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Frequently Asked Questions - Fixed Bill
- What is Fixed Bill?
- Fixed Bill is a voluntary natural gas billing program
that locks in your monthly natural gas charges for a full 12 months. There are no
adjustments and no end-of-year credits or balances.
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- Why is Wisconsin Public Service offering Fixed Bill?
- Wisconsin Public Service wants to provide customers
with a new option to budget for their natural gas costs.
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- What are the benefits of Fixed Bill?
- Fixed Bill provides 12 months of bill certainty, with
no surprises. With Fixed Bill, you'll enjoy:
- Consistent monthly natural gas payments
- No year-end balances
- No adjustments due to changes in energy prices or temperature
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- Will I pay more on Fixed Bill?
- You may or may not pay more on Fixed Bill than on
other billing options depending on future weather conditions and natural gas
prices.
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- Who is eligible for Fixed Bill?
- You are eligible for Fixed Bill if you meet the
following criteria:
- You are a Wisconsin Public Service natural gas customer in Wisconsin
- You have sufficient temperature-related natural gas use
- You meet Wisconsin Public Service credit requirements
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- How will I know if I am eligible for Fixed Bill?
- Eligible customers will receive personalized natural
gas Fixed Bill offers beginning in late August through September.
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- What does the Fixed Bill offer include?
- Your Fixed Bill offer will include:
- A personalized Fixed Bill quote per eligible natural gas service
- A Fixed Bill enrollment form
- Program terms and conditions
- A postage-paid envelope in which to return the enrollment form.
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- What are the differences between Fixed Bill,Budget
Billing and Standard Service?
-
| |
Fixed Bill |
Budget Billing |
Standard Service |
| Program Description |
Monthly natural gas charges are fixed for 12 months
regardless of changes in use, prices and weather |
The amount you are asked to pay is estimated and adjusted
every six months to reflect actual energy prices and the amount of energy used |
Bill amount changes each month and fluctuates due to use,
prices and weather |
| Program fee |
Your natural gas Fixed Bill amount includes a 7% program
fee |
There is no program fee |
There is no program fee |
| Monthly payment amount |
Monthly natural gas charges are fixed |
Your monthly amount is reviewed after six months and may
be adjusted based on actual use, prices and weather |
Amount fluctuates each month with usage, prices and
weather |
| Eligibility |
Customers must have sufficient temperature-related natural
gas use and meet credit requirements |
Customers must remain current with their energy bill |
There is no special criteria |
| Early program termination |
In general, customers cannot leave the program early.
Situations where early termination may apply are:
- If you move
- If your bill is not paid
- If there is excessive energy use not related to weather
|
Customers can leave the program at any time |
Customers can leave the program at any time |
| Early termination fees |
$50 exit fee plus adjustment amount |
Full payment of remaining balance |
There are no termination fees |
| Enrollment Period |
Limited enrollment period in the early fall |
Year round |
Year round |
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- Can I be enrolled in Fixed Bill and Budget Billing?
- No. If you choose to enroll in the natural gas Fixed
Bill program, you can not be enrolled in Budget Billing.
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- Can I enroll both my electric and natural gas services?
- No. Fixed Bill is available for eligible natural gas
services only.
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- When does Fixed Bill enrollment open?
- Fixed Bill enrollment will open in late August or
early September of each year.
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- When does enrollment end?
- Fixed Bill enrollment is now closed. We hope you
consider enrolling when it is offered again next fall.
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- When will I receive my first Fixed Bill?
- Customers will receive their first Fixed Bill in
November.
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- How can I enroll in Fixed Bill?
- Fixed Bill enrollment is now closed. We hope you
consider enrolling when it is offered again next fall.
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- Is the enrollment limited?
- Yes. Enrollment is based on a first-come,
first-served basis. Enrollment is now closed.
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- Is there a fee to participate?
- Yes. A 7% program fee will be included in your
natural gas Fixed Bill amount.
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- Why is a program fee charged?
- A program fee is charged to cover the administrative
costs associated with offering and running the Fixed Bill program.
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- How is my Fixed Bill amount calculated?
- Wisconsin Public Service calculates your typical
natural gas use under normal weather conditions, then locks in a fixed price for natural
gas. We then add the Fixed Bill program fee to provide you with your natural gas Fixed
Bill amount.
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- What does my Fixed Bill amount include?
- Your Fixed Bill covers natural gas charges,
including commodity, delivery, monthly fixed charges and program fee.
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- Will my Fixed Bill amount ever increase?
- No. Your Fixed Bill amount will never increase during
a program year.
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- Can I terminate my Fixed Bill participation?
- No. After the due date of your first Fixed Bill, you
may only opt out of the Fixed Bill program at the end of the current Fixed Bill program
year.
However, Public Service has the right to remove customers from the program if they move,
allow their bill to become delinquent or significantly increase their natural gas usage
for reasons not related to temperatures.
If a customer is removed from the program, he or she will be responsible for an early
termination fee of $50 and an adjustment amount.
The adjustment amount is the difference between the amount billed on the Fixed Bill and
an amount calculated by multiplying your actual usage while enrolled, times the Fixed
Bill per therm rate, plus the customer charge (which all customers pay) for the months
you were on the program.
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- Can I remain on Fixed Bill if I move?
- No. The Fixed Bill amount applies only to the
service address identified at the time of enrollment. Your Fixed Bill amount cannot be
transferred to another location for any reason.
A customer who chooses to move during the Fixed Bill program year, will be removed from
Fixed Bill and will incur a $50 exit fee and an adjustment amount.
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- What if I decide I do not want to be enrolled in Fixed
Bill shortly after I sign up for it?
- Customers may opt out of the 2007-2008 program year
before the due date of their first Fixed Bill (November) without incurring any exit fees
or adjustments.
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- If I make changes to my heating system, can I reduce
my Fixed Bill amount?
- Yes. If you install a qualifying* high-efficiency
gas furnace or boiler after March 1, 2007, you may be eligible to receive a 10%
discount on your monthly natural gas Fixed Bill.
*Qualifying heating system equipment will include furnaces
that have an AFUE rating of at least 92 percent and boilers that have an AFUE rating
of at least 85 percent.
Your reduced monthly Fixed Bill amount will be reflected on the next bill that is
sent after Public Service receives the required information. The reduced Fixed Bill
amount will be effective for the remainder of the Fixed Bill program
year.
- To receive the discount, please provide the following information to Wisconsin
Public Service:
- Furnace or boiler year
- Furnace or boiler make and model
- Date of installation
- Copy of installation receipt from an authorized heating system installer
Mail To:
Wisconsin Public Service
Fixed Bill Program
Attn: Okho Bohm Hagedorn
700 North Adams Street
Green Bay, WI 54307
Fax: (920) 433-2977, Attention Fixed Bill
E-mail: OLBohm@integrysgroup.com
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