APPLICATION
This fee is applicable if the customer (a) cannot provide a satisfactory credit rating through
previous service history with Denton Municipal Utilities or another utility service; or (b) cannot
provide the city with a qualified co-signer, and (c) provides written authorization for the city to
obtain a credit rating fi.om a credit source available to the city.
CHARGE
Charge per credit report
$13.00
]NTEREST EARNED ON CONTRACT RETA1NAGE
Contract retainage will cam interest for the contractor as provided by TEX. REV. CIV. STAT.
ANN. Article 6252, Sec. Sb (Vernon Supp. 1992). The rate of interest will be adjusted semi-
annually to equal the interest rate of a one year United States Treasury Note on October 1 and
April 1 of each year. Payment of the interest shall be made at the time the retainage is paid to the
contractor.
Page 9
SECTION 2. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in force when the provisions of
this ordinance became effective which are inconsistent, or in conflict with the terms or
provisions contained in this ordinance are hereby repealed to the extent of any such conflict.
SECTION 3. That if any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or
word in this ordinance, or application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid by
any court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this ordinance, and the City Council of the City of Denton, Texas, hereby declares it
would have enacted such remaining portions despite any such invalidity.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance shall become effective, charged, and applied to all
services occurring on and after October 1, 2004; and a copy of said fees and charges shall be
maintained on file in the office of the City Secretary./_
PASSED AND APPROVED this the ~ day of (~~ ,2004.
EULINEBROCK, MAYOR
ATTEST:
JENNIFER WALTERS, CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
HERBERT L. PROUTY, CITY ATTORNEY
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