- Who sets gas and water rates?
- Who sets sewer and trash rates?
- Why do I get charged something on my bill when I have been gone and have not used any gas or water?
- What if I'm not home when the meter reader arrives?
- What are ERTs?
- What are remote meters?
- Why do you want inside readings on metrs when I have a remote device or ERT which is suppose to eliminate the need for meter readers to come into my home?
- I would like a schedule of when you'll read my meters.
- Why do you estimate bills?
- How do you estimate bills?
- May I change the due date on my bill?
- Will you take a post-dated check?
- What is therm billing?
- Do I still receive a bill if my payment is deducted from my checking or savings account?
- How long does it take to set up a bank draft payment?
- Contact for flooded basement and other emergencies due to sewer back-up
Who sets gas and water rates?
The M.U.D. Board of Directors sets the water rates and the non-gas or fixed
base part of the gas rate. The fixed base rate covers costs for operation,
maintenance and administration of gas plants and mains.
The gas part of the rate, which fluctuates every month depending on the price at the wellhead, goes to buy natural gas. This cost is passed on directly to you.
We also provide a cost-saving service to cities in our service area by collecting sewer and trash pick-up fees. M.U.D. directors do not set these fees.
Why do I get charged something on my bill when I have been gone and
have not used any gas or water?
There is a minimum service charge for gas, water and sewer. The gas minimum
is determined by the type of service (residential, commercial, etc.). The
water minimum is determined by the meter size. The sewer minimum is set
by your city.
What if I'm not home when the meter reader arrives?
If you have an inside meter(s) and no one is home during the day, you may
purchase an encode, receive, transmit (ERT) device which allows us to read
your meter via radio signals or we can set up special arrangements to read
the meter(s). Call 554.6666 or e-mail us.
You also may call in your monthly meter readings to our 24-hour voice Meter Reading Hotline, 504.7008.
Frequent readings of the inside meter(s) by our employees will ensure you receive an accurate bill. If we are unable to obtain regular readings, we will need access to your inside meter at least once a year.
What are ERTs?
Your home may have an encode, receive, transmit (ERT) device which allows
us to read your meter via radio signals and save money on meter reading
costs. For more information on ERTs, call 554.6666 or e-mail us.
What are remote meters?
Your home may have a remote reading device on the outside of the structure
which connects to the inside meter. The device reduces the need for meter
readers to enter your home.
We verify the accuracy of remotes by reading the inside meter at least once a year. If the reading on the inside differs from the reading on the outside meter, the reading on the inside meter is used to validate any billing adjustment.
If you compare your remote reading with the inside meter reading and discover a variance, call 554.6666. We will inspect the remote at no cost, however we no longer install or maintain remotes.
Why do you want inside readings on meters when I have a remote device
or ERT which is suppose to eliminate the need for meter readers to come
into my home?
Mechanical meter reading devices occasionally malfunction. If a device slows
down or stops registering use, the inside meter is used for billing. If
a malfunction occurs, we want to correct it before a large variance develops
between the use recorded on the device and the use recorded on the inside
meter.
I would like a schedule of when you'll read my meters.
We read your meter eight times a year and will give you the dates. Call
554.6666 or e-mail us to request a schedule.
Why do you estimate bills?
We take actual readings of your meter(s) for two consecutive months and
estimate your bill the third month. Estimated bills reduce operating costs
and help keep your gas and water rates among the lowest in the Midwest.
How do you estimate my bills?
Gas bills are estimated using two factors-one
for domestic (non-heating) consumption (hot water heater, range, pool heater)
and one for space heating consumption.
To determine your domestic (non-heating) consumption, we take the usage between the readings in summer months and divide that use by the number of days in that period to arrive at the average therms or units per day factor.
To determine your heating factor, we subtract your non-heating use during the period in question from the total use. The remaining heating consumption is divided by the total number of degree days in the period, resulting in the average number of therms or units per degree day. Degree days are indicators of cold weather and how much heating is required.
We add the results of multiplying your non-heating factor times the number of days, plus your heating factor times the number of degree days to get the estimated total use.
Water bills are estimated by using an average of your previous two years’ use during the same time frame.
Sewer bills are calculated using the base number of units of water on residential accounts. On commercial accounts, sewer always is billed the same number of units as water. Generally, sewer rates are based on actual water use from January through April.
May I change the due date on my bill?
No. The due date is determined by when your meter is read and based on a
certain number of days from which a bill is generated.
Will you take a post-dated check?
No. Post-dated checks are not considered legal tender.
What is therm billing?
Therm billing is an equitable method of billing for the natural gas you
buy from us, based on the energy content of the gas.
Natural gas expands in volume depending on the elevation of your home or business. Also, our gas comes from different wellfields, therefore energy content can vary.
By recognizing these two variables and converting them to British thermal units (Btus), you pay for the amount of energy used instead of the volume of gas.
Do I still receive a bill if my payment is deducted from my checking
or savings account?
Yes. You will receive a bill statement approximately 15 days before the
payment is withdrawn from your financial institution. This gives you time
to contact us if you have a question about the bill.
How long does it take to set up a bank draft payment?
Approximately 10 working days; more than 10 days if a pre-note certification is required.
Sewer -- Trash
M.U.D. provides a cost-saving service to municipalities by collecting sewer use rates and trash pickup fees. The sewer and trash rates and fees are set by your city.
If you have an emergency, such as a flooded basement, which may be related to the sewer system, contact your city's public works department. In Omaha, the phone number is 444.5332.
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