Mount Carmel city officials say they’re modernizing how residents are notified about overdue water bills — a move that will save time, money, and improve safety.
At a recent City Council meeting, officials explained that the city plans to replace its hand-delivered water shutoff tags with an automated phone call system.
Water Superintendent Heath Reed, “Right now, we hand-deliver red tags for accounts that are two months past due. What we’re wanting to transition into is an automated phone call system.”
The change could save hours of work each month. Currently, two employees spend most of a day driving around town delivering about 150 notices by hand. The new system would send those alerts automatically — costing the city just 10 cents per successful call, or around $15 a month.
“It’s kind of a no-brainer. It saves money, improves safety, and gives customers more time to make arrangements before service is disconnected.”
Officials say the automated calls will go out first thing in the morning, giving residents a full day to pay before shutoffs occur.
The city is also encouraging residents to update their phone numbers and sign up for email billing, so they don’t miss important notices. Those who can’t be reached will still receive a hand-delivered tag for now, until the system is fully phased in.