utility changed billing method a year ago
Problem began when
utility changed billing method a year ago
By Sherry conohan
Staff Writer
MONMOUTH BEACH — The Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority wants customers to know their third quarter payments are now due.
The sewerage authority continues to have problems collecting on its bills.
Ever since implementing a change in bill paying procedures a year ago, the authority has experienced an increase in delinquent accounts.
The change involved sending out tissue-thin bills for the final two quarters of 2001 in one mailing last summer and for all four quarters of 2002 in one mailing in January. It’s up to residents to remember when the bills are due.
Previously, the authority would mail out individual bills, printed on heavy stock, for each quarter which became due when received.
Ed Griffen, financial manager for the authority, said many people don’t remember when the quarterly payments are due. He noted the authority uses calendar quarters, with payments due Jan. 1 for the first quarter, April 1 for the second quarter, July 1 for the third quarter and Oct. 1 for the fourth quarter, which do not coincide with property tax payment quarters. Property taxes become due Feb. 1, May 1, Aug. 1 and Nov. 1.
Griffen said that for the second quarter of 2002, the authority had 3,500 delinquent accounts, meaning they were more than 30 days late. He said the normal number of delinquencies before the change was about 2,500.
There’s a 30-day grace period in which to pay the bill, he explained.
The late fee is 1.5 percent per month and 18 percent per year, he said.
Griffen said the authority has 15,880 dwelling units and 13,500 billing accounts in its six-member towns and six-customer towns plus Fort Monmouth. He said the authority will be printing the bills for next year on heavier stock and will enclose calendar markers for each quarter with them.
The member towns are Monmouth Beach, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Shrewsbury, Oceanport and West Long Branch. The customer towns, in addition to Fort Monmouth, are Eatontown, Red Bank, Rumson, Sea Bright, Shrewsbury Township, and Tinton Falls.