Water and Wastewater Hook Up and Billing Information

The City of Portales provides water, wastewater and solid waste (garbage) services. If you are moving to a new location and request services the following procedures apply. If the property you need to establish service for has an existing water meter or garbage bin you will need to visit City Hall located at 100 W 1st with a photo ID and make a deposit of $60 dollars for residential service. The City provides same day service on regular business days prior to 3 p.m.

Pursuant to Section 27-4 of the Portales Municipal Code, the following policies and regulations are established.

1.0 Application for Service

1.1 Each applicant for new water, sewer and/or trash service shall provide the following:

1. The applicant must complete and deliver a written application for new service.

1.2 Each applicant for current water, sewer and/or trash service shall provide the following:

1. The applicant must complete and deliver a written application for current service.
2. Name of responsible party, and name of spouse, if applicable.
3. Exact location of premises to be served.
4. Complete mailing address where utility bill will be mailed.
5. If renting, applicant must provide name of Landlord.
6. Whether or not the applicant has had utilities previously with the City.
7. Provide name of place of employment.
8. Information to establish identity of the applicant such as driver’s license and/or social security number.
9. Emergency contact not living with applicant.
10. Applicant must sign and date application.
11. The applicant shall make payment of the deposit required by Section 27-36.
12. Date of when applicant will take responsibility for utility service.
13. Access to meter as stated in Section 27-35.

2.0 Residential and Commercial Deposit Policy
Pursuant to Section 27-36 of the Portales Municipal Code, the following policies and regulations are established concerning deposits for guarantee of payment for utility bills:

2.1 For all new connections of utility services for water, sewer and/or trash a deposit from the applicant shall be required.

1. The deposit for all in-city residential customers will be sixty dollars ($60) for water, sewer and trash service. Resolution 01-02-14
2. The full deposit must be paid by the applicant before service will be connected. No partial payments will be allowed for deposits as well as no installment payments.

2.2 Each account for all multi-unit residential complexes shall require a deposit of forty dollars ($40) per residential unit on the meter.

1. Small office buildings, dry cleaners , etc. shall require a deposit of one hundred dollars ($100).
2. Large office buildings, banks, restaurants, etc shall require a deposit of two hundred dollars ($200).
3. Car washes, laundries, department stores, etc shall require a deposit of three hundred dollars ($300).
4. The Public Works Director or City Clerk shall decide deposit amounts for those businesses that do not fall into the categories listed above.
5. The City Manager shall decide deposit amounts for Industrial Accounts.
   Resolution 01-02-14 .

3.0 Establishment of Services

3.1 Service will be established (connected) by the Utility Department upon customer request as provided by Section 27-8. A service connection charge of $7.50 for one (1) service will be billed to the customer. After hours or on weekends the service charge will be $17.50.

3.2 Before any service is connected any outstanding balance must be paid in full.

3.3 Connections of service will be performed on a daily basis, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Every effort will be made to connect service on the day it is requested, provided there are no problems with utility service connections. If the workload does not permit a same day connect, the service will be connected the next working day. Any request after 3pm will be considered next working day service, or an after hours service charge will apply.

3.4 Any customer receiving a non-scheduled after-hours connect or disconnect will be assessed a service charge of $17.50

3.5 For re-establishment of service disconnected for non-payment or customer request, the after hours or weekend service charge will be $25.00.

3.6 A temporary three day service is available for $7.50. This charge includes 2,000 gallons of usage. Any amount over that will be billed at current rates.

3.7 Customers transferring from one location to another location are encouraged to have services disconnected and connected on the same day. If this is not possible, the customer may have thirty (30) days to have utilities on at both locations. When the final bill is processed the deposit and the balance for the previous account will be transferred to the new account.

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 21-Aug-2007 15:22:30 Mountain Daylight Time