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Marietta BLW adopts policy consolidating rules for disconnection of service
Summary
The board approved a new Policy 5.15 that consolidates existing code provisions on service disconnection for ordinance or safety violations, including grease trap and backflow issues; meter tampering will be handled per Georgia code.
The Marietta Board of Light and Water voted to adopt Policy 5.15, a new BLW policy that consolidates existing city-code and BLW rules on disconnecting utility service for code violations, safety hazards, access refusal and meter tampering.
Kim Holland, presenting the proposal, described Policy 5.15 as a consolidation rather than a new authority: "This is a new policy, but it actually just reflects those policies already in place and just kind of consolidates it," Holland said. The policy lists grounds for disconnection including unauthorized use or discharge, noncompliance with development or environmental-protection standards, refusal to allow utility personnel access to meters or service lines, and health or operational hazards that pose risk to the system or public welfare.
Holland said the BLW will provide multiple notifications and an explanation of corrective action required and a deadline before discontinuing service; service will be restored once proof of correction is provided. Board members asked how notices are delivered when meters and accounts are in a landlord or tenant name; Holland said BLW can notify both the account holder and the tenant and that disconnection is a last resort.
The presenters said the utility typically deploys the disconnection policy in response to recurring grease-trap violations and backflow-prevention compliance issues. "Grease is very important. Cost us quite a bit of money for repair and rehab all the time," Holland said. The board was told that the utility follows Georgia code section referenced in the meeting (meter tampering statute number read as "16725" in the transcript) when tampering is discovered and that immediate disconnection can occur in those cases.
Board members moved to approve Policy 5.15; the motion passed by voice vote and was recorded as carried. The recorded motion text at the meeting was: "On motion, we approve disconnection of service policy number 5.15." No amendments were recorded during the public discussion.
The policy sets a posted priority for applying partial payments (deposits first, then electric, then water, with sanitation and miscellaneous fees lower on the posting order) and noted that accounts past due below a small-dollar threshold (reported at $50 in discussion) are ordinarily not disconnected. Presenters also said the utility has used liens in some cases involving unpaid sanitation-only charges.
Votes at a glance
- Adoption of BLW Policy 5.15 (Disconnection of Service): Approved (voice vote).
