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Cordell city administrator J.C. Moser. Cordell Beacon file photo.
The Cordell City Council last week enacted changes to the utility collection policy which could result in much swifter disconnections for customers who fall behind on their utility bills.
The new policy states that the city’s 10 percent late charge will be applied to all accounts not paid in full by 5:00 p.m. on the 15th day of every month. If the full payment, including late penalties, is not made within five days of the penalty date the utility service will be subject to immediate disconnection.
“The customers who do not pay in full within five days of the penalty date will be disconnected as soon as the city employees can disconnect them,” said Cordell city administrator J.C. Moser. “The penalty date is after 5:00 p.m. on the 15th day of the month, so disconnection will begin as soon as possible after 5:00 p.m. on the 20th of the month, which will usually be the next business day.”
Moser said the city will not be making payment arrangements on any active accounts, but will continue with arrangements on disconnected accounts.
“We will continue to make payment arrangements on accounts that have been disconnected and closed to help people get them paid off,” he said. “We will not make payment arrangements on accounts that are active.”
Moser said the policy change was necessary to help clear up confusion about the city’s collection and disconnect process and to provide sufficient time at the end of the month for city staff to process new billing.
“The collection policy the city was using was not clear on the disconnection dates and offered confusion when the end of the month approached,” he said. “The collections need to be completed before the new month’s bill cycle takes place. The city staff requires time to complete the collections for the month and prepare the billing for the new month. Changes with definite dates were needed in order to get the new bills in the mail with enough time for delivery to customers by the first of the month.”
Moser stressed that it is the responsibility of the customers to make sure their bills are current. Exceptions will not be made to the policy for customers who do not receive their bills. Residents are encouraged to follow up with the city if they do not receive their bills at the first of the month, he said.
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