A software billing error caused St. Robert residents who are current on their utility bills to receive a “past due” message on their January statement.
The city apologized for the error at the St. Robert Board of Aldermen meeting Monday night, and said all customers will receive a letter explaining the mistake as well.
However, the high amount due many of the same customers are seeing is not a mistake, city officials said, explaining several days of single digit temperatures have caused many resident’s electric and gas bills to spike significantly.
Some bills, City Administrator Alan Clark said, have been in excess of $1,000.
Recognizing the financial strain an unexpectedly high bill can cause on an individual and family, the city is offering customers who are current on their accounts a chance to pay their January bill in four separate payments, starting Feb. 15 and lasting through May 31.
“That (high bill) has an immediate impact on your lifestyle, right then and there. That could easily be somebody’s paycheck for entire two-week period,” Clark said, explaining the city’s decision to offer the program. “We thought that it was important for our residents to have this mechanism in place to take that burden off them.”
Alderman Ed Spotts also offered advice for those who are experiencing high utility bills— the cost of home energy efficiency checks, done by an approved, licensed professional, are 100 percent tax deductible on state income taxes, he said.
Spotts and Clark both cautioned, however, that people looking to take advantage of the offer do some research and use only an approved auditor to avoid those who might prey on other’s circumstances.
Visit www.dnr.mo.gov for more information about the program and for a list of Missouri certified home energy auditors.
