5.5. ERMUSR 03-09-2010Elk River
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330-0430
March 3, 2010
To: Elk River Municipal Utilities commission
John Dietz
Jerry Gumphrey
Daryl Thompson
From: Theresa Slominski
Subject: Automatic Bill Payment for Budget Plan Customers Policy
Phone: 763.441.2020
Fax: 763.441.8099
At a recent staff meeting, there was some discussion on the budget plan and the
challenges of managing of that plan. The challenge comes from the individuals who sign
up and then don't follow through on their budget payments, or submit different amounts
rather than the agreed budget amount. It has been a practice to try and cross-sell the
automatic bill payment (ABP) plan because then we are drafting the agreed upon amount
each month and it keeps the budget plans current. We inquired of the attorney if we
could require the budget plan customers to be on ABP and it was determined that we
could since the budget plan is an optional plan. To implement this we need a policy
stating the requirement for budget customers to be ABP customers, and have to modify
our application forms to meet this requirement. Our attorney, Peter Beck, has reviewed
the policy and related applications (attached) to meet this need.
To address some cons of the program are the following. One concern may be that this
would eliminate the potential applicants that do not have a bank account and are a cash
basis customer. Currently, we have one individual on the plan that pays in cash, but it is
not known if that is the preference or the necessity. This is not believed to be a large
demographic of the potential budget customers and so it not a legitimate concern.
Another concern may be that customers may not sign up for that plan if they are required
to participate in the ABP because of a variety of personal reasons. Given the extra work
that is required to manage the budget plan if the customer is not willing to commit to
having the appropriate timely payment made, it would be preferred that those customers
don't sign up for the plan anyway and so it not a legitimate concern.
Staff recommends its adoption.
ELK RIVER MUNICIPAL
UTILITIES
POLICY REQUIRING AUTOMATIC BILL PAYMENT FOR BUDGET
PAYMENT PLAN CUSTOMERS
Customers choosing to participate in the Budget Payment Plan are required to participate
in the Automatic Bill Payment for monthly collection of the agreed upon budget amount.
EFFECTIVE 03/09/2010
REVISED
ELK RIVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES
APPLICATION FOR BUDGET PLAN
I hereby request that my utility account with Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU), Elk River,
MN, for the address listed below, be placed on the Budget Payment Plan.
Pursuant to the Budget Payment Plan, I agree to pay ERMU, on the 15th day of each month, an
amount equal to 1/12th of my anticipated annual billings. I understand that this amount may be
adjusted at the discretion of ERMU, if my average monthly billings exceed the anticipated
amount and an adjustment is therefore warranted. I agree that my account will be reconciled with
the December billing each year. All unpaid balances will be due and payable by December
15th of each year. If the total of all payments received during the year exceeds the total amount
due, the excess will be credited to the December billing.
I agree to pay $xxx.xx on the 15th day of each month, subject to adjustment as set forth above. I
understand my Budget Payment Plan year begins with the bill due XXXXX 15th, 2010 and ends
with the bill due December 15, 2010 and is subject to a reconciliation on December 15th as provided
above.
I understand that participation in the Budge Payment Plan requires participation in Automatic Bill
Payment. I further understand that if I fail to meet the above payment requirements because of an NSF
payment, this will result in cancellation of my Budget Payment Plan and Automatic Bill Payment. Your
aaourn mrst F~ paid cu»~nt prior to this agru?rrer~ for;uars application to l~ acr~ta~
Account Holder
Account Address
Elk River, MN 55330
NO, I do not wish to sign up for the budget plan at this time.
Account Holder
Date
Date
TO QUALIFYFOR THE ABOVE PAYMENT SCHEDULE PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND RETURN TO ERMUBY
ELK RIVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES
AUTHORIZATION FOR AUTOMATIC BILL PAYMENT
(Required for Budget Plan)
Participation in the Budget Payment Plan requires that your utility payments be made by
Automatic Bill Payment. You authorize regularly scheduled payments to be made from your
checking or savings account. For your convenience, you will continue to receive your utility bill
at the end of each month, showing the amount due on the 15`n of the next month. The amount
shown due on your utility bill will be drawn from your checking or savings account on the 15`n
of the next month (or the next business day if the 15`n lands on a weekend or a holiday.) Each
payment will be itemized on your monthly bank statement. There is no charge for this
transaction.
Please complete the authorization form below and include a voided check or withdrawal slip.
Customer Name
Phone Number(s)
Service Address
City
State Zip
Account Number of your Elk River Municipal Utilities Bill
Financial Institution (Bank) Name
Type of Account Checking (please enclose a voided check)
Savings (please enclose a withdrawal slip)
Account Number
Financial Institution's Routing /Transit Number
Signature Date