Thank You Councilman Pitts

[Bill Rook]

Bear in mind, if the city changes a billing cycle for 1 customer, they are obligated to do it for every customer that desires a change or the city becomes susceptible to a discrimination suit.

I don't know exactly how the city is divided, but each of the (3) billing cycles are assigned to certain areas. They do this for ease and economy of reading meters, enabling the reader to cover entire neighborhoods or subdivisions. If each customer wanted and was granted a billing cycle choice, the readers would be covering the entire city (3) times monthly on a "read it" or "skip it" basis and that would take forever to accomplish.

The only alternative for a customer that can't possibly pay on time and can't afford or refuses to pay the "gross" amount, is to relocate to an area that coincides with the desired billing cycle.

[Rossc]

Originally Posted by Nanapower

Boy I'm glad I have Laclede Elect because I can pay on line.

Amen....For that and other reasons after reading all this....LOL

[hotcookie1965]

Originally Posted by Bill Rook

Bear in mind, if the city changes a billing cycle for 1 customer, they are obligated to do it for every customer that desires a change or the city becomes susceptible to a discrimination suit.

I don't know exactly how the city is divided, but each of the (3) billing cycles are assigned to certain areas. They do this for ease and economy of reading meters, enabling the reader to cover entire neighborhoods or subdivisions. If each customer wanted and was granted a billing cycle choice, the readers would be covering the entire city (3) times monthly on a "read it" or "skip it" basis and that would take forever to accomplish.

The only alternative for a customer that can't possibly pay on time and can't afford or refuses to pay the "gross" amount, is to relocate to an area that coincides with the desired billing cycle.

this is why i chose level pay, i pay the same amount every month, so when the end of the month rolls around, i know i need XX of dollars for electric, just like rent / house payment, u know u need XX of dollars by either the 1st of the month or whenever the due date is. i bet the bank/ finanace company doesn't change the due to b/c ur paycheck doesn't come in til after the due date.....

[just-the-facts]

Originally Posted by hotcookie1965

i bet the bank/ finanace company doesn't change the due to b/c ur paycheck doesn't come in til after the due date.....

And look at the great shape their in.

[momma]

Originally Posted by Bill Rook

Bear in mind, if the city changes a billing cycle for 1 customer, they are obligated to do it for every customer that desires a change or the city becomes susceptible to a discrimination suit.

I don't know exactly how the city is divided, but each of the (3) billing cycles are assigned to certain areas. They do this for ease and economy of reading meters, enabling the reader to cover entire neighborhoods or subdivisions. If each customer wanted and was granted a billing cycle choice, the readers would be covering the entire city (3) times monthly on a "read it" or "skip it" basis and that would take forever to accomplish.

The only alternative for a customer that can't possibly pay on time and can't afford or refuses to pay the "gross" amount, is to relocate to an area that coincides with the desired billing cycle.

We all understand how they do the meter reading. No one disagrees that reading them the way they do should be changed. The change would need to be within the office and how they bill. Come on you know just as I do there is always a better way to do something.

The City should be obligated to all of us. Without us there would be not City jobs.

Why not take a survey find out when people would like their due date. Then go from there and see how they can divide it up. What difference does it make when your meter is read and when you pay the bill. The bill will clearly state the meter cycle.

[momma]

By the way I apologize for turning this thread into a different topic than what it was suppose to be. Orignially it was a thank you to Councilman Pitts. I really don't know a whole lot about him but I am glad he answered this poster in a timely manner. My post were simply to express my understanding of the original posters furstrations.

[Bill Rook]

Originally Posted by momma

We all understand how they do the meter reading. No one disagrees that reading them the way they do should be changed. The change would need to be within the office and how they bill. Come on you know just as I do there is always a better way to do something.

The City should be obligated to all of us. Without us there would be not City jobs.

Why not take a survey find out when people would like their due date. Then go from there and see how they can divide it up. What difference does it make when your meter is read and when you pay the bill. The bill will clearly state the meter cycle.

Utilities are a provided service, funded by taxpayers/customers to the community and economical operation is a priority or it's supposed to be. All customers requested service and connection, agreeing to set guidelines, per city ordinance. The city shouldn't be expected to read OR bill in accordance with individual customer needs or wants. That would be a huge mess for the readers and billing staff alike. Therefore, I don't see the city changing billing practices for individual customers. As I said before, it would be a set-up for a discrimination suit, if they didn't do it for everyone.

If I may ask, how many new reader and billing department hires would you be willing to pay for, to change everything around to fit individual customer desires? Personally, I don't want to pay any excess charges to cover those additional employees in hopes to apease 100% of the customer base and I don't think anyone else does either, but I can assure you, it won't be free. As other posters hinted to, it's a matter of willpower and conviction in putting aside a reasonable amount from your monthly, semi-monthly or weekly checks and budgeting your income to pay your bills throughout the month. I've done it for years and have never had a late utility payment. As a priority, I do without all "wants", before I fail to meet my "needs" obligations.

I'm not being hard-headed about this, just realistic and looking at it from both sides.

I talked to Ralph Pitts today and we agree that online bill-pay is needed. That would be a plus, as some have suggested.

[just-the-facts]

Bill,

I appreciate the research you have done, but how would it hurt the city to extend the pay date on the bills by 10 days, are they paying show me power in semi monthly increments? I really don't know how the city is charged or how the city pays the supplier. I now understand the meter reader problem, although unless I would of posted this, I wouldn't of known how the city split up that process. I think many would find that extending the net payment deadline across two pay periods would be beneficial. For the record, I to would be opposed to spending more money to do it. I'm just asking if it's possible with the current system we have at City Hall.

[Bill Rook]

Originally Posted by just-the-facts

Bill,

I appreciate the research you have done, but how would it hurt the city to extend the pay date on the bills by 10 days, are they paying show me power in semi monthly increments? I really don't know how the city is charged or how the city pays the supplier. I now understand the meter reader problem, although unless I would of posted this, I wouldn't of known how the city split up that process. I think many would find that extending the net payment deadline across two pay periods would be beneficial. For the record, I to would be opposed to spending more money to do it. I'm just asking if it's possible with the current system we have at City Hall.

This is my view and understanding... It doesn't have anything to do with the city's frequency of payments to our provider that I can see. But it appears to have a great deal to do with workloads of existing reading/billing department staff. Chances are, having the entire city on the same cycle of payment would devastate the department with an influx of customers wishing to pay "on-site", in addition to processing the incoming payments by mail and eventually, online bill-pay. It would be like the license bureau at the end of each month, because many choose to pay on the last possible day to avoid penalty. That's looks to be the purpose of staggered payment cycles, allowing the department to employ less and still get the job done.

I hope this makes sense.

[hotcookie1965]

Originally Posted by Bill Rook

This is my view and understanding... It doesn't have anything to do with the city's frequency of payments to our provider that I can see. But it appears to have a great deal to do with workloads of existing reading/billing department staff. Chances are, having the entire city on the same cycle of payment would devastate the department with an influx of customers wishing to pay "on-site", in addition to processing the incoming payments by mail and eventually, online bill-pay. It would be like the license bureau at the end of each month, because many choose to pay on the last possible day to avoid penalty. That's looks to be the purpose of staggered payment cycles, allowing the department to employ less and still get the job done.

I hope this makes sense.

that would be a great benifit to everyone not having their bill due on the same day. just for easy numbers, can you imigane standing in line to pay your bill with around 1500 customers wanting / needing to pay on the same day. also just think of the over time the city workers would be getting that day just to process all those payments via mail and drop box....

i beleive the ladies in the utilities office is doing a great job. i have never waited in line over 5 minutes every time i pay in person.