UTILITY SERVICE.

Austin City Code tit. 15, ch. 15-9, art. 3

in effect

Austin City Code § 15-9-31 UTILITY SERVICE PROVIDED.

§ 15-9-31 - UTILITY SERVICE PROVIDED. (A) The City shall provide utility service: (1) as authorized by this chapter, the rate schedule adopted by council, and other applicable City regulation; (2) to a valid service address; (3) at an approved point of delivery adjacent to a City utility facility; (4) using the most direct route practicable from the City's utility facility to an approved point of delivery; and (5) to a customer's installation that complies with applicable Code requirements. (B) If a customer requests a change to the customer's point of delivery, service capacity, or type of service, the customer shall: (1) pay the cost of the change as established by the rate schedule, including applicable fees; and (2) if necessary, enter into or amend a service contract. (C) The City may refuse to provide utility service to a service address if the applicant owes money to the City for utility service previously provided to the applicant. The City shall provide utility service under this section if the applicant has entered into a deferred payment agreement. (D) The City may refuse to provide water service to a service address if the director determines that there is no City-approved means of wastewater disposal at the service address. Source: 2003 Code Section 15-9-33; 1992 Code Section 18-4-052; Ord. 040805-02; Ord. 20131205-007; Ord. No. 20180524-006, Pt. 3, 6-4-18.

Austin City Code § 15-9-32 CONTINUITY OF SERVICE.

§ 15-9-32 - CONTINUITY OF SERVICE. (A) The City shall use reasonable diligence to supply a customer with constant utility service but does not guarantee the service against an irregularity or interruption. (B) The City may interrupt a customer's utility service when necessary to repair, change, or relocate the City's equipment and facilities. The City is not liable for damage resulting from interrupted service for repair, change, or relocation. Source: 2003 Code Section 15-9-34; 1992 Code Section 18-4-053; Ord. 040805-02.

Austin City Code § 15-9-33 SERVICE ADDRESS REQUIRED.

§ 15-9-33 - SERVICE ADDRESS REQUIRED. (A) A customer within the city limits must obtain a service address from the city manager. (B) A customer shall post the customer's service address in a place that is visible from the street on which the structure or meter is located in compliance with Article 1 (Building Code), Division 1 (Uniform Building Code and Local Amendments) and Article 7 (Uniform Fire Code) of Chapter 25-12 (Technical Codes) of the Code. (C) The city manager shall: (1) assign a service address to: (a) property with legal tract status as determined by the Watershed Protection and Development Review Department; or (b) a meter location not serving a residence or permanent place of business; and (2) recognize an address in the City's utility service area that is assigned by another city. Source: 2003 Code Section 15-9-3(5); 1992 Code Section 18-4-003(5); Ord. 040805-02; Ord. 20060504-039.

Austin City Code § 15-9-34 METER READING.

§ 15-9-34 - METER READING. If requested by a customer, the City shall inform the customer on how to read a City utility meter. Source: 2003 Code Section 15-9-14; 1992 Code Section 18-4-018; Ord. 040805-02.

Austin City Code § 15-9-35 SERVICE CONTRACT CREATED.

§ 15-9-35 - SERVICE CONTRACT CREATED. (A) Except as provided in Subsection (B), a service contract is created when: (1) the City and a person execute a written service agreement; (2) the City accepts a written, electronic, or verbal application for utility services; (3) the City provides utility services to a person; or (4) other circumstances that obligate a person to pay the City for utility service. (B) If a person who has not requested utility service is receiving service, the person may notify the City in writing within 72 hours after the person knows of the service to request that the City disconnect the service without incurring liability for utility service charges. If the City receives notice under this subsection later than 72 hours after the person knows the person is receiving services that were not requested, the person is liable for utility services charges provided by the City. (C) A service contract under this section includes: (1) a customer's duty to pay for utility services provided by the City on or before the payment due date specified on the customer's bill; (2) the City's duty to provide utility services to a customer who is not in arrears; and (3) the terms of this Chapter. Source: 2003 Code Sections 15-9-3(27) and 15-9-31; 1992 Code Sections 18-4-003 and 18-4-050; Ord. 040805-02; Ord. 20090305-003.

Austin City Code § 15-9-36 CONTRACT TERM.

