Fort Valley Utility Commission

500 Anthoine Street

PO Box 1529

Fort Valley GA 31030=

NEW CUSTOMER INFORMATION

(Informacion disponible a penas se requiera en Espanol= .)

Office Hours:= Monday – Friday (8:00 AM – 5:= 00 PM)

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Closed Saturday, Sunday, and posted holidays.

Office Phone = Number: 478-825-7701 Option 1 =3D Bill Information

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&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Option 3 =3D Customer Service

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Option 4 =3D Billing

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Option 5 =3D Administration

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Option 6 =3D Finance

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Option 7 =3D Internet Tech Support

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Option 8 =3D Company Directory

&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Option 9 =3D Address / Fax Information

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Night / Weeke= nd Emergency Calls: 478-825-= 5482

Garbage / Tra= sh Inquiries (City Residents): 478-825-2615 (City Public Works Department)

Garbage / Tra= sh Inquiries (County Residents): 478-746-7230 (Southland Waste Syste= ms)

Wireless Tech= nical Support (24/7): 478-825-7703

Billing Dates= : Customers are assigned a billi= ng cycle based on service location.
Your bill will identify your due date and other pertinent information.
Your cyc= le and due date are highlighted.

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Cycle #	Due Date
1	7^th<= /sup>
2	13^th=
3	19^th=
4	25th

Bill Information: Call 825-7702 (or 825-7701, option 1) to access the automated bill information system. Input your account number and atta= in status (balance, due date, etc.) for your account.

Payment Due D= ates:

Payment for all cycles must be received in the Utility Commission office by 5:00 PM on the due date not= ed on the bill. Since all custom= ers are allowed 31 days to pay their bill, Commission policy does not permit extensions of the due date or partial payments of the bill. If your bill is not paid by the due date, a late fee will be assessed and your account will be subject to disconnect.

Drop Box Info= rmation:

Payments (check or money order) ma= y be placed in a drop box; however payments dropped off after 2:00 PM will be processed the next business day. Payments placed in drop box after 2:0= 0 PM on due date will be assessed a late fee and your account will be subject to disconnect. A reconnect f= ee of $50.00 will be charged if customer requests to be reconnected between the h= ours of 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM or on weekends. No reconnects will be conducted after 9:00 PM any day of the week.

Drop Box Locations:

·      = AP Mini Mart – 702 Oran= ge Street, Fort Valley

·      = City Hall - 204 W. Church Stree= t, Fort Valley

·      = Community Plaza – 1200 State Univers= ity Drive, Fort Valley

·      = Jason’s Mini Mart – 402 S. Camellia Blvd., Fort Valley

·      = Neighbors Food Mart – 412 Mart= in Luther King Jr. Drive, = Fort Valley

·      = Utility Commission – 500 Anthoine Street, Fort Valley

In addition, gas payments are acce= pted at City Hall in Roberta, Georgia located at 123 E. Agency Street during the following times:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Thursday: 9:00 AM –= ; Noon

Fees:

       &n= bsp;            = ;    $25.00

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'>       &n= bsp;        10% of bill ($25.00 minimum fee)

       &n= bsp;            = ;      $30.00

           &= nbsp;                  &n= bsp;    $50.00 (If reconnection requested between

         5:00 PM – 9:00 PM or on weekends)

   &n= bsp;            $50.00

       &n= bsp;    $50.00

65+ Discount<= /b>

The Utility Commission offers a 5% discount to custome= rs who are 65 or older on electric, gas, water, and wastewater residential services. To qualify for the discount you must show proof of age, account must be in your name, and you = must reside at the location. In addition, customers who are 65 or older qualify for a reduced wireless rate= for Residential Basic service (same as College Student rate).

Call Before= You Dig

When you plan to dig anywhere, buried gas piping or ot= her utilities should be located in advance and all digging should be carefully = done by hand in the vicinity of the underground utilities. New rules in Georgia require contact with the = Utility Protection Center, 1-800-282-7411, three days in advance of digging in order that all undergro= und utilities and cable may be located. A representative will mark underground utility lines (red =3D electr= ic, yellow =3D gas-oil-steam, orange =3D communication / CATV, blue =3D water, = green =3D sewer, pink =3D temporary survey markings, white =3D proposed excavation).<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>   Please remember to call this= free service before you dig! If you don’t call before you dig and then cut= a utility pipe or wire, you may be at personal risk of injury and also subjec= t to extensive fines from state regulators.

