§ 5141. Scope This chapter applies only to municipalities providing water or sewer services, or both, and it allows disconnection of water or sewer services, or both, as a delinquency collection procedure for water or sewer delinquencies. Disconnection of water service as a collection procedure for delinquent sewer bills is specifically allowed. This delinquency collection […]
§ 5142. Definitions For the purpose of this chapter: (1) “Selectboard” means the selectboard in the case of a town, the city council in the case of a city, the board of trustees in the case of an incorporated village, the prudential committee in the case of a fire district, or the board of commissioners […]
§ 5143. Disconnection of service (a) No municipality shall disconnect service to a ratepayer unless payment of a valid bill or charge is delinquent as defined herein, and notice of disconnection has been provided previously to the ratepayer. A copy of the notice shall be sent to the occupant of a residential dwelling that will […]
§ 5144. Uniform notice form The notice form required under section 5143 of this chapter, and defined in section 5142 of this chapter shall be clearly printed on a pink colored sheet of paper, and shall be according to the following form: Date _________________________________________ $ _________________________________________ AMOUNT IN ARREARS Dear Customer: According to our records, […]
§ 5145. Time and notice of disconnection (a) Disconnection of utility service shall occur only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. of the business day specified on the notice of disconnection, or within the same hours during the four business days thereafter. (b) When service is disconnected or interrupted at the premises […]
§ 5146. Restoration of service If service has been disconnected or interrupted, the municipality shall within 24 hours restore service upon the customer’s request when the cause for disconnection of service has been removed or when an agreement has been reached between the ratepayer and the municipality regarding the dispute that led to the disconnection […]
§ 5147. Jurisdiction for appeals and exceptions The selectboard shall promptly and fairly hear any or all appeals by the ratepayer after notice to all interested parties. During appeal, disconnection will be postponed. Upon just cause shown, the selectboard may grant exceptions to any ratepayer. The selectboard may appoint one or more members of the […]
§ 5148. Consumer provisions Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the selectboard from adopting further procedures, ordinances, or rules providing greater protection for consumers than are required by this chapter. (Added 1977, No. 93.)
§ 5150. Unauthorized connection The officers and agents of such a municipality entrusted with the care and superintendence of the municipality may at all reasonable times enter all premises so supplied to examine the pipes and fixtures and prevent any unnecessary waste, and to examine for sanitary correction thereto. If any person, without the consent […]
§ 5151. Special charges (a) A municipality providing water and sewer services may charge fees for collection of overdue accounts and reconnection of service disconnected because of nonpayment. (b) Fees charged shall not exceed the following schedule: Collection Trips—$25.00 maximum, regardless of number Reconnection: Normal Hours—$25.00 Overtime—$37.50 (c) Interest on delinquent accounts may be assessed […]
§ 5152. Disconnections prohibited; state of emergency (a) Notwithstanding this chapter or any provision of law to the contrary, a municipality; a person who is permitted as a public water system pursuant to 10 V.S.A. chapter 56 and who provides another person water as a part of the operation of that public water system; or […]
