[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6480982,"mediaKeyId","5506670-fc26c2c64a1a791b404d4292bf9511d7","parentId",5506670,"title","North Lauderdale to switch utility billing system Aug. 27; customers must re‑enroll, city waives late fees for first three months","audioSeconds",1266,"startMs",62000,"endMs",1328000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5506670-fc26c2c64a1a791b404d4292bf9511d7&start=62&end=1328","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5506670-fc26c2c64a1a791b404d4292bf9511d7/thumbnail_62000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6480982/Florida/North-Lauderdale-to-switch-utility-billing-system-Aug-27-customers-must-reenroll-city-waives-late-fees-for-first-three-months","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480982-7cfbc120678fc70b7d3230ac3f221525/orig.mp4?Expires=1776686210&Signature=cSdZqS9JXNks1Lj8S0MjeT3uuQkrKj7zGj9avm4OTwqeD7wc-gifobXf4mp~0f4~uaJQb38KWUJX8CDSKi4QmsAPxZQ-vh0-zd31jPL2sh0S5LRmUXkOji21yqsVnt05UBBo7V93yjOkM8JomiZ1HkHliT5E1AbCwPBeoBN1DpAYdnZE~buRkJr3AiiuQBS14X1GcSW---pWrhGIBsWWU3LsqMU~OWf5yOKcJc2D2kZzROED9rhBEG2RKwTe3xgyaCQqHXEWJi-gMKMLZexjX9crftnse9Nzas~tOS9rqWqruJjwZuOS4fUHjrELHO1v9HilSiQztkr2pLCGdXamdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Lauderdale","date","2025-07-28T18:06:00Z","article","City of North Lauderdale staff told residents at a July 2024 town hall that the city will switch to a new integrated utility billing and customer information system on Aug. 27, 2024, requiring customers to use a new 10‑digit utility number and to re‑enroll for online features such as autopay.

The change matters because the city will stop accepting updates and applying payments in the old system during a transition window; staff urged customers not to change bank bill‑pay settings until after the Aug. 27 go‑live to avoid misapplied payments. The city also said it will not apply late fees for the first three months after the switch (September through November 2024) to reduce problems while the new system stabilizes.

At the town hall David Himes Jr., Customer Service and Billing Supervisor with US Water, summarized the timetable: \"Come August 27, that's when the go live for the new system will take place.\" Himes explained that the new utility number is a two‑part 10‑digit identifier: \"The first 5 digits is the account number... The second part would be the customer ID number,\" he said, adding that the account number identifies the property while the customer ID identifies the owner.

Allison Gale, the city's utility billing supervisor, walked attendees through how bills and payments will look under the new Tyler ERP‑linked system. Gale said the city will move to owner‑only accounts (\"It started back in 02/2007. We changed. We do not accept any tenant account information any longer.\"), meaning owners must request changes and tenants do not have direct account authority. She also described a redesigned bill that includes a QR code residents can scan to reach the payment page and said customers will continue to receive mailed and emailed PDF bills.

Mitch Williams, director of innovation and information technology services, said a key motivation for the change is tighter integration with the city’s financial system and future integration with advanced metering infrastructure: \"The goal of implementing the utility billing customer information system is to streamline utility billing, improve efficiency, improve customer transparency,\" Williams said.

What residents should know

- New account format: a 10‑digit utility number (5‑digit account for the service address, dash, 5‑digit customer ID tied to the owner). Residents were told to keep the letter the city mailed with both numbers for their records. Gale advised: \"Please hold it for your records. Please do not do anything or make any changes until August 27.\"

- Autopay and bank bill‑pay: customers who use bank bill‑pay or autopay must re‑enroll after Aug. 27. Allison Gale and David Himes said banks cannot be updated ahead of the go‑live because the new numbers will not be active. Himes advised: \"Be sure to update the payment information using the account number and the customer number after August 27.\"

- Transition window for payments: staff said payments will be accepted and processed normally in the old system through Aug. 13. From Aug. 14 through Aug. 27 the city will not be able to apply payments into the old billing system as it prepares conversion files; payments placed in the city drop box or processed through partner payment locations during that interval will be posted after conversion. Himes warned residents that they should expect a delay in posting: \"There is gonna be a delay in posting payments. You're gonna experience a delay, unfortunately.\"

- Assistance and registration help: city staff will be available at City Hall to assist customers with resident access registration on Aug. 27 and Aug. 28 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. \"We will be here August 27 and August 28... to help you all register for resident access,\" Himes said.

