About Your Utility Bill and Services
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Your Utility Services Water - Sewer - Electric - Storm WaterWhat You Should Know
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MONTHLY BILLING
Meters are read and bills are prepared each month. Before you are billed, both manual and computer checks are made to identify unusual changes in the amount of electricity or water used. When we find such differences and suspect it might be due to a human error, we don't wait for you to call. We immediately reread your meter before your account is billed.
ESTIMATED BILLS
Occasionally, you may receive an estimated bill. This will only happen when circumstances demand it. Either the meter serving your property has stopped registering or our meter reader couldn't get to your meter for one reason or another. (For example: dog, heavy rain, snow, etc.) If your bill has been based on estimated consumption, it will be indicated on your bill. When we do have to make an estimate, we base it on your previous water and electric usage. Any error in estimating will automatically be adjusted when the meter is read the next time.
HOW YOUR BILL IS CALCULATED
The amount shown on your bill each month for water and sewer includes a fixed charge and a commodity charge.
Water & Sewer Fixed Charges: This is a minimum charge to all active accounts, even if there is no usage. Fixed charges cover the cost to read and maintain the meter and process your bill. The fixed charge is based on the size of your water meter connection.
Commodity Charges: This is determined by subtracting the monthly meter readings and multiplying by a uniform rate per unit (750 gallons). All customers located inside the City limits pay the same rate per unit of water consumed. The rate for customers located outside the City limits is double the inside rate.
Sewer bills for City residents are calculated using a sewer rate, but are based on the amount of water used during the month and the size of the water meter connection. Remember! By conserving water, you can also reduce your sewer bill. The sewer rate for customers living outside the City limits is double the inside rate. When you initially fill your swimming pool with City water, you will be charged for sewer. If the pool develops a leak or you top off the water level of your pool with City water, your sewer charge may be adjusted once we are notified. For more information reguarding the City's Swimming Pool Policy and adjustment form, please see eServices, Online Forms. If water service is not available but sewer service is provided, the monthly charge may be based on a flat rate. If you fill your swimming pool with City water, you will be charged for sewer.
Electricity Basic Facilities Charge: This charge is a minimum bill rendered on active accounts, even if no electricity is used. This covers the cost to read and maintain the meter, to process your bill and to make some system improvements.
Commodity Charges: Your electric bill is based on the number of kilowatt hours (1,000 watts) used and then billed under the appropriate rate. If you think you qualify for a different rate, please call us. The North Carolina gross receipts tax of 3% is also added.
Landfill Fee: This $5 fee is used to pay for developing additional space in the landfill.
Storm Water Fee: This fee, based on impervious surface, helps pay to correct flooding problems.
PAYING YOUR BILL
Your bill is due when you receive it and becomes delinquent 35 days after the billing date. You may use our 24-hour automated system by calling (336) 883-3111 or go to www.high-point.net to pay your bill seven days a week. You may also pay by mail or at our Customer Service office, 211 S. Hamilton St., Monday through Friday, from 7:30a.m. to 5 p.m., except holidays. Any payment put in the night depository will be treated as a "next day" payment.
At City Hall at the Mall (first floor of Oak Hollow Mall), you can pay your bill Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm with lunch fron 2:30 - 3:00 pm. We have a night deposit box there, too.
If you call us, we can take your payment by check or credit/debit card over the phone!
REMINDER NOTICE
We make every effort to give our customers a fair amount of time to pay their bills. If a customer's bill has not been paid, a reminder notice is sent. This states the amount due and a scheduled disconnect date. We also try to call to remind you.
INVOLUNTARY DISCONNECTION OF SERVICE(s)
If we have not heard from you or have not received your payment by the close of business on the "Past Due After" date on the Reminder Notice, a $5.00 late payment fee, per address, will be added to the bill. In addition, a deposit may be required and your utility service(s) may be cut off. If we make a trip to your address and /or cut off service(s), a $25.00 fee per trip will be added to your next bill.
