§ 15-9-37. CUSTOMER'S RESPONSIBILITIES.

(A)

A customer is responsible for utility service provided on the customer's side of the point of delivery, including:

(1)

excessive consumption caused by faulty equipment or settings on equipment;

(2)

damage caused by an open valve or circuit after service initiation; or

(3)

a violation of this chapter, including utility service diversion, unlawful use of service, or damage to City utility equipment.

(B)

A customer who vacates a service address before providing the City with notice to cancel utility service is responsible for charges for utility service and violations of this chapter that occur before the City receives cancellation notice.

(C)

A customer shall convey to the City a perpetual right-of-way that is:

(1)

acceptable to the City;

(2)

across the property owned or controlled by the customer;

(3)

for the City's lines and line extensions, poles, or other equipment necessary or incidental to supply service to the customer; and

(4)

at no cost to the City.

(D)

A customer shall:

(1)

maintain the customer's property to allow verification of the service address of the premises from the street; and

(2)

provide the City, its agents, contractors, and employees safe and unobstructed access to the customer's property to allow the City to:

(a)

use, maintain, remove, or replace City property;

(b)

read a utility meter;

(c)

trim or remove a tree or shrubbery that interferes with or creates a danger to a utility line or other City utility equipment;

(d)

remove an object that interferes with or creates a danger to a utility line or other City utility equipment;

(e)

inspect wiring, a plumbing system, a backflow method or assembly, or other equipment on a new or remodeled installation;

(f)

turn off an irrigation system if the customer is irrigating on a day or time prohibited under Chapter 6-4 ( Water Conservation ) and the customer cannot be located;

(g)

sample a wastewater discharge;

(h)

obtain a water or reclaimed water sample; and

(i)

take other action related to supplying service to the customer.

(E)

A customer's service connections must be readily accessible to the City's service facilities. The City shall determine a service connection point based on the most direct route to City facilities. The City may relocate a service connection point if the City determines relocation is necessary.

(F)

A customer must reimburse the City for all costs incurred by the City resulting from the failure or refusal of the customer to comply with this section.

(G)

The City may disconnect utility service if a customer fails to maintain the customer's property as required by this section. The City is not liable for damage to the customer's property caused by City authorized maintenance of a right-of-way or meter installation.

Source: 2003 Code Section 15-9-35; 1992 Code Section 18-4-054; Ord. 040805-02; Ord. 20070927-006; Ord. 20130620-002.