Town unveils new water bills

In early August, Black Mountain residents will get their water bills in legal-sized envelopes. The mailings, which will come with a return envelope, will replace the perforated index cards the town has been using in recent years.

The new system is more efficient for the town and provides convenience for water users, according to Dean Leubbe, assistant town manager and finance director. And, it’s online.

“One thing that we’re very excited about is that you’ll be able to sign up for e-billing,” he said. “So if you want to, we will be able to email you your bill.”

Those who choose the e-billing option will be able to access up to two years’ worth of past bills online.

Another new feature of the system will give customers the ability to review a year of usage.

“Some people use a lot of water in the summer, and during the rest of the year they don’t use much,” Leubbe said. “Let’s say they got an irregularly high bill in March. It can be compared to last March’s usage, and that information can be beneficial.”

The small size of the billing cards previously used meant they frequently got lost or misplaced, Luebbe said. That, and the online convenience, made the decision to switch to a modern system better for both the town and water customers.

“Plus, when people sign up for e-billing, we save money on postage,” he said. “We’re really just trying to get a little more modernized.”