- Late fees and ordinance relief: staff announced no late fees will be applied for the first three months after go‑live (September–November 2024). Separately the city cited an existing municipal ordinance that allows one late fee removal per calendar year per account; staff encouraged customers who qualify to request that benefit.

- Billing practices: the city explained that some customers may get two bills with different due dates in a short span as part of normal cycle alignment and the conversion. Himes said that twice a year the calendar may produce two due dates in a month and that the conversion required earlier meter reads to close the old system by Aug. 19.

- Payment methods: residents can pay online, by phone, at the cashier window (Monday–Thursday, 7:15 a.m.–5:45 p.m.), via the white drop box at City Hall (check or money order recommended during conversion), or through partner locations (AMS Scott) that charge a fee. The city specifically advised against dropping cash in the outdoor drop box.

Quotes and customer support

- \"It's owners only accounts... We do not accept any tenant account information any longer,\" Allison Gale, Utility Billing Supervisor.

- \"Come August 27, that's when the go live for the new system will take place,\" David Himes Jr., Customer Service and Billing Supervisor.

- \"The goal of implementing the utility billing customer information system is to streamline utility billing, improve efficiency, improve customer transparency,\" Mitch Williams, Director of Innovation and Information Technology Services.

Ending

City staff encouraged residents to keep the mailed account letter for the new account and customer ID numbers, to avoid changing bank bill‑pay settings before Aug. 27, and to use the city’s assistance sessions on Aug. 27–28 if they need help registering. Customers with urgent billing questions were directed to the Utility Billing Customer Service office and to the online FAQ posted on the City of North Lauderdale website.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","North Lauderdale - Town Hall Meeting - New Utility Billing System","oneSentenceSummary","City of North Lauderdale staff told residents at a July 2024 town hall that the city will switch to a new integrated utility billing and customer information system on Aug. 27, 2024, requiring customers to use a new 10‑digit utility number and to re‑enroll for online features such as autopay.","taxTitle","City of North Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida","taxId",72532,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6480977,"North Lauderdale AMI meter replacement underway; 8,400 meters to be replaced, no cost to homeowners",2149,231000,2380000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5506670-fc26c2c64a1a791b404d4292bf9511d7&start=231&end=2380","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5506670-fc26c2c64a1a791b404d4292bf9511d7/thumbnail_231000.jpg","/articles/6480977/Florida/North-Lauderdale-AMI-meter-replacement-underway-8400-meters-to-be-replaced-no-cost-to-homeowners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480977-a5e5e68c7cb547cf24932cf0aa0255d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776686210&Signature=XPvm84CXZoRKSiUofbce9mWkVdc-h9imO1jnEX3647Axv3lCmIXBjJQOyTfRZspCX83w5vJtlHNFkdC0rhS3sXN2K14yQqvE27kWNyxU-hm549xsxMQ67AzGOu4rjEJfcO2B8LeTTXkC0DZihBn1zfnSCCKiznlqXNc2QnRbAkGK3AopWtyMd33ygh8ZWHRrjvKueGIr3JEkoUTWjma6TDMuy2Hxnmcijnj-t~ESrYrJPFHzsotsgUuFzx6kfBvY9CSZxeua~uHliGxuxq7vl~NkkbfcT9vY4bV4X2fgsL2uWqYd16AAfzPcccqWnv7ygyaHU5XZRG-tZxkl~RLPwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of North Lauderdale staff told residents that an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) project to replace the city's water meters is underway and will eventually allow automatic meter reads and hourly usage data. Staff said the program includes about 8,400 meters to be swapped, with 158 reportedly completed and 34 scheduled at the time of the town hall.

