Slidell can turn off water if account is 15 days past due

The Slidell City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Tuesday night that will allow it to charge a late fee on water bills, and it can disconnect any accounts past due by 15 days or more.

The ordinance, which was proposed by Councilmen Sean Fadely and Shawn Jones, authorizes the city “to utilize and undertake all remedies available under Louisiana law to recover debt owed to the city.”

Fadely said the city continues to lose money due to “bad debt from unpaid water bills each year,” and that it adds up to as much as “a couple hundred thousands” of dollars annually.

In addition, the council authorized the city to charge a 10% late fee to any account that goes unpaid past the due date.

Also in the ordinance, the city will lower the amount of the disconnect fee from $50 to $35, but it will add a $35 fee to be charged for any reconnect. It adds, “no reconnect will be performed by the city until the city confirms all outstanding amounts have been paid with sufficient funds.”

“The shut off is for two reasons,” Fadely said. “One, to prevent the city from sending out three free months of water that isn’t being paid for. Two, if you’re already behind one month and can’t get caught up, you’re not going to get caught up on three months.”

The ordinance does allow for an account holder to dispute any charges before being cut off, as long as he or she does so before it is 15 days beyond the “past due” date.