§ 15-9-36 - CONTRACT TERM. A service contract between a customer and the City is in effect until the earlier of: (1) cancellation by the City or the customer; or (2) the expiration of the contract. Source: 2003 Code Section 15-9-32; 1992 Code Section 18-4-051; Ord. 040805-02.

Austin City Code § 15-9-37 CUSTOMER'S RESPONSIBILITIES.

§ 15-9-37 - CUSTOMER'S RESPONSIBILITIES. (A) A customer is responsible for utility service provided on the customer's side of the point of delivery, including: (1) excessive consumption caused by faulty equipment or settings on equipment; (2) damage caused by an open valve or circuit after service initiation; or (3) a violation of this chapter, including utility service diversion, unlawful use of service, or damage to City utility equipment. (B) A customer who vacates a service address before providing the City with notice to cancel utility service is responsible for charges for utility service and violations of this chapter that occur before the City receives cancellation notice. (C) A customer shall convey to the City a perpetual right-of-way that is: (1) acceptable to the City; (2) across the property owned or controlled by the customer; (3) for the City's lines and line extensions, poles, or other equipment necessary or incidental to supply service to the customer; and (4) at no cost to the City. (D) A customer shall: (1) maintain the customer's property to allow verification of the service address of the premises from the street; and (2) provide the City, its agents, contractors, and employees safe and unobstructed access to the customer's property to allow the City to: (a) use, maintain, remove, or replace City property; (b) read a utility meter; (c) trim or remove a tree or shrubbery that interferes with or creates a danger to a utility line or other City utility equipment; (d) remove an object that interferes with or creates a danger to a utility line or other City utility equipment; (e) inspect wiring, a plumbing system, a backflow method or assembly, or other equipment on a new or remodeled installation; (f) turn off an irrigation system if the customer is irrigating on a day or time prohibited under Chapter 6-4 (Water Conservation) and the customer cannot be located; (g) sample a wastewater discharge; (h) obtain a water or reclaimed water sample; and (i) take other action related to supplying service to the customer. (E) A customer's service connections must be readily accessible to the City's service facilities. The City shall determine a service connection point based on the most direct route to City facilities. The City may relocate a service connection point if the City determines relocation is necessary. (F) A customer must reimburse the City for all costs incurred by the City resulting from the failure or refusal of the customer to comply with this section. (G) The City may disconnect utility service if a customer fails to maintain the customer's property as required by this section. The City is not liable for damage to the customer's property caused by City authorized maintenance of a right-of-way or meter installation. Source: 2003 Code Section 15-9-35; 1992 Code Section 18-4-054; Ord. 040805-02; Ord. 20070927-006; Ord. 20130620-002.

Austin City Code § 15-9-38 TRANSFER OF SERVICE.

§ 15-9-38 - TRANSFER OF SERVICE. An existing customer requesting that the City transfer the customer's utility service from the current service address to a new service address shall comply with Article 4 (Application for Utility Service) and Article 5 (Credit Security) based on the type of service requested at the new location. Source: 2003 Code Section 15-9-142; 1992 Code Section 18-4-216; Ord. 040805-02.

Austin City Code § 15-9-39 NOTICE OF CUSTOMER CANCELLATION.

§ 15-9-39 - NOTICE OF CUSTOMER CANCELLATION. (A) If a customer vacates a service address, the customer must give the City notice before the date the customer wants utility service to be disconnected. (B) A customer is responsible for utility service provided by the City to the customer's service address until the later of the date that the City: (1) receives notice of cancellation; (2) disconnects service; or (3) closes the customer's account. Source: 2003 Code Section 15-9-141; 1992 Code Section 18-4-215; Ord. 040805-02.

Austin City Code § 15-9-40 REMEDIES FOR A CUSTOMER'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH A SERVICE CONTRACT.

§ 15-9-40 - REMEDIES FOR A CUSTOMER'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH A SERVICE CONTRACT. (A) If a customer fails to comply with the terms of a service contract, the City may: (1) disconnect service under Article 7 (Termination of Service); (2) cancel a service contract; or (3) take other action authorized by law. (B) If a customer fails to pay for City utility service, the City may obtain payment from the customer or another person as authorized by Texas law. Source: 2003 Code Sections 15-9-38 and 15-9-39; 1992 Code Sections 18-4-057 and 18-4-058; Ord. 040805-02.

Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT15UTRE_CH15-9UTSERE_ART3UTSEFetched: 10/27/2026