by Kevin Zimmermann
A plan to resume disconnection of water service for delinquent accounts received a favorable hearing at January’s meeting of Sheboygan’s Board of Waterworks Commissioners. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission had suspended disconnections statewide during the pandemic, but plans to allow resumption on April 15th.
The recommendation from the Sheboygan Water Utility is to resume the disconnection program in April, but with an increase in the trigger point for disconnections up to $300, and a reduction in the downpayment for a deferred payment arrangement from 50% to 25%.
Commissioners were told that the disconnections program has, for many years, helped collect on delinquent accounts and prevented landlords from being stuck with a bill that belongs to the renter, but given the need that some customers have for assistance with utility bills, there was some consideration given to extending delinquent accounts overall.
In the end, the commissioners expressed agreement with continuing the disconnection program and will examine a draft proposal at the February meeting.
