§54-26  Rates.  The board of watersupply may fix and adjust rates and charges for the furnishing of water and forwater service; provided no rates or charges shall be fixed or adjusted prior tothe holding by the board of a public hearing, public notice of which shall begiven not less than twenty days before the date of the public hearing and thenotice shall set forth the time, place of the hearing, and the proposed ratesand charges to be considered thereat.  The board may collect and by appropriatemeans, including the discontinuance of service to delinquent consumers, orcommencement of civil action in the name of the board, enforce the collectionof the rates and charges; and adjust and settle all complaints, claims, andaccounts of consumers or the public.  All water furnished to the county or anydepartment thereof or to the State or any department thereof shall be chargedto the respective departments and shall be payable to the board by therespective departments at the rates and times established by the board, and,upon failure of the departments to make payment when payment is due, then theauditor of the county and the comptroller of the department of accounting andgeneral services of the State shall pay from the account of the department or departmentsall delinquencies as certified by the chairperson of the board. [L 1961, c 155,pt of §1; am L 1965, c 96, §91; Supp, §145A-16; HRS §54-26; gen ch 1993; am L1998, c 2, §21]