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CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP)

Now Available:  Financial Assistance for Commercial, Industrial, Multi-Family Housing, and Community Organizations to implement energy savings programs and reduce utility costs.

Provided by:  Energy Management Solutions, Inc.

Click HERE for more information

 

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Sign up now to view and pay your bills online!

  • You will receive an email when your bill is ready to view

  • You can pay online anytime (24/7)

  • Make a one-time payment, schedule a payment or set up recurring payments for the amount of your monthly bill

  • Set up a customer profile so that future payments are fast and easy

  • Avoid late payments; your payment posts the day you make the payment

Click on the links below to start the process or to make a payment.

NEW Online Bill Pay Users                     Returning Users

 

If you have any questions, please call PSN, our payment processor, at 877-885-7968. You can also email questions to: CustomerService@PaymentServiceNetwork.com

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Customer Reminder Regarding Dogs

 The Department of Public Utilities strives to keep its employees safe while they perform their daily tasks.  Customers are reminded that dogs and other pets may sometimes react in an unfriendly manner to a Meter Reader or a member of our Service Crew when they come onto your property. 

Please take the necessary precautions to ensure that your pet is not placed in a situation where it may feel threatened by a Meter Reader or Serviceman when they have to enter your property in order to read or service meters. 

 If you have recently added a dog to your family, you may call our Customer Service Desk at 748-7545 so that the presence of your new dog can be noted on your account and our employees will know to proceed with caution when reading or servicing your meters. 

 The Virginia Department of Public Utilities thanks you for your cooperation in ensuring that our employees and your pet(s) are not placed in an uncomfortable situation.


Meter Sealing Policy Reminder

 Customers are reminded that meters are sealed by Utility personnel and cannot be tampered with for any reason.  If you need to have your meter seal removed, please call our office at 218-748-7545 and we will send an employee to remove your seal. 

 A seal is any wire, lock, cable, padlock, or other device used to secure, prevent the opening of, or access to a metering device, steam condensate system, water system,  gas system, or electrical system to ensure proper metering.

 A seal that is found to be damaged, cut, or broken in any manner as to make the seal ineffective may result in a fine.  Questions regarding the Department’s Meter Sealing Policy can be obtained by calling our Business Office at 218-748-7540. 

 

Taking Utilities Without Paying is a Crime!

 The Department of Public Utilities reminds customers that taking utilities without paying for them, or with no intention of paying for them, is a crime. 

 The Virginia Utility put a program into place several years ago to ensure that revenue from all commodities supplied to customers is received and lost revenue is kept at a minimum.

 Remember, if a customer uses utilities and does not pay for them, those customers who do pay have to shoulder the expense.  If you suspect someone may be using electricity, steam, water, or natural gas provided by the Virginia Utility without paying for its use, call the Utility’s Business Office at 218-748-7540 immediately.  Stopped utility theft will have a direct impact on your home or business - it will keep your costs for utilities down!

 Questions regarding the Department’s program to stop utility theft can be answered by stopping at our office or contacting the Director of Operations Distribution as soon as you suspect utility theft may be occurring.

 

 

 

The 2009 Water Report is available here

 

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Effective May 2010, Virginia Public Utilities will no longer accept 75% of the delinquent amount due as sufficient payment to avoid final notices and/or disconnection.  All delinquent utility bills must be paid in full (or a written payment arrangement must be made) by the delinquent due date.

 

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Sign up NOW for the EQUAL PAYMENT PLAN for June 2010 - May 2011.  If you participated for year June 2009 - May 2010, you will automatically be signed up for this year.

  The deadline to sign up is April 26, 2010.

Click HERE for more information.

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NEW UTILITY RATES IN EFFECT JANUARY 1, 2010

See the new rate brochure and the articles in the January 2010 Customer Newsletter for more information

 

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Notice for Virginia Utility Customers

Allowing Access by Utility Employees

 

All Virginia Utility employees carry a Department Identification Card containing their picture.  Should someone request access to your property, home, or business for a utility-related issue, be safe, and ask to see their identification card. 

 

If you are still unsure, call our business office at 218-748-7540 to verify that utility service has been scheduled for your address.  The Virginia Utility, in conjunction with the Virginia Police Department, strives to keep our City and its residents safe. 

 

The Virginia Police Department should be contacted if Virginia citizens see anything suspicious.  911 should be called anytime there is an emergency and/or you need an officer to respond.  The non-emergency Police phone number is 748-7510.

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NOTICE TO CITY OF VIRGINIA WATER CUSTOMERS

The Virginia Department of Public Utilities will begin flushing fire hydrants on or about October 4, 2009.

 This work will continue for approximately 4 – 6 weeks.   Water customers may experience periods of cloudy or discolored water when hydrants are flushed in their area.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our customers as we prepare for the coming winter.

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Third Party Notification Available for

Virginia Utility Customers

The Virginia Utility offers a service to customers and property owners that may assist in being sure utility bills are paid.  A “Third Party” can be notified if your bills are running late - it may help you!

 If you have been served a notice of proposed disconnection by the Virginia Utility, you may want to alert a third party (friend, relative, church group, or community agency) that a disconnection notice has been issued to you.  The third party will not be responsible for paying your bill but does have the right to contact the Utility and provide information or work out a payment agreement for you. Any payment agreement must be signed by the customer, but the terms of the agreement can be set up for you by your designated third party.

 If you want a third party to be notified of the potential disconnect, please pick up a third party form from our business office - both you and your third party must sign the form before returning it to our office.  A copy of the third party notification form is also available at the Utility’s website - www.vpuc.com.

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Information on Two-Cycle Billing Change Taking Effect in July 2009

 

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9/29/08:  MINNESOTA POWER TO RAISE RATES TO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AGAIN

How does this affect VPU customers?  Read this article.

 

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2008 Rate Comparison with Other Local Utilities

Click HERE

New Ulm, MN is included because they also have a steam system

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PLEASE NOTE:

The Gas Department will not be accepting applications for new gas service installations for this year after October 15, 2008. 

Applications received after October 15, 2008 will be done after May 15, 2009.

 Effective November 1, 2008 , VPU will no longer be accepting payments at Northern State Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, US Bank or Super One North.  There is a convenient drop box located at the Utility office at 618 2nd Street South  

 

Calendar of Events

 

Meeting Notices

Virginia Public Utilities Commission

Regular scheduled meetings are held at 4:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday of each month.   

***NOTE:  Effective with May 2008, meetings will be held once a month on the fourth Monday.***

See "Communications" for minutes of past meetings.


 

Policy Changes

Effective January 1, 2008, additional documentation will be required when applying for Utility service.  A valid driver’s license or photo ID must now be presented at the time of application.  Additionally, documentation showing proof of ownership will be required in order for a customer deposit waiver to be considered.  Please contact our Business Office at 748-7540 with questions or for a copy of the revised policy.  


 

Check This Out!

Do-It Yourself Energy Audit

Click above to link to a handy publication from Seattle's City Light department

 

An Online Energy Audit from the US Department of Energy

 

More information on making your home energy-efficient and saving money

 

 

Check out information on our BIOMASS PROJECT

 

 

 

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