Customers of the Williamsport Municipal Water and Sanitary Authority soon may receive bills on a monthly rather than quarterly basis.
Next month, the authority may decide to drop the billing cycle down to each month with no change in the rates.
"There will be no rate change, but we think it might help people during these economic times dealing with their budgets," said John Baker, finance director with the authority that met Wednesday to preview next month's vote.
As for earlier notification of past due bills to landlords, tenants and other customers - the authority believes that can be a benefit to all customers.
"We're planning to implement changes to allow for this notification to occur as soon as a bill becomes past due," Baker said. Staff anticipate being able to respond to any leaks or problems and review the cost-to-benefit of the switch.
"We listened to landlords, Mim Logue and Bonnie Noviello, last month," Baker said. The landlords complained about outdated billing practices.
The authority finance committee, however, concluded the practice of holding landlords responsible for water and sewer costs ... is appropriate, and that any risk associated with a tenant unable or unwilling to pay their bill is the responsibility of the landlord.
"Some of the risks associated with rental units include damage and intentional misuse of the property," Baker said. "It is not our role to provide advice on how this should be done," he said, adding how many landlords address concerns in different ways.
The change in the billing cycle does nothing to alter the authorities main purpose, which is to provide reliable water and wastewater service to customers at reasonable costs, Baker said.
It doesn't matter whether property owners are residential, landlord, commercial or industrial - all are held to the same standards, he said.
