TEXAS – The Brownsville Board of Public Utilities (BPUB) has reactivated disconnections for customers with overdue electric, water and wastewater bills.
The shut-offs were reactivated effective March 8, and BPUB announced that it has implemented several measures to ensure that the disconnection process is handled in a safe and responsible manner.
BPUB will only disconnect service during normal business hours, and customers with overdue balances have been notified. Customers who call or visit the Board will be able to arrange a payment plan or access financial assistance programs to avoid disconnection.
In addition, it was announced that customers may download a regularization application in English and/or Spanish through the BPUB website and submit it to one of the following agencies for processing: Community Action Corporation of South Texas (CACOST) at (956) 435-0379, or by email at application@cacost.org; Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley (CCRGV) at (956) 541-0220; Texas Utility Assistance at https://texasutilityhelp.com.
In order to assist users, on October 17, 2022 BPUB recommended suspending service disconnections until February 28, 2023 to the Brownsville City Commission.
The City Commission approved the recommendation at a special meeting held on October 25. Local officials, have urged customers with past due balances to contact Customer Service to arrange a payment plan and begin the financial assistance application process as soon as possible.
“The decision to resume disconnections was not taken lightly, but it is important that customers understand the impact of past due bills on our system and operations,” said Marilyn Gilbert, general manager and chief executive officer of BPUB.
BPUB urged customers to regularly check their account balance and make timely payments through the appropriate portals. She also reiterated that the Board will never seek payment by phone, nor by platforms such as Zelle, Cash App, PayPal, dot. Card or any other prepaid or mobile payment system.
It was also stressed that BPUB will also never ask to confirm personal information from customers over the phone or threaten to disconnect.
Customers can access their account information, pay bills and enroll in payment plans online through the BPUB app or by calling Customer Service at (956) 983-6121 from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday.
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