Frequently Asked Questions
Q: [Where is the office located and what
are your hours?]
A: [The billing office is located at 16 N. Main St. – on the west
side of the downtown square. Our doors are open from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. – however, we accept phone calls (659-3361) beginning at 8
a.m.]
Q: What do I need to acquire service?
A: All customers are required to come into our office and fill out
an application for service. Homeowners must provide proof of
ownership (a warranty deed will suffice) and a picture ID
(preferably a valid driver’s license.) Renters must provide a copy
of their rent receipt or lease agreement, a picture ID and a
corresponding utility deposit. Deposits vary.
**BUSINESSES MUST FILL OUT OUR APPLICATION FOR SERVICE. DEPOSITS VARY.**
Q: Are there fees to set services?
A: There are no fees to turn on or set electric
service for new residents. It is also free at this time – to
transfer electric services for existing customers. There are,
however, reconnection fees for accounts turned off (disconnected)
for nonpay. Read further down the FAQ’s for electric and water
reconnection fees.
A $5 water turn on fee is required at set – should service be
currently off at an existing residence. This applies to new
residents – and to existing residents wanting to transfer services.
For new construction residential homes – there is a $325 water tap
fee and $325 sewage tap fee.
Q: How much is the deposit? And what about good credit references?
A: It is possible to avoid paying deposits as a
renter. Should a customer be able to provide a good payment history
from a previous utility provider – or good payment history from a
similar source – we may be able to void a rental deposit. If not –
then deposits are configured based on energy consumption. The
breakdowns are as follows:
Single family homes located within city limits with gas heat :
$75.00 electric deposit; $15.00 water and $40 sewage.
Single family homes located within city limits with electric heat:
$150 electric deposit; $15.00 water and $40 sewage.
Single family homes located outside city limits electric heat only:
$150.00 deposit.
Single family homes located outside city limits that heat with
gas/propane/oil: $100.00 deposit.
Apartments are based on the same formula. Apartments with gas heat
require $75.00 electric deposit. An all electric apartment is
$150.00 – with the exception of the following: Frankfort Place
Apartments - $50.00; Wilshire Court Apartments - $50.00; Frankfort
Community Housing (Friendship Village) - $50.00 and Eastgate
Apartments - $125.00.
Q: [If I do pay a deposit – can I get it
back?]
A: [Deposits can be refunded in one of two ways. Customers who
remain on our service – and pay their bill on time for 12
consecutive months – will be refunded in full.
Customers who terminate service with us will have their deposit applied to their “final” bill. Any additional monies left over will be mailed to their new mailing address.]
Q: [What are your methods for accepting
payments?]
A: [We accept cash, check and payment via credit cards (Visa,
MasterCard and Discover). Credit cards can be paid in person or over
the phone. We have automatic withdrawal (PAP) from your
savings/checking account. We have a drop box located outside our
front door – and we also accept payments at our local Marsh
Supermarket. Of course, you can still mail payments to either our
physical address of 16 N. Main St., or our P.O. Box 578.
**WE CURRENTLY DO NOT ACCEPT PAYMENTS VIA CHECK BY PHONE**
Online bill payment is in the discussion stage and any new
information will be passed along not only on this website – but also
on your bill, in the newspaper and at our front counter.]
Q: [Can you explain all the fees on the
new bills?]
A: [Sure – though it may be easier to explain in person or over the
phone. However – in generic terms – your account will be read at
virtually the same time each month – and always retain the same due
date. Current bills are due 17 days from billing – and disconnects
are due 15 days from your billing date.
Electric rates are based on a tiered system. Frankfort Municipal
Utilities has four different electric rates. They are A-Residential;
B-Business; C-Commercial; and PPL (Industrial). As a means to keep
this simple – B, C and PPL rates are available upon request. The
A-Residential rate is broken down as follows:
Minimum charge - $4.00.
First 500 kwh’s – 5.8636 cents
Next 1000 kwh’s – 4.6085 cents
Over 1,500 kwh’s – 3.7496 cents.
All accounts with consumption are also charged a “tracker” fee.
Otherwise known as an energy adjustment charge. As the expense for
electric increases – or even decreases – this fee helps balance our
rates without causing us to increase or decrease the tiered rate
with every billing.
An example of a bill with consumption will be found on this site –
to visually assist this explanation.
Should also be noted that outdoor security lights are available as
well. There are several varieties of outdoor/security lights
available with differing rates. Please contact our office should you
want to know the exact cost.
Our residential water rates are based on cubic feet. 100 cubic feet
is 750 gallons or equal to one unit. The first four units are billed at the
water minimum rate of $5.76, each additional unit of water is
charged at $1.44. Thus – 5 units of water is $7.20. An additional 6%
sales tax is added on to water charges.
On your bill – you will find that we use single digits for each 100
cubic feet used. Thus – if you used 500 cubic feet of water – you
will find the number “5,” and for “5” units – you would be billed
$7.20.
Our residential sewage rates begin with a $6.90 minimum billing. For
every 100 cubic feet of water used – sewage charges $3.00 per unit. Thus
– two units of water used would be $12.90 sewage; 3 units would
be $15.90 etc.