Check 21 (Che= ck Clearing for the 21^st Century Act)

   Check 21 is a new federal la= w that became effective October 28, 2004. The law allows banks to process checks electronically rather than mo= ving the paper checks from location to location. With the adoption of Check 21, che= cks will likely clear the bank within 24 hours. Banks are recommending that custom= ers don’t write checks unless funds are already in their accounts. Otherwise, the check may bounce an= d if written to the Utility Commission, you will be assessed a $30.00 returned c= heck fee. To learn more about Chec= k 21, visit http://www.federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/tru= ncation/default.htm.

Electronic Bi= ll (Draft) Payments

The Utility Commission offers the option electronic bi= ll (bank draft) payments with no additional fee. Call Customer Service at 825-7701, option 3 if you would like more informati= on on this service.

Non Sufficien= t Funds

When a check is returned to the Utility Commission for= non sufficient funds (NSF), Customer Service will notify the customer. The customer will then be charged = a $30 returned check fee and if the bill due date has passed, a late fee will als= o be added and your account will be subject to disconnection. A returned check bill must be paid= by cash or money order. If an ac= count has three returned NSF checks, all future payments must be in the form of c= ash or money order.

12-Month Aver= age Payment Plan

Customers can sign up for this payment plan that is calculated by taking the current month's actual charges (including taxes) plus the actual charges for the 11 preceding months, then dividing by 12 to calculate the 12-month average. This average will be the amount du= e and will slightly vary from month to month.&nb= sp; Call Customer Service at 825-7701, option 3 if you would like more information.

Power Outage<= o:p>

If your power (electricity) is off, please check the following:

1.      Verify that you paid your bill to the Utility Commission office prior to 5:00 PM on the due date. Either call Cus= tomer Service at 825-7701, option 3, or check your electric meter to verify the c= olor of the tag (gray =3D active meter, red =3D meter has been cut off for non-pay).

= a.      = If the tag is gray, go to other rooms in the house to see if they have power.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Check your circuit breakers or fus= es to be sure they have not tripped or blown.&nb= sp; A tripped circuit breaker switch will be in the middle of the block. To reset the breaker, = push it all the way to the off position, then back on, and check power again.

= b.      If you still don’t have power inside the house, go outside and look at y= our electric meter. If the large wheel in the meter is spinning, electricity is entering your home and the problem is with your internal wiring.

2.      If your circuit breakers or fuses are OK and the wheel in your meter is NOT turning, check with your neighbors to see if they have electricity.

3.      Once you have determined the problem is not inside your home’s wiring, you need to report the outage. Du= ring normal business hours call 825-7701, option 2. If it is a weekday after 5:00 PM o= r on a weekend, please call 825-5482.

4.      Once the outage is reported, we will dispatch a service crew to locate the probl= em and get the power back on. Ev= ery outage is different, and the time will vary to restore power based on the t= ype and size of the outage.

Public Meetin= g

The Utility Commission invites the public to attend the monthly Public Meetings that are held the second Monday of the month at 6:0= 0 PM at City Hall (204 West Chu= rch Street).

Private Water= Cut-Off

The Georgia Plumbing Code, as adopted by the City of F= ort Valley, requires that a private cut-off valve be installed in the service l= ine on the customer side of the meter by the customer. When a Utility Commission owned cu= t-off (curb stop) is rendered inoperable by a customer or agent of the customer, = the Utility Commission will replace the valve at a charge of $50.00 to the customer.   Utility Commi= ssion policy states that if for any reason a customer must have their water servi= ce shut-off by the Utility Commission, it is mandatory the customer have a pri= vate cut-off installed and the location of it physically noted prior to having t= he water turned on.

Round-Up for = Cares Program

Effective with the February 2005 billing cycles, the F= ort Valley Utility Commission approved an automatic Round-Up Program. Utility bills are rounded up to th= e next dollar. On the average, custo= mer contributions will be about 50¢ per month. All funds collected from the autom= atic round-up will be deposited into a separate trust fund established exclusive= ly for the Fort Valley Cares Program, a program designed to provide assistance= to eligible applicants with the payment of utility bills. Any customer not wanting to partic= ipate in the automatic Round-Up Program should call Customer Service at 825-7701, option 3. In addition, to the Round-Up, customers are encouraged to add an additional amount to their uti= lity bill ($1.00, $2.00, $5.00, etc.). These funds will also be deposited into the separate trust fund established for the Cares Program.

Security Deposits

When opening an account at the Utility Commission, eit= her a security deposit or a copy of the warranty deed is required.

·        Electric Residential Customer:        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; $120

·        Electric, Gas, Water Residential Customer:        &= nbsp;        $120

·        Water Customer:            =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;     $ 20

·        Gas Customer:            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;         $ 55

·        Large Commercial Customer:        &= nbsp;    Customer Service Rep will advise of amount.

·        Small Commercial Customer:        &= nbsp;    Customer Service Rep will advise of amount.

