Kodiak water customers face $250 involuntary disconnect charge, $1,000 tampering fine under new rules

Kodiak water and sewer customers who fall behind on their bills will face new penalties under an ordinance the City Council is scheduled to adopt Thursday.

The measure imposes a $250 involuntary disconnect charge that must be paid before service is restored after a shutoff. Accounts unpaid by the 20th of the month are placed on a delinquent list and become subject to disconnection. Service is discontinued once an account has been in default for 30 days after becoming delinquent. Delinquency penalties accrue at 5 percent per month, capped at 20 percent, with 10 percent annual interest on water balances and 5 percent on sewer balances. Anyone who tampers with a meter or restores their own service after a shutoff faces a fine of up to $1,000 billed to their utility account.

The council passed the ordinance on first reading June 25 by a unanimous roll-call vote and advanced it to a second reading and public hearing Thursday.