League of United Latin American Citizens Bartlett, Texas

A Chapter of LULAC League of United Latin American Citizens has recently formed in Bartlett, Texas
President is Wally Capetillo 254 527 4682
Vice President is Connie Gonzales 654 1517
Chaplain Robert Solorio 254 527 3200
Pictures and more Information to come.

Paragraph From Bartlett Tribune August 27 2008

I have included this paragraph just to show ONE of the many Financial Irregularities that have gone on at the City of Bartlett. It's authenticity can be verified by calling the Tribune Progress at 254 527 4424. MORE TO COME

By Gayle Bielss

The council discussed the action to be taken regarding the outstanding amount for electricity owed to the city by Will O'Bell Nursing Home.

City secretary Diane Evans discovered a bookkeeping error on the city's part that dates back to May 2006 through November 2007. For some reason, former city secretary Andrew Solis had noted that he had changed the multiplier for Will O'Bell, which dropped their utility bills by half.

Mrs. Evans researched the matter and sent Will O'Bill an adjusted statement, saying they owed over $54,000. Will O'Bell had paid the amount stated on their utility bills during this period. It was noted that a similar circumstance had happed at Bartlett State Jail and they had paid the entire amount (water) when notified. (This statement in Italics is not part of the Tribune Article but from Lana Hill Web Misstress-"My understanding was the Jail had been over billed $40,000 and the City was the one that had to refund money to them?")

Councilman Reuben Lindemann, who also serves as treasurer of the board of trustees for Will O'Bell, stated that there had been multiple problems with the nursing home's utility bill. Ms. Evans stated that there was no statute of limitations on collecting for services rendered.

Councilman Bill Terrell told Lindemann that he needed to abstain from any voting on the matter. The WOB board will meet Thursday morning. Councilman Dustin Zanders stated that the letter from Will O'Bell's attorney needed to be refered to Bartlett's city attorney and that Mayor White needed to attend the board meeting to be the ears for the city.

Jim Pease of Bartlett Speaking Out About His Utilities Being Disconnected

Jim Pease is runing for Bartlett City Council.

Call Jim with your ideas, and concerns at 254 527 3885

From Bartlett Electric Cut Offs

From Bartlett Electric Cut Offs

From Bartlett Electric Cut Offs

Below Tribune Progess Article Feb 3, 2010--They quote the PUC, but Bartlett is not under PUC control since they are a Municipal Electric.

Bartlett Utility Customers Disconnected, PUC Policy Explained

By Debbie McKeon

The City of Bartlett mailed out 71 disconnect notices to utility customers on January 26, informing them that if their bills remained unpaid or they failed to make payment arrangements, their utilities would be disconnected as of January 29.

A total of eight disconnects took place last Friday. Most customers paid their bills, and a total of 20 customers made the necessary payment arrangements with the City of Bartlett. As of Monday at noon, seven customers still remained disconnected.

The lowest amount owed to the city was $133.50, and the most owed was $605.46.

According to Mattie Ingram, city administrator, utility payments are due on the 15th of each month, and customers have until the 25th to pay or to make needed arrangements. On the 26th, yellow tags are placed on the doorknobs of those who have not paid.

Back in 2006, the City of Bartlett voted that there would be no more arrangements accepted from customers and that all payments were due by the 25th or they would receive notices and be disconnected. But, according to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), if you are late in payment and due for disconnection, “your retail electric provider (REP) may offer you a short-term payment arrangement that allows you to pay your bill after your due date, but before your next bill is due. In addition, you may qualify for a ‘deferred payment plan.’ A deferred payment plan allows a customer to pay an outstanding bill in installments beyond the due date of the next bill. The REP may require an initial payment to initiate the agreement. Your REP must offer you a deferred payment plan unless you have received more than two termination/disconnection notices during the past 12 months or you have been their customer for less than three months and do not have sufficient credit or payment history with another REP. All REPs must offer customers deferred payment plans for bills that are due during an extreme weather emergency and to customers who have been under-billed in the amount of $50.00 or more. A deferred payment plan may include a 5% penalty for late payment.”

If you do not fulfill the terms of the payment arrangement deferred payment plan, or the level or average payment plan, your REP may disconnect your service.

