The Budget Billing options allows Hartselle Utilities customers to pay an even amount or budget billed amount on their utility bill. This option is available to all residential customers that have lived at the present location for twelve (12) months and that owe only a current bill.
The calculated amount for each customer requesting budget billing is figured by taking the past twelve (12) months total bill for all utility services, plus 9.09% for anticipated usage increases. This total is then divided by eleven (11) months. If a customer has a home insulation or a heat pump loan, the monthly payment for the loan will be added to the above calculated budget billing amount. This will be the amount paid by the customer during the first eleven (11) months of the budget year. The twelfth month’s bill will be the amount required to reconcile the account for the year.
A review of the budget billing accounts will be made at least once during the twelve (12) months billing period. If, during the year, circumstances make it advisable, the budget billing amount may be revised to more accurately reflect the anticipated twelve (12) months total bill. In the event it becomes necessary to change the amount, the customer will be advised and will come to the Hartselle Utilities Main Office to sign a new payment agreement reflecting the change in the budget billing amount.
The twelve-month budget billing period will begin in May of each year and the accounts will be reconciled and billed the difference in April of the following year. Customers may sign up at any time. Interested customers may request an analysis to determine the amount of their budget bill.
Eligibility for the plan requires utility service at the current address for the preceding twelve (12) months. New homes recently connected and families who move from one location to another and have less than twelve (12) months history at the current address are excluded from the budget billing option. Both home owners and renters are eligible to apply.
Customers must owe only a current bill and have no past due balance from another month or another location.
Customers must sign the customer agreement agreeing to pay exactly the budget billed amount each month.
The customer’s account will be reconciled in the final month of the budget billing period. The final month’s bill will be the difference between the accumulated amount due from the actual usage and the accumulated amount paid from budget billing for the previous eleven (11) months period. Any resulting customer credit balance will be applied to the following month’s bill unless the customer requests a refund of such balance.
Any customer with three (3) or more late payments, returned checks or one (1) disconnect for non-payment in a twelve (12) month period will constitute automatic removal from the program.
Either the customer or the distributor may terminate the budget billing agreement at the end of any billing period. Upon such termination, the customer’s account will be reconciled in the same manner as provided in the preceding section for the final month of the budget billing period. If a customer should move from a location this will also terminate the budget billing agreement.
For more information and to request an enrollment form, call HU at (256) 773-3340 or send an email to Customer Service Manager Terri Harris at tharris@hartselleutilities.org.