Columbia Utilities plans to resume disconnections. 1,300 at risk of being disconnected

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

On Friday, Columbia Utilities announced it will resume utility disconnections for customers with a past due balance on their account.

As of Friday morning, 1,231 customers and 144 commercial locations were past due on their bills, according to Columbia Utilities spokesman Matt Nestor.

Nestor said utility disconnections were suspended almost a year ago back in March of 2020.

"We suspended utility disconnections because of the COVID pandemic," Nestor said. "As things started to calm down and with the weather starting to warm up, we thought this was a good idea to get people back to the rhythm of paying their bills."

Nestor said Columbia Utilities discussed resuming disconnections in September but stopped because of cold weather.

The utility service doesn't have a specific start date for disconnections but they could start in the next two to three weeks.

"We don't have a date and it's not immediate... We're monitoring the situation on a daily and weekly basis," Nestor said.

Nestor said payments are due 20 days after billing and become overdue on the 21st day.

"We contact the customers in the best way we can and probably about two weeks after it becomes overdue before a disconnection happens," Nestor said.

Nestor said the utility contacts individuals and businesses with the information on file.

Columbia Utilities asks customers who have a withstanding balance to pay as soon as possible to avoid being disconnected. People are able to pay their balance online, by phone, or at City Hall.

• Online at MyUtilityBill.CoMo.gov with a credit or debit card or a checking or savings account
• By phone at 573-874-7694
• At City Hall, 701 E. Broadway, with cash, check, money order, credit or debit card

Columbia has two assistance programs for residents in need of payment assistance.

The HELP Program assists low-income families with children in the home. According to the city's website, this assistance is limited to one time per year and five times within a lifetime. 

The CASH Program assists low-income senior citizens and people with disabilities. Both programs have certain eligibility requirements:

• Must be a permanent resident of Boone County
• The household's income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level
• The utility account must be in the applicant’s name
• Only members of the applicant’s household are eligible for assistance

The City of Columbia's website says utility assistance will only be provided for active electric and water accounts. It said other utility assistance may also be available from other organizations.