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Del City authorizes contract to change utility bills to 6x9 postcards, estimates $20,000 annual savings
Summary
Del City approved a contract with DPM Group to print and mail utility bills and notices; city staff said moving to a 6x9 postcard format and improved address validation should save roughly $20,000 annually and reduce duplicate postage.
The Del City Municipal Services Authority on Aug. 18 approved a contract with DPM Group to print and mail the city's utility bills, termination notices and final bills for an annual cost not to exceed $75,000.
Britney, the public-works representative who presented the item, said the city will move its regular utility bill to a 6-by-9 postcard format to eliminate the outer and inner bill envelopes and the double-sided long-sheet currently mailed with many bills. She told trustees the change, together with DPM Group's address-validation software, should reduce duplicate postage costs and address errors; the city conservatively projects saving more than $20,000 annually on mailings.
The new contract covers printing and mailing of regular bills, termination notices and final bills. Britney also explained the vendor can handle the city newsletter printing and that the city is exploring increasing use of electronic billing and text-message bill reminders to reduce paper mailings further. She noted that online payments are increasingly popular and that staff is working on customer education and system improvements to increase electronic payments.
Trustees approved the DPM Group contract by unanimous vote after a brief discussion about potential efficiencies and future steps to encourage electronic billing.
