Citing the tough economic times that people are going through Bamberg Board of Public Works Commissioners approved several changes in their billing policy that they hope will their customers.

“Over the past few months I talked to Mr. Ellis (Bruce Ellis, BPW Manager) because of the economic times we are going through, to see what we as a board can do to help some of our citizens that are having a hard time,” BPW Board Chairman Bob Clary said in introducing the proposed billing changes.

Clary stated that Ellis explained to him that there were some things the department could and couldn’t get by with before making a proposal. “There are some things that I want to propose even though we have some of the lowest rates,” Clary said.

Chairman Clary proposed that the following billing changes be made: First, that the due date on utilities bills be moved from the 15th of each month to the 20th. It was stated that this change would give citizens who are paid on the first of the month and the 15th of the month two pay checks before utilities are disconnected on the 25th. Next it was proposed that the rate on overdue accounts be changed from the present 10 percent, to 5 percent, noting that this rate could be adjusted later if needed, based on the state of the economy. Also proposed by the board was that the current fee to have service reconnected be changed from $20.00 to $ 10.00 and that there be a change in the policy of increased deposits after a customer’s service has been disconnected.

“The new policy would give an individual one late payment per year without being charged the increased deposit,” Clary said. It was noted that this change will only apply to residential accounts and the full deposit will be required if an individual’s deposit was waived for any reason.

An example would be if a customer came from the Edisto Electric Cooperative to Bamberg and has a good payment record with the cooperative they will not be charged a deposit of $100, if they are late more than once, then they can be charged the $100 deposit to reconnect services.

“Those are some changes that I would make as chairman of the board to help people in these troubled times,” Clary said.

Commission member Dr. Marion Dwight asked manager Bruce Ellis did he see any adverse affects of the proposals coming from the chairman.

“No sir,” stated Ellis, saying that he had gone over the proposals in-depth noting that a lot of people are paid twice per month and the change would help them. “I don’t see any problem, I looked at it, we’re going to lose a little bit of money, not much,” Ellis said, noting that there was a fine line between helping one person and protecting the other.

Ellis also noted while this topic is being talked about, there was a bill circulating around in the state house to determine what utility companies are doing to help its customers, “this fits into that,” Ellis said.

Commissioner Dr. Marion Dwight moved and it was seconded by Commissioner Carl Kilgus that the proposals coming from the chairman be approved. The policy changes will take effect immediately.