Alto to resume utility disconnects

Alto utility customers, take note!

The city of Alto will resume disconnecting the city’s water and natural gas utility customers for nonpayment, starting the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 26.

Any Alto water or natural gas utility customer that has not paid those bills in full are urged to contact Alto Utilities at (936) 858-4711. Bills need to be paid in full by Tuesday, Aug. 25, to avoid disconnection. The city of Alto suspended disconnecting its utility services for nonpayment after February’s billing cycle.

“We wanted to help our customers catch a break as the COVID-19 pandemic started to take effect on some families,” Alto City Secretary April Comte said. “For the most part, our customers have been really great about paying their bills on time. There are a few accounts that have accumulated a large amount and those customers were sent letters a couple weeks ago to make sure they had plenty of time to make payment arrangements.”

While there will be no exceptions to disconnection of service granted after Aug. 25, city officials said the city’s nonpayment fees that accompany a disconnect will be waived, possibly through the September billing cycle, as customers reconcile their accounts to get reconnected.

“We’ll reconnect with no additional fees as long as balances are paid in full,” Comte said. “We’re more than happy to make payment arrangements as well for customers, as long as they contact us.”

Bills can be paid via the city’s drive-through window at Alto City Hall, 404 W. San Antonio St.; over the phone, (936) 858-4711; and online at cityofalto.com.

“DO NOT USE doxo.com to pay a city of Alto utility bill,” the city’s website warns. “If doxo.com is used and payment is received late, late fees will be applied.”