EXTENSION OF TIME TO PAY
If you need extra time to pay your bill, please call us to discuss it.
If payment of any extended installment is not made by the specified date/time, service will be disconnected without further notice and all amounts due to the City, including fees and deposits, will be due and payable before reconnection.
HELPFUL PROGRAMS
Budget Billing Plan: If you would like to spread your utility payments evenly over 12 months, sign up for the City's budget billing plan.
This free service is available to residential utility customers who have good credit, along with 12 months of service at the same location. Budget billing is especially helpful if your electric/water bill is a lot higher in the summer or in the winter.
When you sign up for budget billing, we use your bills from the last 12 months to estimate your annual cost for utilities. Then, we divide your estimated cost by 12 months. The result is your monthly payment. We will review your account twice a year to make sure that our estimates are on target. If they are not, your monthly payment will change. There is no settle-up month.
Third Party Notification: If, for any reason, you can't respond to a notice that your electricity or water service might be turned off because of unpaid bills, the City provides a way to make sure that someone else -- a "third party" -- is notified also. This voluntary program is particularly helpful to those who are ill or elderly and live alone.
Automatic Bank Drafting: If you're tired of writing checks or making trips to the collections counter at City Hall to pay your utility bill, sign up for automatic bank drafting.
Here's how it works. Simply click on the following link for an Application for a Utility Account Bank Draft. If you'd prefer, you can call us at 883-3111, and we'll send you a form to fill out and sign, authorizing us to draft your bank account to pay your utility bill.
Each month, we'll send you a bill like we always do so you'll know how much it is. With automatic bank drafting, your utility bill is paid electronically 10 days after the billing date.
If you have a question about your bill, call us.If you decide you don't want automatic bank drafting, give us 30 days to make the changes on your account. If you don't want the bill paid with a bank draft, notify us and your bank.
APPLIANCE REBATE
Install or replace your electric water heater (minimum capacity of 30 gallons) and get a rebate check up to $150.00. You must be a City of High Point electric customer to qualify for the appliance rebate.
To obtain a rebate form call us or click on eServices and then Online Forms.
We recommend that you hire a licensed contractor to do the work. Once the work has been inspected by the City's Inspection division, we'll send you - the property owner- a rebate check for $150.00.
WRITE TO US AT . . .
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City of High Point
Utilities Customer Service Dept. P. O. Box 230 High Point, NC 27261-0230 |
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CALL US IF YOU NEED US!!
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OFFICE/PAYMENT LOCATIONS
Customer Service Office
2nd floor, City Hall
211 South Hamilton Street
Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
City Hall at the Mall /"After Hours" Deposit Box*
1st floor, Oak Hollow Mall
Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (closed for lunch 2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
*Payments put into either of the "After Hours" depositories will be treated as "next day" payments.
City Hall - E. Green Dr. side of building*
City Hall - E. Commerce Ave. parking lot*
Drive-Thru Locations
First Bank locations will accept City of High Point utility payments at no cost to you. Only cash or check payments are accepted by the banks. And, you MUST bring your entire bill when making your payment at either bank. If your services have been cut off for non-payment or if you have questions about your account, you must go to a city facility for assistance, or call 883-3111.
First Bank
1200 N. Main St., High Point
and
11410 N. Main St., Archdale
Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday - 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Please remember that your wait in the bank drive-thru line may be longer at the first of the month. At these peak times, you may want to pay at another payment location.
Mail payments to:
City of High Point
P. O. Box 10039
High Point, NC 27261-3039
Write to us at . . .
Customer Service Dept.
P. O. Box 230
High Point, NC 27261-0230
www.high-point.net
CALL US IF YOU NEED US, 24 / 7 !!
(336) 883-3111 (voice)
(336) 883-8517 (TDD)
888-883-3632 (toll free if outside 336 area code)
Electric - Water - Sewer Emergencies
If you have a question about your utility bill please call Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., excluding holidays. If you call outside the regular business hours and your call is not an emergency, you may wish to call back during regular business hours for faster service.