Budget Billing

OUC calculates your Budget Billing payment based on the average of your utility bills over the past 12 months, including electric and/or water, solid waste, wastewater and taxes.

To help prevent a growing deferred balance, an additional percentage at the discretion of OUC will be added to the monthly amount due. If your actual usage significantly deviates from the budgeted amount (exceeds a 20% difference), the monthly budget amount may be recalculated before the 12-month period ends.

After 12 months, your account will go through year-end reconciliation. This means your monthly budget amount will be recalculated based on your actual bill amount for the past 12 months. Your total payments will be compared with the actual total charges for the year. 

If your actual amount due for the year surpasses the Budget Billing amount paid, you will be billed for the difference in the 12th month of the plan in addition to your monthly payment amount.

Additional charges, adjustments and financed installments that are not part of the Budget Billing plan will appear as separate line items on your bill. These charges are in addition to the Budget Billing amount due.

No, Budget Billing is a free service available to OUC residential and small business customers.

Your 12-month Budget Billing plan will be renewed automatically. We’ll notify you of your plan renewal and your new Budget Billing amount so you can determine if you want to stay in the program.

You can cancel your participation in the Budget Billing program at any time. However, if you used more than you paid for, you will be billed for the difference. This amount will be due at the time of your cancellation. If you paid for more than you used, you will receive a credit on your next month’s bill.

A minimum of six months of usage is required, though 12 months is preferred.

Customers who have been active for less than 6 months, OUC Power Pass customers, commercial customers using Demand Meters, and customers in premises that utilize chilled water for cooling are not eligible to participate in the Budget Billing program. Customers who have a past due balance must pay the past due balance before becoming eligible for the program.

One enrolled, you may be removed from the Budget Billing program if a monthly payment is missed, a check payment is returned due to insufficient funds, we receive two returned checks, or if you accrue a past due balance.