The Village of Chatham reminds residents of the utility cut-off and collection policy that is in place. It is further noted that all requirements of this and all policies and procedures that are set forth by the Mayor and Town Council are to be followed as stated.

Village of Chatham Utility Cut-Off and Collection Policy 

Utility bills for the Village of Chatham are mailed by the last day of the month and are due by the close of business on the 20th of the following month. If the 20th falls on a weekend or a holiday, bills are due on the next full business day. 

After the 20th, a 10% penalty will be assessed.

The cutoff date for bills that are 30 days past due will be 15 days after the 20th of the month, unless it falls on a weekend or holiday, in which case it will be the next full business day. The Village of Chatham shall cease to serve the customer until the bill is paid in full, including any applicable penalties and connection fees.

THERE WILL BE NO EXTENSION AND NO SECOND NOTICE GIVEN!

If inclement weather prevents cut-offs from being done on the cut-off date, they will be done on the next business day.

On the cut-off day (the 15th day after the 20th), the Utility Department will run a disconnect report showing accounts with a past-due balance. Service technicians will be sent to the service address of those with a past-due bill to disconnect service. The current disconnection charge will be added to the account. Once the service technician(s) leave the office with the list, the total bill plus the current disconnect fee will become due even if utilities are not physically turned off and locked. 

Once service technicians receive the disconnect list, they will follow these procedures:

1. Go to the residence or business, turn off and lock the meter. Record the meter reading and note it on the disconnect form.
2. If the meter cannot be locked, note it on the disconnect form so the clerk can create a work order to replace the meter.
3. Technician(s) are to have no interaction with the customer. If a customer attempts interaction, the technician is instructed to inform the customer that they must call City Hall.
4. Technicians shall not take money from any customer.
5. The technician is to return the disconnect form to the Utility Department.

Once the utilities have been turned off, they will not be turned back on until the entire bill (current and past-due) plus reconnect fees is paid. Customers will have until the end of the month to get utilities reconnected. At the end of the month, during the billing cycle, the account will be finalized, and deposits will be pulled and applied to the bill. The customer is responsible for any amount due to the Village of Chatham. At this point, to get utilities turned back on, the customer must pay the remaining balance and deposits.

Any account with an unpaid balance 30 days after deposits are pulled will be sent to collections. If a customer’s account is sent to collections and they wish to have services reconnected, they must pay the collection agency IN FULL (including agency fees), a reconnect fee, and new deposits.

Utilities will only be turned back on during regular business hours (Monday-Thursday 8:00 am-4:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm). NO UTILITIES WILL BE TURNED ON AFTER HOURS.