Budget Billing

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.

Customer Service News

Operation Warm

The cold winter months are often hard on those with fixed incomes, and sometimes people in need face hard choices between paying utility bills and other needs, such as food or medicine. At times like this, customers often turn to Hartselle Utilities for help.

“Hartselle Utilities participates in several energy programs that provide assistance to households who qualify,” HU Customer Service Manager Terri Harris says. “One program that all of our customers can help with is Operation Warm.”

Operation Warm provides assistance to the elderly, people with disabilities and families with a health crisis. The Community Action Partnership of North Alabama provides resources to families and individuals in these situations and administers the Operation Warm Program. Customers must meet Community Action eligibility criteria to receive assistance.

HU accepts donations and forwards them to Community Action. Customers can make a one-time donation to Operation Warm, or choose to add a specific amount to their utility bill each month. To do so, complete the form in the January issue of The Hartselle Connection and return it to Hartselle Utilities. For more information, call 773-3340 or email Terri Harris at
tharris@hartselleutilities.org.

Simple Steps to Save Energy (and Money!)

Over the next five years, TVA and electric power distributors such as Hartselle Utilities are working to reduce demand for peak power by 1,400 megawatts. To achieve this, residents, businesses and industries across the Tennessee Valley are going to need to work together to use energy more efficiently. Here are a few tips to get started:

• Turn your thermostat up to 78º F; higher if no one is home: don’t pay to keep your furniture cool!

• Turn off lights, appliances and other home electronics with a power bar when not in use; use the “sleep” mode on computers.

• Use the microwave instead of a stove burner or oven for cooking. It cooks faster and doesn’t create as much heat.

• Use your dishwasher and washing machine/dryer only for full loads, and wait until after 8 p.m., when TVA’s costs to produce electricity are lowest.

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents. They use 75 percent less energy and last much longer.

• Keep curtains closed on the south, east and west sides of your house during the day to help keep it cool.

• Complete a home energy audit: call Hartselle Utilities at 773-3340 for a free energy right Home E-Valuation audit or visit www.energyright.com to complete the survey online. After you complete the survey and return it to TVA, you will receive a detailed report with suggestions on ways to save energy and money. Following all the recommendations from the audit could save as much as 20 percent on your annual utility costs.

We Need Your Phone Number

There are times when HU needs to contact customers, either to inform them of scheduled service interruptions or questions regarding an account. For this reason, it is imperative that we have an up-to-date telephone number for you or someone who can contact you in an emergency. If you did not fill out the form in the Summer issue of The Hartselle Connection, please take a moment to send an email to Customer Service Manager Terri Harris at tharris@hartselleutilities.org.

with your name, account #, address, and telephone number.

MAIN OFFICE HOURS

Budget Billing

Customer Service News

Operation Warm

Simple Steps to Save Energy (and Money!)

We Need Your Phone Number