Utility board approves optional service-line insurance agreement with OnCourse Home Solutions

The Utility Service Board on April 20 approved a service agreement with OnCourse Home Solutions LLC to offer an optional service-line protection program to utility customers.

James Tall, assistant director of T&D, presented the agreement and said the program is intended to help homeowners avoid large out-of-pocket costs for water-service-line and sewer-lateral repairs that run from the home to the main. Tall said the utility estimated it would cost roughly $70 million to replace laterals systemwide and described the OnCourse plan as a stopgap for residents.

OnCourse representatives outlined the program’s cost and coverage. Board materials and staff stated the monthly fees will be $5.90 for water-line protection, $9.54 for sewer-line protection, $12.50 for both, and an optional in-home plumbing add-on for $8.99. The plan offers up to $30,000 per occurrence, divided as $15,000 for infrastructure (for example, sidewalks) and $15,000 for line repair.

Sarah, introduced as assistant development director for the Central Region for OnCourse, said the product primarily targets single-family dwellings but can accommodate up to four dwelling connections in one structure; she said larger apartment complexes are not currently covered. Jeff Wallace, senior vice president at OnCourse, said the company will provide marketing materials to the utility for approval and that OnCourse will return a list of customers who enroll.

Board members raised multiple implementation questions: whether landlords or commercial tenants could enroll, how to reach property owners when tenants pay utility bills, and how reimbursements or credits would appear in the utility’s claims register. OnCourse said landlords of single-family rental homes can enroll; the company and utility staff said they will coordinate mailings and outreach to reach property owners. OnCourse said policyholders must be enrolled for 30 days before filing a claim, and staff said enrollment-ready status is expected about eight weeks after contract signature.

Board members also asked about data security when the utility provides customer lists to an external vendor. Jeff Wallace said OnCourse has experience with utility data privacy and stated the company does not share customer data outside its organization in these engagements; the board asked that marketing and communications be reviewed by utility staff before distribution.

After discussion, a board member moved to approve the agreement and the board approved it by voice vote.

The contract approval directs staff to finalize the agreement with OnCourse and begin the planned enrollment and outreach steps; the transcript does not record detailed contractual data-security provisions beyond the company’s assurances.