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UTILITY BILLING
Opening a Utility Account ~ Closing a Utility Account
The Town of Wilkesboro Public Utilities Department provides water and sanitary sewer service to over 1,800 metered customers and a service population of just over 3,700 people in Wilkesboro. The Yadkin River is the drinking water supply for Wilkesboro residents. Our Water Treatment Plant has the capacity to produce 10 million gallons per day (mgd) and our Wastewater Treatment Plant has the capacity to treat 4.9 million mgd.
BILLING SCHEDULE:
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All utility accounts are billed on a monthly basis (12 times a year).
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the first 3000 gallons are the base billing and at 3,001 gallons the user is billed for every 1,000 gallons used thereafter.
IMPORTANT DATES:
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Utility bills are mailed to customers - between 6th - 8th of the month
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Due date - 1st of next month after billing
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Late charges apply - 5th of each month after 12:00 pm for any prior balance outstanding
WAYS TO RECEIVE UTILITY BILLS:
Traditional mail
e-Billing - Click here for the application form
WAYS TO PAY UTILITY PAYMENTS:
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Payments CANNOT be taken over the telephone.
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Online payment - click here (site accepts checking account routing numbers, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & Amex)
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Payment counter inside Wilkesboro Town Hall
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Drive-thru Window at Wilkesboro Town Hall
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Secure Night Payment DropBox (located beside drive-thru window) - available 24/7
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Mailing Address: Town of Wilkesboro Utility Dept., PO Box 1056, Wilkesboro, NC 28697
PAYMENT METHODS:
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Cash Check
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Money Order
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Debit Cards
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Credit Cards
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ACH from checking or savings - ACH authorization form
BILLING SCHEDULE:
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All utility accounts are billed on a monthly basis (12 times a year).
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the first 3,000 gallons are the base billing and at 3,001 gallons the user is billed for every 1,000 gallons used thereafter.
LATE CHARGES:
A late fee will be applied on the 5th day of each month at 12:01 pm. The fee will be $10.00 or 10%, whichever is greater. The late fee will be applied to all utility accounts with an outstanding balance unless prior payment arrangements have been made.
DISCONNECTIONS FOR NON-PAYMENT:
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If a bill is not paid in full by the fifth (5) day of the following month by 12:00 pm, the Town has the right to disconnect services.
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The Town DOES NOT provide any late notice of past due bills.
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If a disconnection occurs, the customer will be charged a $50.00 fee for reconnection.
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If reconnection occurs more than one time in a twelve (12) month time period, the fee will be increased to $100.00 for each additional disconnection and an additional deposit to current requirements per customer type.
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For reconnection after normal business hours (Mon - Fri, 8 am - 5 pm) an additional $50.00 fee will be charged to the customer.
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The Town reserves the right to terminate services as a result of delinquency and apply the deposit to the outstanding balance due. Once this has occurred, the customer may re-apply for utility services with the Town. All balance due, reconnection fees, late fees, and placement of deposit amount must be paid prior to connection.
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After disconnection has occurred, the Town DOES NOT accept personal checks or online payments for reconnection reinstatement of utility services.
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The Town will retain a collection agency and/or use the state debt set-off service to collect on any bills that are delinquent (G.S.18C-134, G. S. 105A).
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES / PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS:
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The Town will try to work with any customer on a payment schedule, if necessary.
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The customer must contact the Town PRIOR to disconnection to avoid any penalty and make payment arrangements.
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However, if a customer does not abide by the payment agreement with the Town, disconnection will occur.
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The utility customer can have up to 120 days to get account current. Only 1 payment arrangement per year can be made by each customer.
METER/LOCK TAMPERING:
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Meter tampering includes, but not limited to, the connecting and disconnecting of meter and utility services at the Town's meter by the owner or resident of the property.
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This fee is also applied when cutting or breaking a meter lock (locked down by town) by the owner or resident of the property.
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Meter tampering by law is a Class 1 Misdemeanor offense.
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If the water department personnel determines the meter or meter lock has been tampered with, a first offense is a $250 fee will be charged, the fee must be paid prior to utility service re-connection, and your deposit must be doubled the current rate.
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Subsequent offenses will be charged at $1,000 per offense and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
OTHER DOCUMENTS:
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Schedule of Fees FY 22-23 - utility fees page 8-9
LINKS:
NC WATER & WASTEWATER RATES DASHBOARD