Relating to city utilities including landlord notification, and including effective date provisions

Under current law, a city utility or enterprise service to a property or premises shall not be discontinued or disconnected unless prior written notice is sent by mail to the account holder in whose name the delinquent rates were incurred. If the account holder is a tenant, and if the owner or landlord of the property or premises has made a written request for notice, the notice shall also be sent to the owner or landlord. In the event that the account holder is a tenant, this bill eliminates the provision requiring the owner or landlord of the property to make a written request for notice. The bill requires the notice to be given to the owner or landlord when the tenant is days delinquent on payment, and at least days before the utility is discontinued or disconnected. Under current law, when a landlord has given written notice to the city utility or enterprise that a property is residential rental property and that the tenant is liable for the rates or charges for certain utilities, the property is exempt from a lien for delinquent rates or charges associated with the utility. The bill includes as acceptable written notice a form completed online, or sent by electronic mail, through the mail, or by facsimile transmission.