Security Ligh= ts

Are you in the dark?&= nbsp; Upon request, the Utility Commission will install a security light f= or you. If you are interested, p= lease contact Customer Service at 825-7701, option 3 for pricing information.

Sewage Rate

Effective October 1, 2006 billing, sewage rate will be based on 80% of water consumption for that bil= ling period. However, highest summ= er (April – October) sewer bill will not be greater than 110% of highest winter (November – March) sewer bill.

Smell Gas? Ac= t Fast!

Don’t look for a leak. Don’t use or touch anything electrical, like a phone – even a cell phone. Instead, leave the area immediately. Call the Fort Va= lley Utility Commission at 825-7701, option 2.&= nbsp; After hours call 825-5482.

Thermostat Se= tting Recommendations

Recommended temperatures to set your thermostat on to conserve energy:

·        Winter Months:          No higher than 68^oF. =

·        Summer Months: &n= bsp;    No lower than 78^oF. <= /p>

Underground G= as Pipe Maintenance

As your natural gas distributor, the Fort Valley Utility Commission (FVUC) wan= ts to make its customers aware of certain safety recommendations regarding your natural gas piping running underground from the gas meter to the gas-burning appliance. FVUC operates its = gas system with an emphasis on safety. FVUC is required to design, operate and maintain the underground nat= ural gas pipeline system in accordance with prescribed federal safety standards. The gas system doe= s not maintain the gas piping on the customer’s side of the gas meter. This is the responsibility of the customer who owns the piping. If the buried pipe is not properly maintained, it is subject to corrosion and/= or leakage.

To ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of these lines, the buried piping should be checked periodically.&nbs= p; Building owners are advised to contact a licensed plumber or heating contractor to assist in locating and inspecting buried gas piping. If any unsafe condition is discove= red, repairs should be made immediately. The area phone books are excellent sources for listings of licensed plumbers and heating contractors. Any questions regarding gas pipe safety can be directed to Larry Fogarty, FVUC Gas Supervisor at 825-7701, extension 215.

Water Restric= tions

Effective August 1, 2004, statewide outdoor watering restrictions are mandatory on a year-round basis.

·        Odd numbered addresses may water only on Tue= sdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

·        Even numbered or un-numbered addresses may w= ater only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

·        There are no hourly limits.

Web Site: Find more information on our website www.fvutil.com.

Wireless Inte= rnet Service: The Utility Comm= ission provides wireless internet service.

FEATURES

COLLEGE STUDE= NT or 65+ CUSTOMER

RESIDENTIAL B= ASIC

RESIDENTIAL P= REMIUM

BUSINESS=

BASIC

BUSINESS PREMIUM

MONTHLY (Includes modem & indoor antenna)

$29.95 ^{(1) (2)(3)}

$34.95 ⁽³⁾

$44.95 ⁽³⁾

$44.95 ⁽³⁾

$79.95 ⁽³⁾

TERM

6 Months

12 Months

12 Months

24 Months

24 Months

SPEEDS UP TO

256K Down

256K Up

256K Down

256K Up

1.5MB Down

1.5MB Up

256K Down<= /span>

256K Up

1.5MB Down

1.5MB Up

E-MAIL ADDRESSES

5

5

5

5

10

WEB PAGE

5MB

5MB

5MB

5MB

15MB

With Domain Hosting

IP ADDRESS

Private IP

Private IP

Private IP

Private IP

Public IP

Customer billing will begin the first day the service is activated. Customer’s a= ccount will be pro-rata billed to match their existing utility billing cycle.=

(1)     A valid College Student ID must be presented to sign up for the College Student Ser= vice Plan.

(2)     Valid identification must be s= hown to qualify for the 65+ Service Plan.

(3)     Other fees and charges may apply.

FEATURES	COLLEGE STUDE= NT or 65+ CUSTOMER	RESIDENTIAL B= ASIC	RESIDENTIAL P= REMIUM	BUSINESS= BASIC	BUSINESS PREMIUM
MONTHLY (Includes modem & indoor antenna)	$29.95 ^{(1) (2)(3)}	$34.95 ⁽³⁾	$44.95 ⁽³⁾	$44.95 ⁽³⁾	$79.95 ⁽³⁾
TERM	6 Months	12 Months	12 Months	24 Months	24 Months
SPEEDS UP TO	256K Down 256K Up	256K Down 256K Up	1.5MB Down 1.5MB Up	256K Down<= /span> 256K Up	1.5MB Down 1.5MB Up
E-MAIL ADDRESSES	5	5	5	5	10
WEB PAGE	5MB	5MB	5MB	5MB	15MB With Domain Hosting
IP ADDRESS	Private IP	Private IP	Private IP	Private IP	Public IP