If a customer contacts the REP and indicates an inability to pay, the REP must inform the customer of all applicable payment options and payment assistance programs that are offered by or available from the REP. An electric customer who receives food stamps, Medicaid, TANF or SSI from the TDHS or whose household income is not more than 125% of the federal poverty guidelines may qualify for energy assistance from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).

The circumstances in which a REP may disconnect utilities include: failure to pay a bill owed to the REP or to make a deferred payment arrangement by the date of disconnection; failure to comply with the terms of a deferred payment arrangement or other payment agreement made with the REP; using service in a manner that interferes with the service of others or the operation of nonstandard equipment; failure to pay a deposit required by the REP; or failure of a guarantor to pay the amount guaranteed when the REP has a written agreement, signed by the guarantor, which allows for disconnection of the guarantor's service.

Prior to disconnecting your service, your REP must provide you with a written Disconnection Notice. This notice must be mailed to you separately (or hand-delivered) no earlier than the first day after the date your bill is due. The disconnection date must be 10 days from the date the notice is issued and may not fall on a holiday or weekend (or the day preceding) unless the REP's personnel are available to take payments and service can be reconnected.

Your REP may not authorize disconnection of your electric service for any of the following reasons: failure to pay for electric service by a previous occupant of the premise if that occupant is not of the same household; failure to pay any charge unrelated to electric service; failure to pay a different type or class of electric service not included on the account's bill when service was initiated; failure to pay under-billed charges that occurred for more than 6 months (except theft of service); failure to pay any disputed charges until your REP or the PUC determines the accuracy of the charges and you have been notified of this determination; or failure to pay an estimated bill unless the estimated bill is part of a pre-approved meter-reading program or in the event the LDC is unable to read the meter due to circumstances beyond its control.

If you need assistance with your bill, the City of Bartlett must provide you with a list of possible locations to assist you, including Help Center in Temple, the Caring Place in Georgetown, the WBC in Temple, or St. Paul’s Church in Temple. There may also be other assistance organizations which may be able to help you with the financial problem you are facing. If you obtain the promise of assistance from them, you may bring in a voucher and the City of Bartlett will not disconnect your services pending their receipt of the money.

Additionally, your REP may not authorize disconnection of your electric service: if the REP receives notification by the final due date stated on the disconnection notice that an energy assistance provider will be forwarding sufficient payment on your account, and you have paid or made payment arrangements to pay any outstanding debt not covered by the energy assistance provider's payment; for non-payment during an extreme weather emergency, and upon request, the REP must offer you a deferred payment plan for bills due during the emergency; or for non-payment if you inform the REP, prior to the disconnection date stated on the notice, that you or another resident on the premises has a critical medical need for electric service. However, to obtain this exemption, you must enter into a deferred payment plan with your REP and have the ill-person's attending physician contact the REP and submit a written statement attesting to the necessity of electric service to support life. This exemption from disconnection due to illness or disability shall be in effect for 63 days and may be applied for again after the 63 days has expired and the deferred payment plan has been fulfilled.

If you are notified that you are subject to disconnection of your electric service, you may seek to obtain services from another REP or the POLR (provider of last support). You have the option to request service from the POLR, which offers a standard retail service package. Information about the POLR and other REPs can be obtained from the PUC or the POLR.

Your REP may offer special services for hearing-impaired customers and programs for customers with physical disabilities. If you have a physical disability or require special assistance regarding your electric account, please contact your REP to inquire about the process to become qualified for any of these special services.

If an interruption or suspension of electric service will create a dangerous or life-threatening condition, you may qualify as a "critical care residential customer." Upon your request, your REP will provide to you a standardized Critical Care Eligibility Determination Form, which you must complete and return to your REP. The critical care request is evaluated and approved by the LDC (Local Distribution Company).

If you have questions about the legality of disconnections or any other questions considering the laws of the PUC, you may contact them at Customer Protection Division, P.O. Box 13326, Austin, TX 78711-3326; or by calling them at 512) 936-7120 or toll-free at 1-888-782-8477. You may fax them at (512) 936-7003; find them on the web at www.puc.state.tx.us; or email them at customer@puc.state.tx.us.

Debbie McKeon

Tribune-Progress 254 527 4424