UTILITY BILLING DISCOUNTS VS. PENALTIES

Penalties charged for late payment of Utility Bills:

• 75% of local governments reported penalizing customers for late payment.

• Penalties reported a range of 2-10% with an average of 6.89% and a median of 5%.

• The number of days before a penalty is imposed ranges from 21 to 273 days with an average of 66 days and a mean of 42 days

Discounts offered for prompt payment of Utility Bills:

• 31% of local governments reporting offer a discount for early payment.

• Discounts range from 2% to 25% with an average discount of 9.3% and median of 10%.

• The number of days a discount is offered from the billing date ranges from 15 to 75 days, with the average number of days the discount is offered at 39.5 days and a median of 30 days.

• An average of 79% of customers take advantage of the discount with a median of 80% and a range of 35% to 95%.

• Delinquent payees past the penalty date range from 1-50% of customers, with an average of 14% and median of 15%.

Back-billing Policies:

• 23% of local governments reported having a policy for back-billing

• Procedures ranged from current year only to 2 years backdated billing.

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