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Frequently Asked Questions - Fixed Bill
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For additional topics, please visit the following Frequently Asked Questions:
- 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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- 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?
- August 26, 2009
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- When does enrollment end?
- No later than October 19, 2009.
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- When will I receive my first Fixed Bill?
- Your November 2009 bill.
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- How can I enroll in Fixed Bill?
- During the limited enrollment period, you can enroll online or by calling 888-332-3598, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Saturday and Sunday.
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- Is the enrollment limited?
- Yes. Enrollment is based on a first-come, first-served basis and ends
no later than October 19, 2009.
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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 are program fees charged?
- Program fees are charged to cover the administrative costs associated with offering and running the Fixed Bill program.
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- How are my Fixed Bill amounts 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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- 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, WPSC 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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- Is there an early termination charge?
- Yes. Customers who are removed from the Fixed Bill program will incur a $50 exit fee and adjustment amount.
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 2009-2010 program year before the due date of
their first Fixed Bill (November) without incurring any exit fees or
adjustments.
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- Are there any discounts available if I make energy efficiency improvements?
- Yes. If you've installed certain conservation measures recently, you may be eligible to receive a discount on your Fixed Bill. These include a 10% discount for installing a qualifying furnace or boiler; a 5% discount for installing a qualifying water heater; a 10% discount for installing qualifying insulation and air sealing; and a 3% discount for installing qualifying windows and doors. If you have installed multiple conservation measures, the maximum total discount is 15% during one program year. To see if you qualify, please provide proof of purchase and installation by an authorized contractor.
Mail To:
Wisconsin Public Service
Fixed Bill Program
Attn: Daniel Martin
P.O. Box 19001
Green Bay, WI 54304
Fax: 800-305-9754, Attn: Fixed Bill
E-mail: demartin@wisconsinpublicservice.com
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- What standards must the efficiency measures meet to qualify for the discounts?
- In order to qualify for some of these discounts on your Fixed Bill, you must meet certain criteria established by the Focus on Energy (Focus) program. Focus is Wisconsin’s program which works with residents and businesses to install cost-effective energy efficiency measures.
Furnace or Boilers
In order to receive the Fixed Bill discount for a furnace, boiler or water heater, you must provide a paid invoice or other documentation acceptable to Focus and the equipment must qualify for a Focus Cash-Back Reward or a Focus Targeted Home Performance equipment replacement at the time of installation.
Insulation and Air Sealing
In order to receive the Fixed Bill discount for insulation and air sealing, you must complete a Focus Home Performance or Targeted Home Performance assessment, plus install the top two recommended insulation and air sealing measures which must qualify for Focus financial incentives at the time of installation.
Windows and Doors
In order to receive the Fixed Bill discount for windows and doors you must present a paid invoice for at least 3 windows and/or doors which must qualify for a federal energy efficiency tax credit at the time of installation.
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- Why is my new 2009-2010 Fixed Bill so much different than my 2008-2009 Fixed
Bill?
- The reason your new Fixed Bill quote amount is different may be a result of
several factors: First, it may be due to changes in the pricing used to calculate
your quote, which includes a fixed price for gas, gas distribution and customer
charges.
The new gas price locked in for your 2009 to 2010 Fixed Bill is lower than
the gas price that was locked in last year.
The current Fixed Bill gas price for the 2008-2009 program year is $1.51 per
therm. The new price for the 2009-2010 Fixed Bill beginning with November 2009
bills is $0.98 per therm.
Another reason your new Fixed Bill quote amount could be different is due to
changes in the way you've used gas. Your new quote is based on your most recent
usage history. So, for example, if you've changed, added or eliminated some gas
appliances or equipment, or have greatly reduced or increased your gas use, your
quote amount would be affected.
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