News

9/9/2008

Wiregrass Electric Cooperative enters partnership with Houston County Sanitation for billing of services

By unanimous vote of the boards of Wiregrass Electric Cooperative (WEC) and the Houston County Commission, WEC and Houston County’s Sanitation Department have entered into a partnership for billing of the county’s sanitation services that will be more convenient for Wiregrass Electric and Houston County customers and save the county money.

For Wiregrass Electric customers, the partnership offers the convenience of including sanitation billing on their monthly electric utility bill and avoiding the cost and inconvenience of an additional payment each month. “Through this agreement, Houston County will pay a small fee for each service billed to cover Wiregrass Electric’s operational expense,” said Michael S. McWaters, Wiregrass Electric’s CEO. “Wiregrass Electric will not subsidize any part of this endeavor. With Wiregrass Electric’s efficient billing and collection infrastructure, this partnership will help maintain accurate and efficient bill collection for Houston County.” For all Houston County Sanitation customers, the partnership offers:

1. Stabilized fees.
2. The advantage of Wiregrass Electric billing options including e-billing and online payments.  
3. With efficient billing and collection, Houston County would have more accurate records and timely bill collection.
4. Increased efficiencies will allow Houston County to eliminate or postpone sanitation rate increases that would have occurred otherwise. 

“Through this partnership with Houston County, Wiregrass Electric is providing a service to our neighbors and fellow citizens and helping Houston County manage costs,” said McWaters. “It’s a win-win situation for both parties. Wiregrass Electric won’t be in the sanitation business, but we’re already in the billing business. Houston County Sanitation will become more efficient at billing, and collections and they will remain the managing system for sanitation services.”

"This will be a way to increase efficiencies within the county, and right now one of those areas of deficiency is in sanitation collection,” said Mark Culver, Houston County Commission Chairman. “Houston County Sanitation will have fair and equitable billing for services rendered, and we will not have to increase fees at this time as previously anticipated.”

Houston County Sanitation customers who do not have Wiregrass Electric utility service will receive a bill from the cooperative for sanitation charges only. They will have the option of paying at the Houston County Sanitation office, by mail or online through Wiregrass Electric’s website. The only change Wiregrass Electric customers will see is the added charge for sanitation services on their monthly bills. All customers will be notified in writing prior to beginning the service Jan. 1, 2009.

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