For City Council and Rialto Utility Authority Meeting [January 28, 2020]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Rod Foster, City Manager
FROM: Thomas J. Crowley, P.E., Utilities Manager
Title
Request City Council/Rialto Utility Authority Approve Implementation of Changes Necessary to Comply with California Senate Bill 998, Entitled Discontinuation of Residential Water Service: Urban and Community Water Systems, Including the Repeal of Resolution No. 5074 and the Adoption of Resolution No. 7591 and RUA Resolution No. 01-20 in Compliance with Senate Bill 998.
Body
BACKGROUND
Senate Bill 998 ("SB 998" or the "Bill") was signed by the Governor on September 28, 2018. The Bill requires urban water suppliers that provide water to more than 200 water connections, such as the City of Rialto, to adopt a detailed written policy concerning residential service shutoffs for nonpayment and follow specific procedures prior to the discontinuance of residential water service by February 1, 2020. Intended to minimize the number of Californians who lose access to water service due to their inability to pay, SB 998 provides additional protections and procedural requirements before residential water service can be discontinued. SB 998 only affects the water enterprise.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
SB 998 prohibits the discontinuance of water service until accounts are at least sixty (60) days delinquent, requires a seven (7) business day notice before discontinuance, and prohibits discontinuance when doing so would (1) pose a serious threat to the health and safety of a resident, (2) if the customer demonstrates an inability to pay and (3) is willing to make payments via alternative methods.
If all these conditions are met, the water provider may only disconnect service if (1) the customer fails to comply with the terms of the alternative payment arrangement for sixty (60) days or (2) the customer fails to pay their current subsequent bill for sixty (60) days. Water ser...
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