Revision to South Bend Municipal Rules and Regulations

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INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION OF UTILITIES TO: South Bend Board of Public Works FROM: Kim Thompson, South Bend Municipal Utilities (SBMU) Business Office SUBJECT: Revision to SBMU Rules and Regulations DATE: June 19, 2019 wunnNmm. tiurtm N. rcNNxt�.q!cVp.�bVaueewNmu�d�aNNNNANI IIY YJtlm pfVWWNPoVUW ilsuam flWY1101 NJOOMMWd;YblNMM4WA�nYiU6tlPtitlMu�M1m umurvWMuutiti O;ri'tid riu�eVr�v sn ¢uUduuU tl.. wrcre�u xan oW4fPnN4Wfit�IN%Ml Wrrtf�NOfrSN mu4i10uWWU1NIVeNWuur;�vgvrIgg0.WUA �Su,UBYGNNh o�;uuwNua^r� uw �www,mmwunmmrnutn �vMnmiry ofonmsiwtu'�Ww A recent Indiana legislative change has resulted in a need to revise these Rules and Regulations. Specifically, House Bill 1347 addressed certain utility rates and charges and responsibility for those charges when the owner of a property is not the occupant using the services. At this time, SBMU only allows utility service to be started in the name of the premise owner. This revision will allow service to be started in the name of the tenant or occupant of the premise. The following is a summary of changes in this revision: 1. Premise owners and tenants may choose to apply for service in the name of the tenant. During active service, all charges will be billed to the tenant. Routine collection activities (penalties, notices, disconnection) will occur directed toward the tenant. However, at the time service is started, both owner and tenant will be advised on ultimate responsibility for various unpaid charges. 2. After an account has closed, and the due date for the final bill has passed, collection activity will be based on the type of unpaid balance. a. All water rates and charges, but excluding the charges for the water service line repair program ("water insurance"), will follow the tenant. In addition, unpaid Solid Waste charges and Releaf charges will also follow the tenant. After a period of internal collection activity, these unpaid charges may be transferred to an outside firm for further collection. A tenant with outstanding service charges will not be able to start service at any location until those charges have been satisfied. b. All remaining unpaid charges, including sewer rates and charges, sewer insurance, stormwater, will follow the owner. These charges may result in a lien against the property to which the service was associated. Water insurance charges will also follow the owner. Unpaid water and sewer insurance charges may result in loss of coverage. 3. Master meter/master connection policy. Any premise that is served by a master meter, or a premise that does not have a dedicated service line and valve may only have service in the owner's name. 4. Deposit policy. SBMU has collected deposits for many years. However, the procedure for determining deposit amount has varied over time. Additionally, deposits have been billed for several years, rather than collected as a