Billing
1. Water
bills are issued quarterly, as near as possible to the beginning of
January, April, July, and October. [I.2]
2.
Payment for each quarterly bill (including accrued charges) is due at
the HKUI office 30 days from the date on the bill. [9.d]
3. After
the 30-day payment period, an unpaid account will begin accruing
interest at the rate of 1.5% per month. [10.a]
4. After
45 days from the date on the bill, customers with an unpaid account
will be mailed a final notice requesting payment within seven days.
[13.c]
5. Water
service will be discontinued for an account remaining unpaid at the
expiration of the final notice period. The customer will continue to be
charged the quarterly fixed fee. A reconnection fee of $42.00, together
with any unpaid or outstanding debts that may be due to HKUI, must be
paid before the water service will be resumed. [9.g, 14.0]
NOTE:
The restoration of water service that was discontinued
because of non-payment of account balance is not considered an
emergency, and will be handled only during regular business hours.
6.
Overpayments will be credited to the customer's account. Any positive
balance occurring after final settlement of the account will be
returned to the customer.
7. A bad
check fee of $13.00 will be applied to the customer’s account for each
returned check. [11.a]
8. The
customer can avoid the $81.00 quarterly fee if he or she contacts HKUI
in writing and requests the water meter be completely removed from the
customer's connection point. However, if the customer requests water
service again, or the property is transferred to a new owner and the
new owner requests water service, a meter installation fee equal to 50%
of the service connection fee will apply.
9. When a
home is rented, water bills will be sent to the renter if HKUI receives
a request to do so from the customer. However, the customer is
ultimately responsible for the payment of these bills. [9.f]
10.
Payment disputes will be referred to the HKUI business staff for
resolution (540-635-6131). Upon failure to reach a successful
conclusion, either the staff member or the customer may refer the
dispute to the HKUI Board of Directors for final resolution. The
referred dispute will be placed on the next board meeting agenda.
Deposits
HKUI may, at
its discretion, require of any customer a cash deposit to secure the
performance by the customer of the terms and conditions of water
service. The amount of deposit is the customer’s estimated liability
for one quarter of service. [8.a]
The deposit
will be refunded to the customer after one year of satisfactory credit
has been established, or with final settlement of the account,
whichever comes first. Note that any occurrence of late payment will
disrupt establishment of satisfactory credit. [8.b]
Simple
interest will be paid on the customer’s deposit, at the prevailing rate
established by the Virginia State Corporation Commission. [8.c]
Temporary Discontinuation of Service
Seasonal
residents of High Knob, or residents leaving their homes unattended for
an extended period of time, may request a temporary discontinuation of
water service with a water shutoff at the meter. This is highly
recommended to prevent damage and loss caused by leaks during the
homeowner's absence. The $81.00 quarterly water service charge
continues to apply during the period of temporary discontinuation of
service.
NOTE: Customers
are prohibited by law from shutting off or restoring water service at
the meter. The meter is the property of HKUI and may be operated only
by HKUI employees or authorized representatives. [13.a]
1.
Customers desiring a temporary discontinuation of service should
contact the HKUI office at 540-635-6131 to make arrangements. Please
provide at least one week notice.
2. When a
customer requests a temporary discontinuation of water service, a fee
of $25.00 covers both the shutoff and restoration of water service.
This fee appears on the next water bill.
3.
Contact the HKUI office to arrange for restoration of service, at least
two days in advance.
Termination of Service
1.
Customers are requested to notify HKUI at least fifteen days in advance
of their desire to terminate water service and close a water service
account.
2. The
customer is responsible for all charges associated with the account up
until the date of termination.
3. A
final meter reading will be made on the termination date, and a final
bill will be mailed to the customer.
Leaks and Abatement
Customers are
responsible for payment of all water use registered by the meter.
