City of Ashland Utilities

Attention City of Ashland Utility Customers –

The City is transitioning to a new financial software system. During this transition, the new software company has recommended that we update our billing dates.

Historically, when meters were read manually, the City billed a month behind for utility bills. With new metering technology and software, meter readings are real-time, allowing us to bill for the current month, rather than a month behind. Therefore, we will be starting to bill immediately after the month-end meter read.

Your bill is made up of two main parts: 1) Usage Rate Charges 2) Minimum Fee Charges.

For Usage Rate Charges, when meters were read manually, the City has always billed a month behind. With new metering technology and software, meter readings are real-time, allowing us the City to bill for the current month, rather than a month behind.

For Minimum Fee Charges, the City has always billed two weeks behind.

This new software system will allow the City to bill immediately after the month end meter reads for both the Usage Rate Charges and the Minimum Fee Charges.

Because of this billing cycle timing changes, catch-up billing is needed to make up for the lag in usage and minimums vs the month in which they were billed.

The Usage Rate Charges for September and October will both be billed on your November bill. The delayed Minimum Fee Charges will be split out over the next five bills. Please see charts below for a more detailed explaination.

Previous System

Billing Month	Usage Charge Month on Bill	Minimum Charge Dates on Bill
August	June	June 16 - July 15
September	July	July 16 - Aug 15
October	August	Aug 16 - Sept 15

New System

Billing Month	Usage Charge Month on Bill	Minimum Charge Dates on Bill
November	September & October	Sept 16-Oct 15 + 20% of Oct 16-31
December	November	November + 20% of Oct 16-31
January	December	December + 20% of Oct 16-31
February	January	January + 20% of Oct 16-31
March	February	February + 20% of Oct 16-31

*Routine and Caught Up Billing Resumes*

Billing Month	Usage Charge Month on Bill	Minimum Charge Dates on Bill
April	March	March
May	April	April
June	May	May

If you have any questions regarding this information or your specific bill, please call City Hall at 402-944-3387, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or email ubclerk@ashland-ne.com.

We are happy to help walk you through this and exactly how it will effect your bill.

Thank you for your understanding while we’re working on this needed computer system and technology transition.