Grover Beach residents will be able to pay city utility bills online using a new system that’s expected to be released in spring 2010.
The city will spend $10,000 from its reserves to implement the so-called NetBill system that would allow water and sewer ratepayers to view and pay bills online.
City officials said they wanted to provide the service based on requests from residents to view bills online and pay with a credit card.
The new program would store bills for three months and show usage history up to the same month of the previous year.
If at least 100 customers use the system, users could have to pay a minimum 35-cent credit card fee for every transaction made through the NetBill system, according to a staff report.
But the NetBill system will cost the city an additional $400 maintenance fee each month, so staff is suggesting that the fee possibly be set at $2 per transaction to help cover that cost, according to the report.
The rate could change depending on how many customers use the system. “(The staff’s goal) is to cover the $400 monthly (maintenance) fee, if possible,” according to the report.
Officials said the system likely will be implemented in about a month but will not be available to the public until it is fully tested.
A flier delivered with utility bills will tell customers when the service is available.
SanLuisObispo.com is happy to provide a forum for reader interaction, discussion, feedback and reaction to our stories. However, we reserve the right to delete inappropriate comments or ban users who can't play nice. See our full terms of service here.
Here are some rules of the road:
You should also know that The Tribune does not screen comments before they are posted. You are more likely to see inappropriate comments before our staff does, so we ask that you click the "report abuse" button to submit those comments for moderator review. You also may notify us via email at webmaster@thetribunenews.com. Note the headline on which the comment is made and tell us the profile name of the user who made the comment. Remember, comment moderation is subjective. You may find some material objectionable that we won't and vice versa.
If you submit a comment, the username of your account will appear along with it. Users cannot remove their own comments once they have submitted them, but you may ask our staff to retract one of your comments by sending an email to webmaster@thetribunenews.com. Again, make sure you note the headline on which the comment is made and tell us your profile name.
Be the first to know what's going on in San Luis Obispo County. Just tell us how you want to find out — we'll take care of the rest.
Sign up for breaking news alerts from SanLuisObispo.com and get the latest news sent to your cell phone via text message.
By signing up for alerts from this site, you are signing up for a program that may include up to 5 SMS text alert(s) per alert category per day. There is no service fee charged per month but your carrier's standard text messaging and other charges may apply. You may stop this subscription service at any time by sending the text message "STOP" to 72737. You must be at least thirteen (13) years of age to use our alert services. If you are between 13 and 17 years old, you agree that you have received parental permission both to complete the registration process and to receive SMS content on your cell phone. For help, send the text message "HELP" to 72737. This service will work with ATT, Verizon, Sprint, Nextel, Alltell, US Cellular, Cincinnati Bell, Boost, Virgin Mobile USA, Celluar South, Telos, Centennial, East Kentucky Network, Cellcom, Immix and Rural Celluar.
E-mail »
Twitter »
Facebook »
iTribune »
Subscribe »
RSS »
About comments
Reader comments on SanLuisObispo.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Tribune. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.