CenterPoint Energy will begin reporting delinquent utility customers in January
In an effort to give utility customers an incentive to pay their bills on time, CenterPoint Energy will begin reporting data on its delinquent customers beginning in January. CenterPoint says this will benefit timely payers. This is true. It will obviously hurt the credit rating of those who fall behind on their utility payments.
Excel Energy does not report delinquency data, but it does send accounts to debt collectors, where far worse things can happen.
According to the StarTribune article:
CenterPoint says it will build in several protections for low-income customers. Those who have set up individual payment plans will avoid negative credit reports. Also, under the state’s Cold Weather Rule, intended to help Minnesotans keep their heat on through winters, the utility offers more flexible catch-up terms to customers in arrears.
Since Oct. 15, however, those in arrears are charged a two-month deposit — usually about $200 — to continue or reconnect service . . . .
I doubt this will actually make much of a dent in CenterPoint’s delinquent accounts, but maybe the company will feel better for causing repercussions when customers let their energy bill languish at the bottom of the bill pile.
[photo: Chance Agrella]
[...] letters, and home visits to work out payment plans and restore heat.” But at the same time, CenterPoint intends to start reporting delinquent accounts. No heat and a bad credit [...]
[...] reporting plan Posted by Sam Glover on February 12, 2008 | Permalink Last October, I posted about CenterPoint Energy’s plan to report delinquent accounts to the credit reporting bureaus. Last Friday, CenterPoint announced a change of plan, saying it [...]