(1) may provide for the billing and collection of the water and sewer usage charges on an estimated basis for periods of 6 months or less, based on the historical daily average consumption calculated from actual previous usage;
(2) shall read the meter at least once every 6 months; and
(3) (i) shall base the final bill for the 6-month period on the actual consumption adjusted by previous estimates, if the meter had not been read because it was inaccessible;
(ii) shall base the final bill for the 6-month period on the historical daily average consumption, calculated from actual previous usage, if a final reading cannot be made because:
1. the meter malfunctioned;
2. the meter had been taken out of service for repairs, maintenance, or water system relining purposes; or
3. there was theft of service;
(iii) may modify the historical daily average consumption calculation based on appropriate evidence submitted by the owner; and
(iv) may not base a final bill on estimated usage for two consecutive 6-month periods.
(b) Payment due date.-
(1) The Commission shall bill for the amount of water and sewer usage charges to each property served monthly, four times a year, or twice a year, as the Commission determines.
(2) On receipt each bill is payable to the Commission.
(c) Late payment.-
(1) A late payment charge of 5% of the unpaid charges shall be added and collected as part of the bill if:
(i) the Commission sends out a bill for water and sewer usage charges in the regular course of business;
(ii) for a service period of less than 3 months, the bill is not paid 20 days from the date of sending; or
(iii) for a service period of 3 months or more, the bill is not paid 30 days from the date of sending.
(2) The late payment charge is in addition to and not in substitution for or derogation of any other right or remedy granted to the Commission by any other law.
(d) Termination of service.-
(1) If a bill is not paid within 30 days after the date of sending, after leaving written notice on the premises or mailing notice to the owner's last known address, the Commission shall turn off the water to the property.
(2) The water may not be turned on again until the bill, any late payment penalty charges as authorized by law, and the cost incurred in shutting off and restoring the water supply are paid.
(e) Collection.- If a bill is not paid within 60 days after the date of sending, the bill shall be collected against the owner of the property served in the same manner as other debts are collected in Montgomery County and Prince George's County.
(f) Municipal contracts not affected.- The provisions of subsections (b), (d), and (e) of this section that relate solely to sewer usage charges may not be construed to invalidate an existing contract between the Commission and a municipality located in the sanitary district without the consent of the municipality.
Billing scheme . - The purpose to be accomplished by this section is the fair, just and accurate billing of Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission customers and, in view thereof, the billing scheme outlined therein is mandatory and must be complied with by the WSSC. Washington Sub. San. Comm'n v. Southern Mgt. Corp., 58 Md. App. 136, 472 A.2d 505, cert. denied, 300 Md. 317, 477 A.2d 1196 (1984).
Commission may not collect on estimated bills where malfunctioning meters cannot determine actual consumption. - In instances where the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission cannot demonstrate actual consumption because of malfunctioning meters, the General Assembly has directed that it cannot collect on the basis of estimated bills. Washington Sub. San. Comm'n v. Southern Mgt. Corp., 58 Md. App. 136, 472 A.2d 505, cert. denied, 300 Md. 317, 477 A.2d 1196 (1984).
(1) may provide for the billing and collection of the water and sewer usage charges on an estimated basis for periods of 6 months or less, based on the historical daily average consumption calculated from actual previous usage;
(2) shall read the meter at least once every 6 months; and
(3) (i) shall base the final bill for the 6-month period on the actual consumption adjusted by previous estimates, if the meter had not been read because it was inaccessible;
(ii) shall base the final bill for the 6-month period on the historical daily average consumption, calculated from actual previous usage, if a final reading cannot be made because:
1. the meter malfunctioned;
2. the meter had been taken out of service for repairs, maintenance, or water system relining purposes; or
3. there was theft of service;
(iii) may modify the historical daily average consumption calculation based on appropriate evidence submitted by the owner; and
(iv) may not base a final bill on estimated usage for two consecutive 6-month periods.
(b) Payment due date.-
(1) The Commission shall bill for the amount of water and sewer usage charges to each property served monthly, four times a year, or twice a year, as the Commission determines.
(2) On receipt each bill is payable to the Commission.
(c) Late payment.-
(1) A late payment charge of 5% of the unpaid charges shall be added and collected as part of the bill if:
(i) the Commission sends out a bill for water and sewer usage charges in the regular course of business;
(ii) for a service period of less than 3 months, the bill is not paid 20 days from the date of sending; or
(iii) for a service period of 3 months or more, the bill is not paid 30 days from the date of sending.
(2) The late payment charge is in addition to and not in substitution for or derogation of any other right or remedy granted to the Commission by any other law.
