Winter Moratorium Ends April 15 (4/2/07)

Sturgeon Bay Utilities Urges Customers to Make Payment Arrangements as Winter Moratorium Ends

Sturgeon Bay Utilities advises electric customers who are behind on their bills to make payment arrangements with the utility to avoid service disconnection.

The Winter Emergency Period, often referred to as the moratorium on residential service disconnection, ends April 15. After that date, utilities statewide may begin to disconnect service to customers who are past due on payment of their electric bills for any period of time, including the winter months.

Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission established the annual moratorium — from Nov. 1 to April 15 — to protect customers from service disconnection during harsh Wisconsin winters.

“Sturgeon Bay Utilities does what it can to collect unpaid bills from the moratorium in order to keep electric rates low in our community,” said Jim Stawicki, SBU General Manager.

More than 160 utility customers have overdue bills representing $71,000. Despite these figures, nearly 98 percent of customers pay their bills on time.

To prevent disconnection, Sturgeon Bay Utilities urges customers to call now to make payment arrangements. The utility will negotiate payment options with customers, according to Stawicki.

“Situations can arise that make it difficult for customers to pay their bills,” said Stawicki. “We would like to help these customers make suitable payment arrangements to avoid shutting off their service.”

Sturgeon Bay Utilities said the utility will issue a final disconnection notice prior to limiting service and make an attempt to contact the customer prior to the disconnection date.

To make payment arrangements or to explore payment options with the utility, call the utility at 920-746-2820 during business hours.