However, in the event of an underground leak on the customer’s
property, the customer may apply for an abatement of 50% of the amount
of excess in a water bill due to this cause, based on an average of the
previous three consecutive quarterly bills, provided the customer
promptly and properly repairs such leak when detected. Application for
underground leak abatement must be made in writing to HKUI, 17 Windy
Way, Front Royal VA 22630. [12.0]
Please note
that there will be no abatement for leaks caused by improper or damaged
service pipes or fixtures belonging to the customer. [12.0]
Customers are
advised to arrange for a Temporary
Discontinuation of Service when leaving High Knob for an
extended period, avoiding the possibility of a large water bill caused
by a leak.
Interruptions in the Water Supply
HKUI may shut
off the water in the mains in case of an accident at any time, or for
the purpose of making connections, alterations, repairs, changes, or
other reasons. We may also restrict the use of water to reserve a
sufficient supply for public fire service or other emergencies whenever
the public welfare may require it. [17.a]
The company
will try to give notice in advance of any work which must be done that
will necessitate any interruption of the supply. Customers are
responsible for ensuring that all pipes, fittings, fixtures, and other
equipment connected with the water supply system are not susceptible to
damage if water is shut off without notice. [17.b]
The company
will undertake to use reasonable care and diligence in order to prevent
and avoid interruptions and fluctuations in the service, but it cannot
and does not guarantee that such will not occur. [17.c]
Water Pressure
Situated on a
mountainside, the High Knob water system is almost entirely gravity
fed. Changes in elevation will affect the water pressure delivered to
each customer. HKUI will provide a minimum pressure of 20 pounds per
square inch (PSI) at the meter. [16.d]
Some homes
may be built at a considerable height above the meter connection, and
the customer may find that the pressure in the home is noticeably less
than that furnished from the mains of the company, due to the
difference in elevation. In this case, the customer must install at his
own expense a tank and/or booster pump, of a type and installation
approved by HKUI and conforming with applicable regulations and codes.
[16.b]
Where the
pressure to a customer’s system is greater than desired, it shall be
the customer’s responsibility to install the proper regulating device
to reduce the pressure to the extent desired. [16.c]
Meter Policies
Meters are
furnished, installed, and removed by HKUI and remain the property of
HKUI. [6.b]
When damage
to any meter arises out of, or is caused by, the customer’s negligence
or carelessness, the repair or replacement of that meter shall be paid
for by the customer. [6.c]
The customer
must promptly notify the company of any defects in or damage to the
meter or its connections. [6.d]
No person
shall turn the water on or off at any street valve, meter, or other
connection, or disconnect or remove any meter or other connection, or
disconnect or remove any meter or disturb any connection pipe or
service line without the consent of HKUI. Penalties provided by law for
any such unauthorized action will be strictly enforced. [13.a]
No customer,
or anyone acting for the customer, shall create a condition that may
cause damage to any meter, connection, service pipe, meter cock, seal,
or any other appliance or installation of the company. The presence of
such condition shall be ascertained solely by the determination of the
company, subject to appeal to the board of directors. The customer
shall be responsible for removing any potentially damaging condition
designated by the company, subject to supervision and approval of the
company.
No customer,
or anyone acting for the customer, shall tamper with any meter,
connection, service pipe, meter cock, seal, or any other appliance of
the company controlling or regulating the customer’s water supply.
[13.d.1]
Customers may
request a meter test as described in Meter
Test Fee. [7.b]
Access by HKUI Personnel
The customer
must provide the company’s employees and agents free and reasonable
access to the premises, and access to the meter or other appliances of
HKUI that control or regulate the customer’s water supply. The service
pipe, meters and fixtures on the customer’s premise must be accessible
to HKUI for observation or inspection at reasonable hours. [13.d.2]
Cross Connections and Back Flow Protection
Customers
must not connect any pipe or fixtures connected with the mains to pipes
or fixtures supplied with water from any other source without
installation of an approved backflow prevention device. [15.a]
Customers
must not install piping systems to supply tanks, cisterns, or swimming
pools. [15.b]
The plumbing
on all premises supplied from the company’s water system shall conform
to the Commonwealth of Virginia Sanitary Code or Warren County Code,
whichever may be applicable. [15.c]
