Utility bills have customers saying 'ouch'

Higher fuel prices passed on to

customers are

to blame

By CHRIS VETTER

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Despite warnings that utility bills would be unusually high this month, many New Ulm residents are experiencing sticker shock when the bill arrives in the mail.

City employees say they are receiving more than 20 additional calls a day from area residents, questioning the size of the bill.

"People's bills are high," said one city employee. "It's horrendous, and it's out of our control."

Most of the callers have been polite, but are upset about bills that are averaging more than $300, city staff said.

"It's very difficult working here right now," one city employee said.

The city sends out about 6,800 bills in three cycles over a month. Many residential customers received their bill at the end of last week.

"It had the brunt of the cold spell and the highest oil prices," a city staff person said.

If a utility customer cannot pay the entire bill all at once, the person should pay as much as possible by the deadline. The portion paid before the deadline will not be penalized.

City staff scrolled through a list of utility users on a computer screen, showing several bills that topped $400 in town.

The issue came up Tuesday evening at the Public Utilities Commission.

Some customers who do not pay off their bill get their utilities cut off, said city finance director Gary Gleisner. On Tuesday, 25 utility customers were cut off, but 21 customers came to City Hall during the day to pay the bill, he said.

"Typically after 24 hours, they're paid," Gleisner said. "There are some consistent repeaters every cycle. There are habitual late-payers."

Commissioner William O'Connor was not pleased to hear that people can lose their utilities during the winter.

"I can't think of anything more punitive than cutting off the utilities when they don't have any money," O'Connor said. "That's unduly harsh considering the weather."

Gleisner said it is a commission policy, and the city staff is simply following those guidelines. O'Connor suggested that the commission look at the policy in the near future.

There are numerous energy assistance programs available for low-income families, said Lisa Wieland, assistant city treasurer.

Brown County offers an energy assistance program. A one-person household that earns less than $17,400 qualifies, as does a four-person family with an income less than $33,500.

To find out more about the program, call 359-6505. Applications are taken through June 1.

Other fuel assistance programs include Reach Out For Warmth, at 359-6505, and Heat Share through Minnesota Valley Action Council, at 354-3138.

Besides the assistance programs, assistant city attorney Susan Nierengarten told the commission that people can go through an appeals process with the city if they cannot pay the bills.

The city offers a budget billing program called "Cold Weather/High Gas Price Bill Agreement," which allows people to spread the bills out over four months. People interested in the program can talk to staff at City Hall to learn how it works.

The high utility costs are especially difficult on seniors who have a fixed income.

"We're concerned that those people are turning their heat down to 50 and not asking for help," Wieland said.