The Santa Margarita Water District is alerting residents about a delay in billing that could cause confusion among customers. While rolling out a new budget-based rate structure, the district identified some problems that pushed its billing cycle back.
That means customers who would have normally received their February billing in the beginning of the month are just getting it now and will soon also receive their March billing.
“Customers will have the full routine 25-day period following receipt of their bill to pay and no late fee will be assessed during that period,” said district Public Affairs Manager Jim Leach.
A customer receiving his or her February bill today will have until March 20 to pay that bill without penalty, even though the March bill will include this month’s amount in the total.
“They can pay each bill separately or together as they choose, but a March 1 bill, for example, wouldn’t be late until after March 25,” Leach said.
In an effort to alert customers of the billing delay, the water district is including special inserts in the February and March billings and has posted information on their website. Information regarding the delay can also be found on SMWD's social media accounts via Facebook and Twitter. Customers can also call the Santa Margarita Water District at 949-459-2406 for more information.