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Policies |
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| Billing Policies | |||||
| Service Policies | |||||
| Billing Policies | |||||
| Establishing a utility service New services installed only during normal business hours. A 48-hour notice is required. |
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| Terminating a utility service When a utility service is shut off at the customer’s request, the natural gas meter will be turned off and locked. At the time a customer requests the service to be turned on, City of Perham/Perham Natural Gas personnel will remove the lock, but it is the responsibility of the customer to have all pilot lights relit. The monthly minimum charge will still remain in effect whether or not the service is actually being used. A customer may request to have water service temporarily discontinued. Public Works will temporarily turn water off at the curb stop at no charge to the customer. Seasonal customers may request to have some services temporarily discontinued. Please call the City Office at 218-346-4455 for information regarding seasonal disconnection of services. Monthly minimum charges for water and gas will remain in effect. Termination for renters When a renter informs us that they no longer require city services, a final reading will be taken on the day specified and the final bill will be calculated based on those readings. The utility service will then be placed back into the owners name for future billings. The City of Perham/Perham Natural Gas takes no responsibility for any leases or rental agreements that may be in effect between landlord and tenant. Termination for owners Upon request, meters will be read out on the closing date. It is recommended that buyers and sellers do not rely on the realtors to supply this information. To ensure a reading on the closing date and to receive accurate owner information, it is recommended that the buyer call the City Office to request services be placed in their name. The seller may also wish to contact the City Office to request change of ownership and to supply forwarding address information. |
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| Deposit Requirement A deposit is required from all new rental customers. This deposit is required prior to placing the utility account in the renter’s name. Until this deposit is received, all utility services will remain in the property owner’s name. Deposits are: natural gas heat $125.00 natural gas appliances only $ 75.00 water service only $ 50.00 If a residence receives both natural gas service and water service, the highest applicable deposit will be required. Deposits are held in escrow earning interest at the rate allowed by the State. You may call the office to find out the current interest rate. Final billings are taken out of the deposit and any remaining balance is refunded to the customer at the forwarding address provided. |
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| Definitions of Your Bill Your billing statement shows: · account number · dates the meters were read · present and previous meter readings · amount used · number of days between readings · amount charged on each meter · sales tax and any other surcharges billed · total amount due to the City of Perham · previous billing amount · any payments and adjustments made in the month · budget amount (if the budget plan is used) · date payment is due The meters are read approximately every 30 days. Reading usually begins on approximately the 20th of the month. Estimated readings may be used if the meters are inaccessible or if the meter has stopped working. Rural Customers All rural meters (those outside the City Limits of Perham) are “self read” meters. Perham Natural Gas personnel will read these meters annually, at a minimum. On the reverse side of the billing statement is an area to show the meter reading. Customers enter the reading and return it with the payment. |
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| Payments of Your Bill Payments are due by the date shown on the statement. Payments may be made by cash, check, money order, Visa/Master card, or by automatic bank payment plan only. No second party or posted dated checks will be accepted. Checks will not be held. A non-sufficient fund check is treated as a non-payment. If notification of the NSF check is received by the City of Perham, the customer will be charged a $30 NSF processing fee. During business office hours customers may present payment at City Hall located at 125 2nd Avenue NE in Perham. There is also an after hours payment drop box located by the door to City Hall. |
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| Explanation of Billing Procedure A bill for services will be mailed to the address provided by the customer on approximately the 9th of each month. Payment is due on or before the 22nd of each month. Bills not paid prior to the due date will have a penalty applied of 10% of the current month’s charges. Any customer who is a renter will receive a disconnection notice if at any time the amount owed on utilities exceeds the amount of the deposit held. Any customer who is over 30 days delinquent on payment of their utility bill will receive a delinquent notice requesting payment within five days. If no response is received to that notice within the time frame, a disconnect notice will be issued. IT IS ALWAYS THE CUSTOMER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY BILLS IN A TIMELY MANNER AND TO KEEP THE CITY OF PERHAM FULLY ADVISED OF ANY CHANGE OF ADDRESS. |
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| Automatic Payment Plan Payments may be made directly through withdrawals out of a checking or savings account. These payments are withdrawn on the 22nd day of each month. The customer must fill out an Authorization for Automatic Payment form supplied at our office. The customer will receive their monthly utility statement showing the payment amount that will be withdrawn. The customer may contact the utility billing department before the amount is withdrawn if they do not agree with the billing or have any questions. The customer will have approximately 10 days to review their billing statement before the payment is withdrawn. If a customer has non sufficient funds for two consecutive months, that customer will be removed from the automatic payment plan. |
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| Budget Payment Plan A budget payment plan is available for residential natural gas customers with a good payment record for the six months prior to the beginning of the budget year. Natural gas is the only service that this program applies to. The budget amount is calculated based on the previous 24 months of natural gas used. The budget amount is reviewed after the heating season and adjusted accordingly. The budget year begins with the November billing and ends with the October billing which is the “catch up” month. |
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| Errors in Billing Over charges for reading errors will be credited on the next months billing statement or refunded on the final billing. If a customer feels there may be a reading or billing error on their account they may contact the utility billing department for the City of Perham/Perham Natural Gas at 346-4455 or toll free at 1-877-864-7963. |
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| Disconnection of Utility Service Any time utility service has been disconnected there is a $60.00 charge to unlock the natural gas meter once the account has been brought current. It is then the responsibility of the customer to contact a plumbing/heating contractor qualified to work with natural gas to light any pilot lights needed. If water service has been disconnected due to non payment, the same $60.00 service charge applies. If a homeowner has utility service disconnected due to non payment, any applicable deposit, as listed in Deposit Requirement section, will be required prior to reinstatement of service. Once payment of the balance due on the account, the deposit if necessary and the $60.00 service charge is received, the City of Perham/Perham Natural Gas has a maximum of 48 hours to reinstate the affected utility services. Utility service will be disconnected without notice in the event of unauthorized use of, or tampering with, the equipment of the City of Perham/Perham Natural Gas. The customer will also be charged for the cost of repairs or replacement of the equipment. THE CITY OF PERHAM/PERHAM NATURAL GAS SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OR CLAIMS INCURRED AS A RESULT OF DISCONNECTION OF SERVICE, EITHER AT THE CUSTOMER REQUEST OR FOR NON PAYMENT. The Minnesota Cold Weather Rule is designed to protect customers who may have trouble paying utility bills in the winter. The Minnesota Cold Weather rule applies from October 15 to April 15. The rule, established by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, means that the City of Perham/Perham Natural Gas cannot disconnect residential natural gas service during this time period if the customer meets all four of the following requirements.
