[tabi] Fw: City of Tallahassee News Release - City Utilities Offers Customers New Winter Bill Payment Option
- From: "Lynn Evans" <evans-lynn@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:48:22 -0500
FYI
----- Original Message -----
From: City of Tallahassee
To: evans-lynn@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 6:13 PM
Subject: City of Tallahassee News Release - City Utilities Offers Customers New
Winter Bill Payment Option
City Utilities Offers Customers New Winter Bill Payment Option
January 13, 2010
New program will provide utility payment flexibility - Given the duration
of the extremely cold weather and in consideration of the overall economic
climate, the City of Tallahassee today implemented a one-time utility payment
option for City utility customers. The Winter Relief Assistance Program is
designed to ease the financial burden resulting from higher than normal energy
use during the extreme weather. City staff discussed the program at today's
City Commission meeting, and the initiative was fully endorsed by the
Commission.
The program allows all residential City and non-demand small business
utility customers to carry over up to 25 percent of their utility bill, dated
between Jan. 9 and Feb. 11, to the following month's bill, when usage will
likely be less. To request the carryover option, customers must contact Your
Own Utilities at 891-4YOU (4968).
The carryover will be clearly identified as a separate line item on the
next month's bill. The City will work with customers on an individual basis.
This payment option can only be made one time per account. Non-demand small
business customers can refer to their utility bill to determine their rate
class, indicated as "GS" (refers to "General Service" commercial customers).
"Although electric and gas rates are approximately 20 percent lower this
winter than last, most of our customers will experience higher bills due
because they used more energy to heat their homes during this cold weather,"
said Mayor John Marks. "This one-time payment alternative will ease the
financial burden that the unusual weather has placed on our community."
According to the National Weather Service, this has been the coldest
start of any year in Tallahassee's history, with 13 consecutive days below
freezing. The average daily low temperature has been 24 degrees colder than
last year during the same period, and on Monday, an all-time record peak load
of 633 megawatts (mw) was set by the City's Electric Utility.
The City continues to encourage utility customers to use energy wisely
and take advantage of Energy Smart Plus (e+) programs to help save energy,
water and money. Your Own Utilities offers a wide range of e+ programs,
including free energy audits, energy retrofit grants, natural gas and Energy
Star appliance rebates, ceiling insulation grants, solar net metering and
low-interest energy efficiency loans.
In addition to the Winter Relief Assistance Program, qualifying
low-income and disabled customers in need can receive utility bill payment
assistance through the City's Project Share initiative and Good Neighbor
Program, which also provides weatherization and efficiency measures, such as
heating and air conditioning system retrofits, free ceiling insulation and
water leak repair. Both programs are administered locally through the Capital
Area Community Action Agency (CACAA) through a screening process. Citizens may
contact CACAA by phone at 222-2043.
For more information on the Winter Relief Assistance Program, energy
efficiency and other e+ programs, contact Your Own Utilities at 891-4YOU (4968)
or visit online at Talgov.com/YOU.
Contact
Sandra Manning, Utility Marketing Administrator, 891-6175 or 879-0853; or
Michelle Bono, Assistant to the City Manager, 891-8200
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