The grace period to pay outstanding utility bills is coming to a close.
The City of Corpus Christi wants residents to know that if you miss out on the grace period, that does not mean your utilities are going to get shut off immediately.
But if you have a delinquent account, you want to keep an eye on your mailbox for a notice that tells you what option you still have to avoid that cut-off.
On the letter, it will have the day to pay.
However, currently you still have time to come in and take care of your account before you’re disconnected.
The bottom line, you still have to pay.
But the Corpus Christi Utilities Business Office workers still want to work with people who owe.
If you still have an outstanding balance you can still set up a payment plan.
And the city says they notice many residents did respond during the grace period.
“The traffic has increased the call volume has definitely increased the wait time has increased because now the people are being proactive and are coming in and are wanting to work a payment plan,” said Margaret Morin, City of Corpus Christi Utility Business Office Manager.
If you don’t want to wait in long lines, residents can pay online, call in, or even stop by a local H-E-B.
Just be prepared to have the correct information.
“Making a partial payment does not get you out of that delinquent process, you have to work out the whole,” Morin said. “You can call and find out your balance. If it’s $200, well, you can go to H-E-B and pay that off,” says Morin.
It’s important to note the date on your notice that you’ll receive.
It has a disconnect date. And after that date, your only options will be to call the city or come in to take care of your bill.
However, if it gets to this level, you will be charged an additional administrative fee.
“Come in and communicate with us,” Morin said. “That’s all we’re asking for when they communicate with us, that is when we can go ahead and make it a win-win situation for the city as well as the constituents that we serve.”
The delinquent notices will be mailed out on July 8.
Again, it will reveal the last day you will need to pay before disconnect.
And you would need to have that amount paid before midnight of the date given.
According to the City Finance Department, there are just over 500 delinquent commercial accounts.
There are also more than 11,600 delinquent residential accounts.
For more information on how you can pay your utility bill online follow this link.