If the customer is having trouble paying the utility bill, local agencies may be able to provide payment assistance. The customer may try contacting the Otter Tail County Energy Assistance office at 1-800-450-2310 or Social Services at (218)998-8150 or (218)385-3945. |
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Service Policies |
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| Service Requirements – Natural Gas Natural Gas Meter Placement Access to all meters shall not be obstructed (example: shrubs, bushes, fences, locked gats, dogs, etc.), so that the City of Perham/Perham Natural Gas personnel may be able to read, change, work on or inspect the meters as required. Reasonable care should be used by the customer and/or contractor to protect all meters when remodeling, roofing, painting, etc. If a meter is damaged and reasonable care was not used, the customer and/or contractor may be charged for the cost of repairing or replacing the meter. No natural gas meter or regulator shall be located under a window or fresh air intake. All gas meters shall be located outside. If owner requests that a gas meter and/or service line be relocated, it will be at the owner’s expense. No service line valve or any portion of the natural gas meter may be buried. All meters and valves raised will be at the customer’s expense. The single metering of multiple family dwellings, apartment buildings or multi business establishments within a single building is permitted to the extent that each building is centrally heated. Individual metering is required for all individually heated, single family private residence and each separately owned and/or operated business. Natural Gas Service Work Perham Natural Gas personnel will perform leak investigations and carbon monoxide testing at no charge to the customer. Perham Natural Gas does not service or repair any of the customer’s natural gas appliances. |
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| Service Requirements – Water All new construction, residential or commercial, within the city limits of the City of Perham is required to connect to the nearest water main, provided the cost of this connection is not so high as to prohibit this connection. There is a $50 connection fee for this service. The customer is also responsible for the cost of the water meter. This water meter will then be repaired or replaced at no cost to the customer, provided such service is not directly required through negligence of the homeowner. Actual installation of the customer’s water service line is done by local contractors. The customer or builder chooses the contractor and is responsible for any charges incurred. |
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| Service Requirements – Sanitary Sewer All new construction, residential or commercial, within the city limits of the City of Perham is required to connect to the city’s sanitary sewer system. There is a $150.00 connection fee for this service. Actual installation of the customer’s sanitary sewer service line is done by local contractors. The customer or builder chooses the contractor and is responsible for any charges incurred. Locating Customer’s Underground Utilities All public utilities are located when necessary at no charge to the customer provided the customer has complied with all Gopher State One Call requirements. Customers may contact Gopher State One Call toll free at 1-800-252-1166. Customers must call 48 hours prior to the time they want the service located. Location of a customer’s private underground utility service lines may be located at the customer’s request. There will be charge for this service at the normal hourly rate currently charged by the City of Perham/Perham Natural gas with a one hour minimum charge. The City of Perham/Perham Natural Gas accepts no liability for any damage that may be incurred due to this service. With the information given to us, we will make our best effort to accurately locate and mark these private service lines. |
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| Policies and Requirements Brochure The policies and requirements are provided for the convenience of the customer. Every attempt has been made to provide the customer with accurate information regarding the policies and requirements of the City of Perham/Perham Natural Gas. The City of Perham reserves the right to change its policies at any time and to adopt new and amended policies when, in its sole discretion, the City of Perham deems it necessary to do so. The City of Perham also reserves the right to make exceptions to the policies and requirements when, at the sole discretion the City of Perham, it deems necessary to do so. Customers with individual problems or concerns regarding services provided by the City of Perham are encouraged to make those concerns known to the City of Perham staff. |
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| Recycling Service The City of Perham offers weekly curbside recycling pickup for residential customers. Information regarding what items are picked up is available at the City Office. If a customer does not have a blue recycling tub, they may contact Steve’s Sanitation at 346-4834 to request one. Also included in this service is a weekly pickup, between April 1 and October 31, of yard waste. A monthly pickup of branches and brush is done on the last Wednesday of each month. Branches must be in lengths of less than four (4) feet and bundled. Annual pick up of Christmas trees is done in January. Annual Clean Up Day An annual clean up day is held each year. This day, usually in May, is determined by Steve’s Sanitation who is responsible for pick up of the items placed curbside. Once the day is determined it is advertised in the Perham Enterprise Bulletin and on the local news channel, currently channel 14. Information is sent to each residential customer along with the monthly utility statement prior to the scheduled clean up day. There is a charge for all items picked up and will be shown on the customer’s next billing statement. |
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Copyright 2000 City of Perham Minnesota |
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