How to Open Your Account
You can download the application for service, fill it out in its entirety and bring it with you to the Burnet Municipal Office or you can fill out the application there if you choose. If the application is for a residence, you must list all responsible adults who will reside at the residence. You must also have proof of residence (a lease contract, a deed or purchase contract, etc.) The application will have to be signed by all responsible adults. All balances must be paid from prior residences before a new hook-up can be completed. You will be required to place a deposit on the account before service will be completed. Applications turned in before 1:00 p.m. are usually completed the same day. Applications turned in after 1:00 p.m. are usually completed the next day. There is NO HOOK UP service on weekends or after 5:00 p.m.
Online Services
The City now offers online services for utility customers. Just click on the ONLINE SERVICES link at the upper left of this page and register for the online services. You will receive an email that will provide you with your chosen login and a temporary password. You can choose to keep the password or you can change it to a password that you prefer. Once your account is set up, you can view your account information anytime, day or night, to obtain your account status, history of consumption for both water and electric, payment history and comparison to prior periods. If you choose, you can also pay your bill online* using a debit or credit card. Click here for instructions for using the online service.
*A small service fee is charged for online payments. This fee is collected by the credit card processing company and not the City of Burnet.
Late Payments
Payments are due by the 10th of the month. Failure to pay your account in full will cause a 10% penalty to be added to your account. If unpaid by the 20th of the month your account is subject to disconnect. Reconnects are scheduled only after the consumer has paid the bill in full or completed a Promise to Pay, made the minimum payment required and paid the reconnect fee. Payments for reconnection must be made by cash or money order. In addition, the deposit requirement is subject to adjustment any time a disconnect for non-payment (including bad checks) occurs. Consumers must pay the amount due plus the amount of the adjusted deposit.
A payment made with a bad check will treated the same as a non-payment. A handling fee of $25 will be charged and is payable in by cash or money order on all returned checks. After three (3) checks have been returned, the Consumer will be required to make all utility payments by cash, money order or cashiers check.
Changes in Service
Consumers may request a change in service location and transfer applicable deposits to the new account providing the old account is in good standing and the names on the account do not change.
Consumers may come in and fill out a new application when a person who is on the application no longer lives at the service address ONLY if the account is in good standing at the time of the change request. A new account will be established and the old account will be closed. The deposit must be refunded to the Primary Applicant on the original application.
All changes in service are subject to changes in deposits.
Voluntary Termination of Service
Consumers who request a disconnection of service must leave a forwarding address, or the name of a relative if a forwarding address is not available, where the final bill can be sent. The Consumer's deposit will offset the final bill and any balance owed to the City for any City of Burnet accounts. In the event the deposit does not cover the amount owed, the consumer will be billed for the balance at the Consumer's new address. If the deposit is more than the amount owed the City will mail a check to the Consumer for the balance due. The Disconnect Form can be download from the forms list above or picked up at City Hall. You can mail, fax or email it to the City for processing.
Seriously Delinquent Accounts
After 90 days, delinquent accounts will be turned over to the City Attorney (and/or a collection agency) for collection and reported to credit bureaus utilized by the City.
Delinquent accounts that remain connected due to hardships are examined on a case-by-case basis, but in all circumstances, consumers must make regular payments toward the balance, show proof of hardship, and show good faith effort to resolve the account. Hardship includes a serious injury or illness of the primary or secondary applicant, death in the immediate family, natural disaster or bankruptcy. Hardship claims do not guarantee continuation of service.
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