(d) Termination of service.-
(1) If a bill is not paid within 30 days after the date of sending, after leaving written notice on the premises or mailing notice to the owner's last known address, the Commission shall turn off the water to the property.
(2) The water may not be turned on again until the bill, any late payment penalty charges as authorized by law, and the cost incurred in shutting off and restoring the water supply are paid.
(e) Collection.- If a bill is not paid within 60 days after the date of sending, the bill shall be collected against the owner of the property served in the same manner as other debts are collected in Montgomery County and Prince George's County.
(f) Municipal contracts not affected.- The provisions of subsections (b), (d), and (e) of this section that relate solely to sewer usage charges may not be construed to invalidate an existing contract between the Commission and a municipality located in the sanitary district without the consent of the municipality.
Billing scheme . - The purpose to be accomplished by this section is the fair, just and accurate billing of Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission customers and, in view thereof, the billing scheme outlined therein is mandatory and must be complied with by the WSSC. Washington Sub. San. Comm'n v. Southern Mgt. Corp., 58 Md. App. 136, 472 A.2d 505, cert. denied, 300 Md. 317, 477 A.2d 1196 (1984).
Commission may not collect on estimated bills where malfunctioning meters cannot determine actual consumption. - In instances where the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission cannot demonstrate actual consumption because of malfunctioning meters, the General Assembly has directed that it cannot collect on the basis of estimated bills. Washington Sub. San. Comm'n v. Southern Mgt. Corp., 58 Md. App. 136, 472 A.2d 505, cert. denied, 300 Md. 317, 477 A.2d 1196 (1984).
(1) may provide for the billing and collection of the water and sewer usage charges on an estimated basis for periods of 6 months or less, based on the historical daily average consumption calculated from actual previous usage;
(2) shall read the meter at least once every 6 months; and
(3) (i) shall base the final bill for the 6-month period on the actual consumption adjusted by previous estimates, if the meter had not been read because it was inaccessible;
(ii) shall base the final bill for the 6-month period on the historical daily average consumption, calculated from actual previous usage, if a final reading cannot be made because:
1. the meter malfunctioned;
2. the meter had been taken out of service for repairs, maintenance, or water system relining purposes; or
3. there was theft of service;
(iii) may modify the historical daily average consumption calculation based on appropriate evidence submitted by the owner; and
(iv) may not base a final bill on estimated usage for two consecutive 6-month periods.
(b) Payment due date.-
(1) The Commission shall bill for the amount of water and sewer usage charges to each property served monthly, four times a year, or twice a year, as the Commission determines.
(2) On receipt each bill is payable to the Commission.
(c) Late payment.-
(1) A late payment charge of 5% of the unpaid charges shall be added and collected as part of the bill if:
(i) the Commission sends out a bill for water and sewer usage charges in the regular course of business;
(ii) for a service period of less than 3 months, the bill is not paid 20 days from the date of sending; or
(iii) for a service period of 3 months or more, the bill is not paid 30 days from the date of sending.
(2) The late payment charge is in addition to and not in substitution for or derogation of any other right or remedy granted to the Commission by any other law.
(d) Termination of service.-
(1) If a bill is not paid within 30 days after the date of sending, after leaving written notice on the premises or mailing notice to the owner's last known address, the Commission shall turn off the water to the property.
(2) The water may not be turned on again until the bill, any late payment penalty charges as authorized by law, and the cost incurred in shutting off and restoring the water supply are paid.
(e) Collection.- If a bill is not paid within 60 days after the date of sending, the bill shall be collected against the owner of the property served in the same manner as other debts are collected in Montgomery County and Prince George's County.
(f) Municipal contracts not affected.- The provisions of subsections (b), (d), and (e) of this section that relate solely to sewer usage charges may not be construed to invalidate an existing contract between the Commission and a municipality located in the sanitary district without the consent of the municipality.
Billing scheme . - The purpose to be accomplished by this section is the fair, just and accurate billing of Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission customers and, in view thereof, the billing scheme outlined therein is mandatory and must be complied with by the WSSC. Washington Sub. San. Comm'n v. Southern Mgt. Corp., 58 Md. App. 136, 472 A.2d 505, cert. denied, 300 Md. 317, 477 A.2d 1196 (1984).
Commission may not collect on estimated bills where malfunctioning meters cannot determine actual consumption. - In instances where the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission cannot demonstrate actual consumption because of malfunctioning meters, the General Assembly has directed that it cannot collect on the basis of estimated bills. Washington Sub. San. Comm'n v. Southern Mgt. Corp., 58 Md. App. 136, 472 A.2d 505, cert. denied, 300 Md. 317, 477 A.2d 1196 (1984).
