Updates From Our Local Utility Providers On Upcoming Bills
All information link to provider web pages/social media
Bryan Texas Utilities (From Twitter)
Several BTU customers have asked if their utility rates will spike, as has been reported in state and national media. There will be no increase in rates for BTU customers. BTU is a municipal utility owned by the City of Bryan, and rates are set by City rate ordinances.
Rates can only change if the City Council changes the electric rate ordinance. No BTU customer’s rates will increase during this unprecedented weather event.
However, customer usage will likely be much higher than normal due to nearly two weeks of extreme cold weather we have experienced, which may result in higher than normal bills this billing period.
College Station Utilities (CSU) customers are understandably concerned about their bills being affected by massive rate increases, which have been reported in other parts of Texas. This is not a risk for CSU customers.
CSU’s rates — electric, water, wastewater and solid waste — are fixed by ordinance and any change to those rates must be approved by the College Station City Council, which is among the many usual considerations of the council’s annual budget adoption process that occurs in August.
However, CSU customers may have a higher bill simply based on increased usage during multiple days of winter storm conditions. Homes that were without power still may have experienced protective emergency heat settings allowing their system to continue running. Homes that never lost power likely used more electricity to combat the intense cold. Many customers allowed water to drip from faucets to prevent pipes from freezing. Any of these circumstances — for days on end — will affect your overall utility bill.
We have enacted additional auditing protocols to flag any bills that appear unreasonably high. As a reminder, CSU has suspended delinquent disconnects and late fees until March 1, and we will work with our customers who need assistance on payment flexibility.
As we did during the height of the pandemic’s economic impact, College Station Utilities will assist customers as they navigate yet another disaster. Our Utilities Customer Service representatives stand ready to help: 979.764.3535.
We understand your concerns regarding the recent extreme weather and its effect on your natural gas bill. We want to assure our customers that bills in the near-term will not include any of the unusually high gas prices from the historic winter storms.
It’s more important than ever to help our customers who are struggling with past due balances find solutions to pay their natural gas bill. If you need assistance paying your Atmos Energy please contact us.