2025 Rate Schedule and Payment Policy
Michele Mutual Water Company is your non-profit water company. Its mission is to provide safe, affordable water to all members. As a mutual utility our only funding is provided in the form of your quarterly payments and assessments. It is vital to the financial health of our company that quarterly payments and assessments are paid in full and on time. We are also a utility staffed and owned by neighbors. We have your back and if the burden of the quarterly bill or assessment is too great, the Board will do its best to work with you to find a reasonable solution.
Fees
Regular Quarterly Fee: $340.00
This includes rebuilt property, occupied or unoccupied, property occupied by use of temporary housing, and vacant property without temporary housing that is currently using water service for any use (e.g., irrigation.)
Vacant property not using water: $240.00
Current Board Members: $240.00
If paying by check, please mail checks to:
Michele Mutual Water Company
PO Box 523
Fulton, CA. 95439
Non-payment Policies
MMWC believes that access to water is a fundamental right. We are also aware that from time to time our members may experience financial events that restrict their ability to pay for quarterly fees and/or assessments. To that end, the board has worked to create a common-sense non-payment policy that protect both our members and the financial well-being of the corporation. The board will always be open and willing to discuss alternative payment plans or payment structures.
Below is a synopsis of what can happen due to nonpayment of your water bill, along with due dates and timelines for late fees, the shut off process and/or lien placement. The full procedures can also be found in the company bylaws Sections 3.04 thru 3.06. See the bylaws here.
| Quarter Billing | Statement Date/Date Mailed | Service Dates | Due Date | Late Fees Incurred (30 Days) | Begin Shut-Off Process(60 Days) | Lien Placed on Property (90 Days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan. 1st | Oct. 1 - Dec. 31 | 1/31/26 | 3/01/2026 | 3/31/2026 | 4/30/2026 |
| 2 | April 1st | Jan. 1 - Mar. 31 | 4/30/2026 | 5/30/2026 | 6/29/2026 | 7/29/2026 |
| 3 | July 1st | Apr. 1 - Jun. 30 | 7/31/2026 | 8/30/2026 | 9/29/2026 | 10/29/2026 |
| 4 | Oct. 1st | July 1 - Sept. 30 | 10/31/2026 | 11/30/2026 | 12/30/2026 | 1/29/2027 |
Non-payment Resulting in a Fine
Non-payment of a water bill or assessment is defined as a bill or assessment that remains unpaid 30 (thirty) days after the initial due date. The current fine for non-payment is $100.00.
Non-payment Resulting in the Discontinuation of Service
If any quarterly fee or assessment remains unpaid for 60 (sixty) days after the initial due date, the board reserves the right to shut off water service.
Water Discontinuation Policy
1. The member will be notified of the potential water shut off at the postal address, or the email address, or the telephone number listed in the member’s registered contact information. If the member’s listed contact address is not the address of the property to which the water service is provided, the notice will also be sent to the address of the property to which water service is provided. This notice shall include:
a. The member’s name and address.
b. The address at which water service is provided to the member by MMWC.
c. The total amount due.
d. The date by which payment is required to avoid shut off of water service.
e. A description of the process to apply for an extension of time to pay the delinquent charges.
f. A description of the procedure to petition for bill review and appeal.
g. A description of the procedure to request a deferred, reduced, or alternative payment schedule, including an amortization of the delinquent residential service charges.
2. The board will create a plan for deferred or reduced payments with an alternative payment schedule. The plan will be mailed, emailed, or discussed via the telephone with the member.
3. At all times the member may appeal the plan to the board, by emailing the corporation at michelemutualwater@gmail.com or by contacting any board director to schedule a hearing. Current director contact information can be found on the Corporation’s website.
4. If these options have been exhausted without an agreed-upon schedule or payment plan, the Board reserves the right to shut off water service to the member’s property.
5. If service is discontinued, the board reserves the right to apply additional fees and interest. The member will be informed of these additional fees and interest prior to the disconnection of water service.
6. No fewer than 7 (seven) calendar days prior to discontinuation of water service, a board director will telephone the member whose service is to be disconnected. At this time the member will be advised of:
a. The date and approximate time of the planned shut off, the total amount due to reestablish service, including any additional fees and interest.
b. Options to avert the shut off, as well as alternative payment schedules, deferred payments, minimum payments, procedures for requesting amortization of the unpaid balance, and methods to petition and/or appeal the member’s bill or payment plan.
7. If a member appeals the water bill or the board’s payment plan, service shall not be shut off while the appeal is pending.
8. If the Corporation is unable to contact the member, the board shall make a good faith effort to place in a conspicuous place a notice of imminent discontinuation of water service.
9. The reconnection fee is currently three-hundred dollars ($300.00.)
The board will refrain from discontinuing service under certain specific conditions:
A serious threat to life, health, or safety of a member
Severe financial hardship
The board will restrict reconnection fees for residents at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
Non-payment Resulting in Lien
If any bill or assessment remains unpaid for 90 (ninety) days, the board reserves the right to authorize recording of notice of lien against a member’s property. A recording of lien on a property means that the owner won’t be able to sell or refinance the property. Resolution of a property lien will include any unpaid fines as well as reimbursement of all associated legal fees and charges, including interest.
This water shut off policy adheres to the rules outlined by the California “Water Shutoff Protection Act” and its Amendment, CA SB 3 (2023-2024).