HomeMy Public PortalAboutRES2017-01_Electronic Billing_01/17/2017RESOLUTION NO.2017-01
Electronic Billing - Water Bills
WHEREAS, the City currently bills its water utility services through a paper billing
delivered to its customers by U.S. mail;
WHEREAS, the City believes that payment of water utility bills through use of a web -
based utility on the City website is now technologically feasible and could result in significant
cost savings for the City, if implemented;
WHEREAS, the City also recognizes that some water utility customers may not wish to
use an internet-based payment system and may prefer to continue payment of their water utility
via U.S. mail;
WHEREAS, the City desires to provide a financial incentive for customers to switch to
an internet-based payment utility;
WHEREAS, the City desires to state the terms and conditions under which electronic
billing and electronic payment for water utility services may be implemented;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF IONA, IDAHO:
1. Effective Date. Effective February 1, 2017, the City will implement an intemet-
based method of electronic billing for water utility services and for electronic payment over the
interne of such billings by the customer, subject to the terms and conditions of this Resolution.
2. Application to Participate in E-Billing Program. Customers may participate in the
electronic billing program by executing an application form available through a link posted on
the City wcbsite and after providing necessary billing information to the City's E-billing
Administrator. Customers shall be advised of the availability of such paperless billing program
by written notice included in the customer's next regular billing sent via U.S. Mail. E-billings
will commence upon the first billing cycle following the customer's delivery and execution of
the application form via the e-billing link on the City website.
3. Terms and Conditions. In order to participate in the paperless billing program,
the customer shall sign and consent to participation in the paperless billing program by digitally
executing a written application form made available at a link on the City website. The
application form shall contain a statement of the terms and conditions under which the customer
agrees to participate in the paperless billing system. Such terms and conditions shall include a
dispute resolution procedure set forth in customer e-billing agreement or as may be provided by
ordinance of the City. The customer may at any time revoke his or her consent to participate in
paperless billing by delivery of an on-line electronic notice to the City's E-billing Administrator
indicating the customer's desire to withdraw from paperless billing and by complying with the
Administrator's procedures for the customer's withdrawal from the E-billing program. The link
setting forth the procedures for such withdrawal shall be set forth at a link provided by the
Administrator.
4. Delivery of Electronic Water Utility Bills. Upon receipt of the customer's
digitally -executed agreement to participate in paperless billings, the City E-billing Administrator
will thereafter transmit all water utility bills to the customer via email at an email address
provided by the customer at the time he or she enrolls in the program. In the event the customer
thereafter changes his or her email, the customer shall promptly notify the City's E-billing
Administrator in writing or by email of his or her new email address. In the event the customer
fails to provide written notice of such new email address, such failure shall be deemed to be a
revocation of the customer's consent to participate in the paperless billing program. Until
delivery of such written notice, electronic billings sent to the email address designated in the
customer's application form shall be deemed delivered upon transmission of the e-bill to such
former email address, regardless of the customer's change of email address. In the event the City
becomes aware of an erroneous email address, the City may thereafter send utility statements by
U.S. mail. Billing statements shall be deemed to be sent on the date the email is transmitted by
the Administrator to such email address and shall be deemed sent, regardless of whether or not
the customer in fact receives the email. All interest and late payment penalties as provided by
the City Code shall accrue and be assessed based upon such delivery date.
5. Billing Credit. Customers who consent to participate in the paperless billing
program shall be given a one-time credit in the amount of $ 5.00 per billing account, as an
incentive to participate in the paperless billing program. Such credit shall be reflected on the
customer's billing statement within sixty (60) days after the customer executes his or her digital
agreement to participate in the program. In the event the customer participates in the paperless
billing program for multiple accounts for water services provided at separate locations, then the
customer shall be entitled to a credit for each utility account at such separate locations, provided
a separate customer application form is executed by the customer for each account.
6. Fees. The City will pay all charges and expenses of any software provider for
applications or utilities provided or made available on the City website as necessary in order to
administer the paperless billing utility. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any transactional fees
charged by such software provider or facilitator with respect to payments made by credit card
or debit card shall however be the responsibility of the customer, provided the amount of such
charge for use of charge cards or debit cards is disclosed to the customer at the time the payment
is made by the customer. The amount of such transactional fee shall be prominently displayed
at the time the customer makes his or her electronic payment.
7. Modification of Terms and Conditions. The City reserves the right to modify the
terms and conditions for the paperless billing program at any time, provided such modifications
are posted on the City's website in a prominent location and provided further that the modified
terms and conditions are first approved by the City Council at a regular City Council meeting.
The customer's consent to such altered terms and conditions shall be deemed automatic upon the
customer's payment of any utility billing via electronic transmission following posting of such
notice.
8. Interpretation. Nothing herein shall be deemed to supercede, abrogate or alter any
of the provisions of Chapter 2 of Title 8 of the Iona City Code. In the event of any inconsistency
between the terms of this Resolution and such Chapter, then the terms and conditions in such
Chapter shall prevail.
DATED this ilk- of January, 2017.
Brad Andersen
Mayor
ATTEST:
a Roberts
City Clerk
(SEAL)
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