The City of Columbia reinstates utility late fees Sunday
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The City of Columbia Utilities Department reinstated late charges on past-due utilities bills, beginning with bills issue after August 1.
Matt Nester, the City of Columbia Utilities spokesperson, said the department made the decision to reassess late charges after the City lifted its state of emergency on May 29.
"When the city manager declared a state of emergency for the city in April of 2020, the late fees were dropped. The city manager lifted the state of emergency in May, and we decided that was the right time to go ahead and reinstate the late fees again," Nestor said.
The City of Columbia Utility late fees are written in the ordinances. Late fees were dropped in 2016 when the city got a new program causing compatibility issues. Late fees were reinstated in January 2020, and dropped again because of the pandemic in April 2020.
According to Columbia's Utility Account and Assistance Information, from Sept. 2020 to June, 2021, at the peak, there were roughly 7,800 customers late on utility bill payments. The result was $4.2 million on hold.
On June 22, 2021 there were 4,244 customers late on payments costing the city $756,740.
Late fees are reinstated for any unpaid portions of the bill by the due date, which is 20 days after the bill is issued. All unpaid bills can be equal to 3% of the unpaid amount.
According to the news release in Chapter 27, Section 19 (f) of the City ordinances, "If a customer's bill is not paid in full by the date payment is due, the bill for the next billing period shall include a late charge equal to three percent of the amount remaining unpaid on the due date of the preceding billing period. Late charges shall not be assessed against the balance due on a delinquent account if the customer is current on the payments required by a settlement agreement for the account. Late charges shall not be assessed against the balance due on a delinquent account if the service has been disconnected."
Customers will also received a past due notice, including a possible disconnection of services date, if the past due amount is not paid in full. Services may be disconnected for nonpayment after 30 days from the bill issue date.
The city offers assistance programs like the Health and Human Services HELP program for low income families, and the CASH program for senior citizens and people with disabilities. More information on the programs can be found at como.gov.
Utility customers with any questions, comments, or concerns can reach the Utility Customer Services at 573-874-7380 or UCS@CoMo.gov.
Check back for more on this developing story or watch ABC 17 News at 10 p.m.
