Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Past Due Accounts List Grows Larger

Cycle one, for the Prescott utilities, had 52 overdue accounts, according to city records.

The City of Prescott has three billing cycles for its electric customers, each sent out on different days. This was done under the Joe Tate McGill administration to keep cash flowing throughout the month.

Of those overdue accounts, 13 were more than 90 days past due, with nine being 60 days late. Thirty were simply past due.

The largest single account more than 90 days late is a bill for $5,587.14. However, it is not known if this is for a residential or commercial customer. The least amount owed on a past due account was $52.72.

In all, seven accounts in the first cycle owned more than $1,000.

The total owed for the first cycle of April was $25,615.09.

Overall there were 49 past due accounts in cycle one, with 13 being more than 90 days late, nine being 60 days past due and 30 a month late.

However, from March, 19 past due accounts had been paid, including the residential account for $9,367.76.

But, on the flip side, there were 29 new accounts late on being paid, with 33 remaining on April's list from March.

Six of April's past due accounts could were identified as commercial accounts, with 26 identified as residential.

None of the new accounts could be identified as either commercial or residential.

There were some changes in many of the late accounts, as late charges were assessed in some instances and partial payment was made in others.

In 1984, the city council passed an ordinance concerning the operation of the city's utilities.

This ordinance set the deposit for homes, mobile homes, all electric mobile homes and commercial accounts.

Provisions were made to increase the amount of the deposit when a customer failed to pay delinquent accounts on a timely basis after demanding by the city; submitted two insufficient fund checks within a 12 month period; misrepresented their identity to the city to get utilities; and engaged in unauthorized or fraudulent use or procurement of utility services, or otherwise tampered with wires, meters or other city equipment.

According to the ordinance, in the event any of the above incidents occur, the city is entitled to require the customer in question to pay two months average usage immediately upon demand.

Should the customer not make this payment, the city, under the ordinance, has the right to terminate the services.

Once the service has been disconnected, the original deposit can be applied toward the bill owed.

For those who had their service terminated, the ordinance stipulates to get it reconnected they must either discharge their account by reason of the Federal Bankruptcy Act before the account can be renewed.

The old account must be retired in full before the customer can be reconnected.

The ordinance also has a provision for late charges in the amount of 5 percent. However, interest is paid on deposits for those who pay on time in the amount of 6 percent a year.

Under the ordinance, the city may terminate services for any of the following reasons:

*Failure to pay delinquent account for services;

*Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of a settlement agreement or delayed payment agreement;

*Failure to post a deposit with respect to services;

*Failure to pay any appropriate charges associated with the provision of services;

*Refusal to grant access at reasonable times for the purpose of installation, inspection, maintenance, replacement or reading of utility equipment;

*Abandonment of the premises served; and

*Failure to pay for damage done to city owned equipment installed at customer premises.

Customers to be terminated will get a shut off notice from the city before the service is discontinued. This notice will give the service to be terminated, the reason for termination and date when the service will be shut off.

A customer, though, has the right to pay any delinquent account at any time prior to termination.

When a customer is unable to pay their bill in full, an agreement can be made between them and the city to bring the account back into balance. This will be done in writing, according to the ordinance.

There are, however, some exceptions to the rules of termination thereby allowing the city to cancel services without notifying the customer involved.

This can be done if the city believes it's needed to correct a condition posing a health or safety hazard to the customer, general public or city equipment.

Services can also be shut off without notice so repairs and maintenance can be done to the equipment, but in these cases, the services will be turned on once the situation is corrected.

The city can also terminate service if a customer is illegally obtaining the utilities.

For those with past due accounts, this, under the terms of the ordinance, "shall constitute a lien upon the premises.

"Whenever a statement for utility services remains unpaid for 60 days after it has been rendered the City may file a statement of lien claim."

This claim will include a description of the premises involved, the amount of the bill and a notice a lien has been filed for the account.

The ordinance was adopted Nov. 19, 1984, when Jorge Nassar was mayor and Howard Taylor was city recorder.