Utility shut-off is set to resume

Delinquent water bills could result in some Portland residents losing the service next month for the first time since last winter.

If by Tuesday morning bills are unpaid, fines or service shut-off could be imposed as soon as the following week, city clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips said.

However, she added that her office will hold off on fines or elimination of services if a late payer calls or stops by city hall to set up a payment plan.

“If they don’t call in and make arrangements, they will be cut off,” Phillips said.

The city chose not to extend further what turned into a six-month grace period for late utility payments during the coronavirus pandemic as required by an Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb executive order.

That order, which was first enacted in March but is no longer in effect, prevented any utility provider, including municipalities, from cutting off services to delinquent payers.

Portland has an order of its own preventing any utility shut-off until Tuesday. Residents were notified by mail of the grace period’s expiration and how much they owe to the city, Phillips said.

Fines are imposed on a 30-60-90-day split, with a 10% fine on the first $3 of any late payment and a 3% fine on the rest of the bill.

She said she doesn’t know how many Portland residents are on the verge of losing their water service, but she said there is about $60,000 worth of missing payments from around 450 residents as of last week.

Usually there are about 500 residents per month with late payments, Phillips said.

Twenty late payers have tried contacting Phillips’ office to try to work out a payment plan, which is optimized around how much a person can conceivably pay at the moment.