David Himes Jr., Customer Service and Billing Supervisor with US Water, showed residents an interactive map and explained how to check whether a property is scheduled: \"If you want to know if your property is one of those, what you would do is... click on the... magnifying icon, and you put in your address here, and then you'd be able to see if your meter was one of those being changed.\" Himes also described the color coding on the map that marks completed, waiting, and scheduled meters.

Allison Gale, the City's Utility Billing Supervisor, answered technical questions and clarified that the new meters will be installed in the same meter box location: \"The meters that's being installed, it will be in the ground. So it's gonna be in the same area that you have your meter currently.\" She said there is no charge to residents for meter or meter‑box replacement: \"The answer is it's no cost to you all as a residents at all. Already taken care of. So there is no cost for the new meter or meter box replacements.\"

Installation process, timing and access

- Blackout schedule and contractor routes: staff said the contractor works from a city‑supplied blackout schedule that coordinates meter changeouts so they do not interfere with meter reading periods. If a property is missed during a contractor pass, residents will typically receive a door hanger with a phone number they can use to request a return visit. \"We provided the contractor with a blackout schedule... Once those 14 days are over with, they can no longer change meters in that area because we have to have a certain time period where they can validate the meter information is correct,\" Himes said.

- Service interruptions and door hangers: Residents were told staff will briefly shut water to the service while crews swap a meter and flush service lines; the outage can range from about 30 minutes up to two hours depending on site conditions. Crews will knock before turning off water when there is apparent household usage; whether changed or not, crews leave a door hanger notifying residents of the visit.

- Meter location and multiple meters: For multi‑meter situations (for example, townhouses with adjacent meters), Public Works coordinates responses when installations require excavation. Himes said cases are handled individually and Public Works will address any damage caused by contractors.

- Timing for remote reads: AMI automatic reads will not begin until all meters are installed and the system is integrated with the new billing system. Staff estimated the AMI installation will finish in roughly 17 months and said readings will remain manual until then. Mitch Williams, the city IT director, said the new billing system is intended to integrate with AMI after installation.

Data and customer tools

- Data logs and leak detection: staff said the electronic AMI meters will keep usage logs (hourly or daily intervals) that customers can request to investigate high usage or leaks. Himes described advantages of interval data for customers who want to understand when consumption occurs.

- Scheduling and what to do if skipped: If crews knock and residents are not home and the meter shows movement, crews may leave and return later; if they attempted a change but couldn't complete it, the door hanger provides steps and a phone number to schedule a return.

Quotes

- \"There have been 8,216 meters to be changed. There have been 158 meters that have been completed so far. And then there are 34 that are scheduled,\" David Himes Jr., Customer Service and Billing Supervisor.

- \"The meters that's being installed, it will be in the ground. So it's gonna be in the same area that you have your meter currently,\" Allison Gale, Utility Billing Supervisor.

Ending

Staff asked residents to use the AMI map on the city website to check scheduling and to call the number shown on a contractor door hanger if a return visit is needed. Residents with specific installation concerns — for example, meter boxes under landscaping — were told Public Works would review individual situations and, if necessary, the contractor would remediate any installation damage at no cost to homeowners.","City staff and contractor representatives told residents at a July town hall that the City of North Lauderdale is replacing roughly 8,400 water meters with advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). Installations occur at the existing meter location, are free to owners, and will allow remote meter reads and data logs once the program is complete.","actionData","errors"]

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North Lauderdale to switch utility billing system Aug. 27; customers must re‑enroll, city waives late fees for first three months

North Lauderdale AMI meter replacement underway; 8,400 meters to be replaced, no cost to homeowners