Additional water and sewage charges for business/industrial users
are available upon request.
The last set of fees you may find on your utility bill labeled as
user fee charges, this refers to trash pickup and hydrant protection. In 1997, the City of Frankfort
assessed every residential customer $3 trash pickup fee and $1 for
hydrant protection.]
Q: [What does “Net” and “Gross” mean on
the bill?]
A: [The “Net” amount is the portion of the bill owed by the due
date. Customers get 17 days to pay this “net” amount before late
fees are applied. The “Gross” amount – is the current billing
coupled with a late fee. To avoid paying late fees – one must always
pay by the “Net” date.]
Q: [Can the due date be changed?]
A: [No. FMU bills our customers in sectors. Due to software and time
restrictions - along with expense issues - we are unable to send our
meter readers throughout the city and county on specialty reads.
Bulk readings are needed to not only bill timely – but to save
money.]
Q: [What is exactly meant by “disconnect
date?”]
A: [Accounts scheduled for disconnection are mailed a pink
disconnect reminder sheet with their regular billing. On this sheet
is the disconnection date. The account will be disconnected at the
start of regular business (morning) of the listed date – unless the
date falls on a weekend or holiday of which we’re closed. Failure to
pay this past due bill prior to the work order being generated –
will result in not only being disconnected – but also charged a
reconnection fee.]
Q: [What are fees for reconnection?]
A: [Current charges for electric reconnection are $20 during regular
office hours 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.. After hour reconnection fee is $82.00.
Billing Office personnel are available after hours from 5 p.m.
through 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours are available
at the discretion of management. No Sunday hours will be made
available.
Water disconnects carry a flat $10 connection fee. Same hours and
dates apply.
**WE ACCEPT ONLY CASH OR MONEY ORDERS ON DISCONNECTED ACCOUNTS.**]
Q: [Who do I contact if I want
reconnected after 5 p.m.?]
A: [For electric reconnections please call the Frankfort City Light
& Power office at 654-4424. This number will be forwarded to the
Frankfort Fire Department – which then contacts the appropriate
personnel. You can also call the fire department direct – at
654-7212.
Water reconnections can be done as well. Please contact the
Waterworks office at 654-5556.]
Q: [What if I can’t pay my bill before
the disconnection date?]
A: [Always call the office and speak with management as soon as
possible. It is possible that a one-time payment schedule/extension
can be arranged.]
Q: [What is your policy with
non-sufficient fund (NSF’s) checks?]
A: [The local banks contact our office and we are required to
deposit additional monies to correct that days deposit. Because of
this – we charge a $25.00 NSF fee. We then mail or drop off a letter
to the customer explaining the problem. If the customer doesn’t come
in – and take care of the NSF by our required date – we terminate
services. At that point – our reconnection policy takes effect as
well.
Failure to pick up the bad check will eventually lead us to file a
case with the Clinton County Prosecutors Office.]
Q: [Do you offer budget billing?]
A: [We do not offer budget billing at this time. ]
Q: [What steps can I take if I think my
consumption is incorrect?]
A: [Contact our office. We will have the respective utility
department test the meter and speak with the tenant/homeowner to
determine what may be the cause behind high and low meter readings.
Please do not wait to contact our office. The sooner we can
investigate the problem – the more likely we are to solve the
issue.]
Q: [Am I responsible for the water
portion of a bill – if I had a leak?]
A: [Yes. Water that runs through a meter is considered used – and
subsequently billed. It is imperative to find the cause immediately
to minimize such a loss. However – some sewage adjustments are
possible. You must contact our office to set up payment plans. Read
question 17 for more information.]
Q: [Can sewage be adjusted from my
bill?]
A: [Possibly. Customers must prove the leak did not run down a
drain. The most common example of adjustable consumption:
Underground leak from the water meter to your home.
**Left on water spigots/garden hoses/sprinklers are not
adjustable.**
Customers must provide a written explanation of the leak – along
with a receipt of repairs. Photographs, too, are appreciated. Our
office will assist Wastewater Superintendent Dennis Shirar in
preparing the requests. Mr. Shirar will then visit each site – and
determine eligibility.
**Customers are allowed up to three sewage adjustments per year.**]
Q: [Does Frankfort Municipal Utilities
offer a summer sewage rate?]
A: [Yes. Homeowners who sign up for utility service are
automatically entered. The Billing Office breaks down the city into
two quadrants. Accounts beginning with 15 through 29 receive the
sewage break from June through September. Accounts beginning with 1
through 14 receive the break July through October. If you aren’t
sure where your adjustments fall – or know your account number -
contact our office. During this time period – residents are billed
the equivalent of sewage used during the winter months December,
January and February. If you’re not sure you’re signed up – please
contact our office at your convenience.
**Businesses, apartment complexes, apartment units and industries
are not eligible. Only homeowners and single family rental homes are
eligible.**]
Q: [What about pool fills?]
A: [Pool fills are considered sewage adjustable. You must contact
our office to inform us that you are filling the pool. Please
remember, however, that each city resident is allowed only three
non-summer sewage adjustments per year. Each pool filling counts
against your allowable amount.]