Starting at the top, the bill indicates when the meter was read, bill date, due date, number of billing days, and consumption per 1,000 gallons. The middle portion of the bill features all utility charges, charges for garbage and storm water, current charges, and past due charges also known as delinquent fees. On the bottom right hand corner the bill explains past due and reconnection charges. Customers with past due charges that are unpaid are subjected to disconnection if not paid by the past due charge date.

The NLC Service Line Warranty Program offers protection against normal wear and tear, which is not covered under most traditional homeowners policies. If lines break, leak or clog – SLWA will repair the line using local, licensed contractors who are familiar with local code and can ensure a timely response. This program provides up to $4,000 in coverage with an additional allowance for Public Street or sidewalk cutting. Additionally, the program has no annual or lifetime limits, service fees or deductibles – just protection when you need it most and just what you would expect from a National League of Cities program. For questions about this service, or to enroll, please contact Service Line Warranties of America at 866-922-9006 or visit www.SLWofA.com.

Utility accounts are in 1 of 4 billing cycles. Each meter is read approximately every 30 days. The days can vary due to the length of the month, holidays and the meter reader’s schedule. The meters are radio read and are referred to as AMRs (Automated Meter Reading devices). One reason for the variability of reading dates for some accounts is radio transmission problems. The meter can have problems transmitting the read and it is not picked up by the meter reader driving by. This “skip read” requires a follow up reading done manually. The manual read may take place a few days after the initial attempt.