The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) Policy Committee spent a significant part of its November 19 meeting reviewing how utility accounts are handled when renters move out and property owners take over service. The topic came forward after a local landlord raised concerns about service fees, wastewater charges, and how the policy is applied during tenant turnover.
According to discussion during the meeting, the landlord believed he was being treated like a brand new customer each time a tenant moved out. A new customer activation normally carries a higher fee, which can add up quickly for someone who owns several homes or has a high turnover rate. Committee members clarified that under the current policy, landlords should be charged a five dollar revert fee, not the higher seventy five dollar setup charge. This lower fee is meant to cover the short period between tenants when the property owner becomes responsible for utility service.
Committee members noted that the misunderstanding itself was a sign that the policy may not be clear enough for landlords. Several board members agreed that the revert fee should be listed more plainly in BPU’s customer service policy so property owners know what to expect. Staff said updating the document would be a simple change and could help avoid confusion moving forward.
The conversation then turned toward wastewater billing. Members discussed a related concern raised by the landlord, who said that wastewater charges for new tenants were based on outdated estimates rather than real usage. Under the current system, a resident must call the Unified Government to request an adjustment, even though BPU already has access to meter data. This delay can lead to new renters being billed at a higher rate until the change is made.
Committee members said the process felt inefficient and may not reflect the actual needs of residents. They also noted that commercial customers receive wastewater calculations based on real usage, while residential customers still rely on a preset estimate. Board members said they planned to follow up with Unified Government staff to better understand the policy and look for ways to improve coordination.
By the end of the meeting, BPU leaders said they would revise their customer service policy to add clearer language about the revert fee. They also said they would continue conversations with the Unified Government about wastewater billing practices. Staff expect to bring updated policy language to the full board in December. More information about wastewater issues will be reviewed at a future meeting after both agencies gather additional details.
