AB 182 - Municipal utilities may not recoup a tenant's delinquent utility bills through landlord property taxes.

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September 27, 2011 - 11:32am

Andy Mullendore

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This forum is set up to provide feed back regarding the AB 182. This bill proposes to eliminate the ability of municipally utilities to collect tenant’s delinquent utility bills through landlord property taxes.

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To view the current status of this bill click the following link or cut and paste the link into your browser.

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/proposals/ab182

September 28, 2011 - 4:36pm

mheyroth

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Joined: 09/22/2009

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Question

It looks like there is a compromise under way for AR-182.

See here http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=gzhfeldab&v=001KOjYle_zlG9wxDpsxxCqYi8Vlwy29d5n1BphJIB0tRWkDGV5WvPgE8McIqffivqsYfcPyEZznbL5FJvrWBXldg-YGucZ1ycSfeSL2eZ30Vc%3D

Here's a question:

Can a utility require the Landlord to pay the water bill instead of the tenant?

This way the utility can bill the landlord and it's up to the landlord to collect the money from the renter. Even if the landlord requests a disconnect, which the utilty would have to do after 2 billings cycles, the utility can still put unpaid amount on tax role. This bypasses the tenant entirely.

I wonder if the landlord will use the utility disconnect as a "tool" to make the renter pay?

Maybe Jeff Ripp or someone from the WPSC can give some clarification on this.

Thanks in advance

September 28, 2011 - 12:54pm

mheyroth

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Joined: 09/22/2009

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AR - 182

We are a small utility in the Wausau area.

If the renters don't pay their bills and we can't collect from the landords via taxes we would be forced to shut off the water. Once the tenents and landlords start to understand this bill (after a year or two) and nobodys going to make them pay, why would either pay the water bill ever again!!

Shuting off the water is the only way to stop this. That would be a major drain on staffing since we only have TWO operators in the first place.

There is a geat video from Racine, I believe, that explains the disconect poilcy very well. I'll try to link to it below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NxQsOMNCKA

American Water Works Association