HomeMy WebLinkAbout14 Delinquent Accounts Workshop
AGENDA ITEM #14
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MEETING DATE: March 3, 2021
TO: Board of Directors
FROM: Michael Salmon, CFO
SUBJECT: Workshop: Utility Billing Delinquent Accounts Review
APPROVED BY______________________________
Brian C. Wright, Interim General Manager/
Water Utility Director
RECOMMENDATION:
This is an informational workshop item to be presented for feedback and direction to staff.
There is no specific action associated with this item.
BACKGROUND:
The District’s customer demand for energy and water has increased during the recent COVID-19
pandemic. After a minor drop in April/May, demand for electric and water services increased every
month thereafter in 2020 compared to 2019. This is attributed primarily to the increased occupation
of what were historically second homes, whether by the owners and/or short term renters, as well
as an increase in time spent by primary residents at their homes (stay at home orders) .
The District recognizes that the services of electricity and water are a basic need, essential to
health, safety, and comfort. The pandemic driven public health regulations to limit the spread of
COVID-19 have impacted the ability for many utility customers across the State to afford this basic
need.
In response to the expected financial hardships driven by the pandemic, like many utilities, the
District has temporarily suspended late fees and shut-offs for non-payment. Additionally, the Board
has approved an increase in funding of the District’s existing Payment Assistance Program (PAP) in
April 2020.
Since April 2020, the PAP has assisted 298 residential customers for a total of $87,969, an average
of $295 per customer. The program assist primary residential customers of the District who have
demonstrated a qualifying financial hardship.
Late fee revenues for 2020 of $21,473 compare to 2019 revenues of $85,120 (a decrease of
$63,647 or 75%). This loss of revenue equates to $4.65 per District customer. The lack of late fee
revenues is forecasted to continue in 2021, adding approximately $85,000 or $6.20 per customer.
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As the pandemic has lingered, and despite the PAP, the District’s past due amounts have
increased from $47,000 on 2/1/2020 (pre-pandemic, typical levels) to over $354,000 as of
2/1/2021.
Past Due break-down by time interval:
30 days $166,000
60 days $57,000
90+days $131,000
Total $354,000
Attachment 1 provides current and monthly perspective of the District’s past due amounts.
As of February 1, 2021, current delinquent accounts over 90 days past due amounts to $131,505
and compares to $11,869 as of the same date last year (2/1/2020). This $131,505 consists of 194
electric customers for $89,869 and 133 water customers for $41,636, averaging per account $463
and $313, respectively.
Analysis of 90+Day delinquent accounts details 2/1/2021 provides the following key notes:
a. Balance Mix of $131,505
Residential $117,039 (89%)
Commercial $14,466 (11%)
b. Residential
a. Primary - 68% of Customer and 79% of Dollars
b. Secondary - 32% of Customer and 21% of Dollars
c. Residential
Top 25 Delinquent Accounts ($), Electric represent 56% of dollars and 16% of accounts
Top 25 Delinquent Accounts ($), Water represent 55% of dollars, and 23% of accounts
d. Residential, Electric. The vast majority of residential accounts with over $1000 90+day
balances (currently 16) have unusually high electricity demand and usage patterns, not in
alignment with typical residential usage.
e. For Commercial accounts, the accounts are not eligible for the PAP established by the
District, however, we do note several of these accounts are listed as receiving Federal SBA
PPE Loan funds.
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As of 2/22/2021, Electric latest account past due 90+ days information, by meter type:
Residential, Primary: top 25 accounts based on past due 90-Days balance sort:
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Residential, Secondary: top 25 accounts based on past due 90-Days balance sort:
Commercial, top 15 accounts based on past due 90-Days balance sort :
NOTE: The top 3 delinquent accounts in dollar value are restaurants.
As an industry, both in California and across the country, the utilities have generally paused on the
assessment of late fees and shut-offs for non-payment, but remain consistent in the practice of
accrual of past due amounts. The utility industry, like many industries, is lobbying at the Federal
and State levels for financial relief targeted at past due billed amounts; to date no relief has been
provided.
Staff has engaged with other utilities and JPA memberships seeking best practices related to this
ongoing challenge, and have noted some utilities taking a more proactive approach to those
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accounts with larger balances past due, which are generally speaking not traditional residential
customers. The more proactive approaches have included establishing monetary thresholds for
past due amounts triggering utility shut-off notices to be enforceable during the COVID-19
pandemic, more proactive outreach to establish manageable payment plans, and customer energy
use education.
The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC), which regulates investor owned utilities in
California, has drafted proposals to address past due amounts, which includes a one-time $200 per
account write-off (bill forgiveness) for residential and small business accounts with unpaid bills
greater than $1,000, linked to a one-year payment plan option to pay off the remaining balance.
While the CPUC does not directly regulate publicly owned utilities, the proposed resolutions are
potential indicators of future regulatory mandates. This write-off would currently be a financial
burden placed on all rate payers of the respective utility.
At this time, the District does not recommend the CPUC broad-stroke approach, as currently, the
District’s utility customers with delinquencies en excess of $1,000 remain isolated to a relatively
small number of accounts. Further, a write-off (of $200 or any amount) shifts the financial burden
to all customers.
Regarding financial assistance available to Utilities for compensation of past due/bad debt, there is
currently no legislation (Federal or State) specifically providing for such assistance.
This item is in support of the following objectives and goals identified by the District.
1.05.020 Objectives:
1. Responsibly serve the public.
6. Manage the District in an effective, efficient, and fiscally responsible manner.
1.05.030 Goals:
1.1. Conduct the District’s business in a legal, ethical, open, and transparent manner.
6.6. Develop appropriate financial procedures to assure responsible financial management
FISCAL IMPACT:
Collection of a substantial portion of amounts 90+days past due by targeting those with larger
balances, decreases the District (and all customers of District) potential of past due amounts
becoming bad debt write-offs.
Taking no action for over $1,000 delinquent 90+Days accounts, places at risk collection of
approximately $41,000 of the currently $131,505 past due 90+days; shifting the financial burden for
approximately 25 customers to all 14,000 customers of the District.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 – Delinquent Accounts and Payment Assistance Program information as of 2/1/2021