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Kenbridge has released its proposed budget for the coming annual cycle and it includes increases in numerous policy areas. Among those areas is utilities, where the town increased its expected revenue from water bill penalties hitting Kenbridge residents. 

The past year, the Kenbridge water re-connect fee was raised from $30 to $50 per occurrence for customers who have experienced a shut-off. Taking this rate increase and water bill late fees for the upcoming financial cycle into consideration, the town has increased its budget for estimated water bill penalty revenue to $17,000, up from the $15,500 for last year. 

“This amount has to be accounted for as revenue on our budget,” Matthews said.  “As a town, we hope this is $0, but we are required to budget an estimate for this service.

Water meters are to be read on or about the 16th of each month in a process that takes 3-4 days to collect the data for the entire town, depending on the weather. Water bills are then created and sent out on or about the 25th of each month. The bill is due upon receipt and will become late and subject to a late charge the 20th of the following month. Utility policies for the town of Kenbridge can be found at https://kenbridgeva.net/tax-rates-and-policies.

For those with questions in Kenbridge

“The citizens can always call or come by the office if they have a question and will be able to explain any confusion they may have,” Matthews said. “Our fees and services are listed on our website and of course everyone is invited to our Town Council meetings on the third Tuesday of every month if they have further questions.”

The Kenbridge Town Hall is located at 511 E 5th Ave #2. Office hours for the town are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Town Council Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month at the Town Hall for those interested. 

“We accept cash, credit card, check, money orders and auto-draft as payment methods,” Matthews said. “We also have a drop box in our parking lot for after hours payments. All payments are applied the same day and the accounts are updated immediately after payment.”

What is the UPA?

Last year in Virginia the Emergency Utilities Protection Act took effect. The bi-partisan supported initiative seeks to safeguard Virginians from utility shutoffs during extreme weather conditions.   

The law prohibits utility and energy service companies from disconnecting services when temperatures reach 92 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, or 32 degrees or lower. The law also prohibits utility shutoffs during a government-declared state of emergency, for customers who have received state energy assistance in the last 12 months, and on Fridays, weekends, holidays, or the day after holidays. Further, a customer’s utility cannot be disconnected before it is 60 days past due for customers of utilities regulated by the State Corporation Commission or 45 days past due for municipal utility customers.