On December 5, 2017, the Redding City Council approved the elimination of several fees as recommended by REU.
REU had been collecting fees from customers designed to cover the cost of services related to connections to the electric system. Fee amounts were updated in 2006 and 2011 and have remained unchanged since. After a careful review, it has been determined that providing these services does not create a significant additional cost burden and these fees have been eliminated. Transferring service from one location or customer to another also does not result in significant additional cost, and these fees have been eliminated.
The following fees have been eliminated: 1) $50 Service Reconnection Fee (disconnect due to non-payment); 2) $89 Service Reconnection Fee after 4:00 p.m. (disconnect due to non-payment); 3) $25 Service Transfer Fee; and 4) $89 Priority Service Connection after 4:00 p.m. In addition, the $50 Priority Service Connection Fee (New Customers) has been modified to be effective only when a customer calls after 11:00 a.m. on the day service is to be connected. Same day connection will now be free if the new customer calls before 11 a.m.
Staff believes the elimination of these fees, as well as the other changes approved, are in the best interest of the community at large and will reduce the burden on the low-income community to restore utility service that has been disconnected due to non-payment.