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Ellensburg moves to phone notices in place of some door‑tag disconnects for utilities
Summary
The city advanced a first reading of an ordinance allowing automated telephone (and later text) notices in lieu of physically hung “door‑tag” disconnect notices, a change staff said is needed because meter‑reader capacity cannot keep up with thousands of door tags.
The Ellensburg City Council conducted first reading Aug. 18 of an ordinance that would let the city use automated telephone notifications in place of physical door‑tag disconnect notices for delinquent utility accounts.
Jerica Pasco, the city’s finance director, told the council that the new Origin Smart City billing software allows the city to call or leave voice messages as the official disconnect notice. “The finance department would like to be more efficient in notifying those by using telephone notifications in place of physical door tags,” Pasco said. She added the system will still print a door tag if the call cannot be confirmed or if a voicemail cannot be left.
Under current code, a final notice is mailed within seven business days after the billing due date and a $10 late fee is assessed. The city’s meter‑reading staff also currently hang door tags when accounts remain delinquent, and Pasco said the number of door tags has grown beyond the capacity of two part‑time meter readers: in June the city issued 1,297 door tags, which would require each reader to hang 64–65 tags per day in addition to reading meters.
Council members asked how the calls would be delivered and whether text messaging would be added. Pasco said the vendor is working to add text capability later and that staff flag numbers in the system as landlines or cell phones where possible. One councilmember expressed concern that calls or voicemails could be missed and said, “I don't want people to get surprised with shutoffs.” Pasco answered that customers already receive a mailed late notice and that the door tag was a courtesy reminder; the phone call is intended to be an efficient substitute.
Staff said the ordinance is still in testing and will not go into effect until testing is complete. The council moved the ordinance through a first reading by voice vote; the item will return for a second reading and adoption vote.
