CFPUA Waives Disconnection and Late Fees Until Further Notice; Also Institutes Ordinance Section Covering Residential Property Damaged by Natural Disaster
Ordinance section waives fixed charges for owners of residential properties damaged by Hurricane Florence for 120 days
Because many of our customers will be dealing with the physical, emotional, and financial impacts of Hurricane Florence for a considerable period of time, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) is announcing today that it will extend its waiver of disconnection and late fees for customer accounts until further notice. Prior to today, the waiver period was set to expire on September 25.
CFPUA would also like to announce that it is instituting a section of its ordinance that applies to the temporary disconnection of service to properties damaged by natural disaster. The section was put in place following Hurricane Matthew in 2016.
Section 1-168 states “Any owner of residential property damaged by a natural disaster (hurricane, flood, tornado, or other act of God) in such a way as to be deemed uninhabitable shall be eligible to have CFPUA's fixed charges waived for a period not to exceed 120 days.”
In order to receive this damage-related waiver, a property owner must submit an application to CFPUA’s Engineering Department. The application will include documentation that the structure on the property is uninhabitable. Note: An insurance claim for damages is normally used as documentation.
If Engineering staff determines the structure on the property is uninhabitable, CFPUA will not bill for fixed water and/or sewer charges for a period of 120 days, starting from the date of the natural disaster.
To ensure that CFPUA assets are not damaged, meter(s) will be removed until the property owner requests that the meter(s) be reset. Fixed meter charges will be discontinued as of the date of the natural disaster. They will restart either 120 days after the date of discontinuation or when the property owner requests the meter reset(s), whichever comes first.
Customers can begin the damage waiver process by contacting CFPUA’s Engineering Department at (910) 332-6560.
“It’s clear the damage caused by Hurricane Florence will not be repaired in days, but over the course of weeks and months,” said Jim Flechtner, CFPUA Executive Director. “We hope the disconnection, late fee, and property damage waivers provide small measures of relief during this trying time.”