Application for utility service can be completed in the Utility Customer Service Office located inside City Hall, 200 W. Vulcan, Brenham, TX 77833. Each applicant is required to sign a Customer Application and present a lease or show proof of ownership before services can be connected.
All applicants are required to make a deposit in accordance with the provisions of Section 1005 of the City of Brenham Rate Tariff Schedules:
Homeowner (permanent structure)
$150.00
Renter
$250.00
Non-owner, without Electric or Gas Service
$145.00
Contractor - Each new construction
$100.00
Landlord deposit
$300.00
The Commercial Customer deposit is twice the highest monthly bill with a minimum of $300.00. Commercial customers have several options on how they may handle this amount. Please contact the Utility Customer Service/Billing Department for details at 979-337-7520.
Deposit Refunds (residential customers only)
Any required deposit may be refunded to Customer by crediting the customer's bill if all of the following conditions are met:
The deposit has been held by the City for at least twelve (12) months; and
Customer has not had any collection activity occurrence (including not honored and returned checks, disconnect notices or more than 2 late penalties) in the prior 12 months; and
There is no "Past Due" bill currently owed for the applicable service accounts.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, upon disconnection of service, deposits will be applied to the final bill and the excess, if any, shall be refunded to the Customer.
Payment and Disputes
Bills for service are based upon metered consumption and computed under the applicable rate schedule. Bills are due on the fifteenth day after the date of the bill. All customers, except departments, divisions, and/or agencies of the City, State, and Federal government, must pay the gross amount of the bill if paid after the due date. Payment of charges for connection or reconnection of service and payment of initial deposits or reinstated deposits as required under the rules of the City must be made before service will be connected or reconnected
All rates specified herein are net. The gross rates for delinquent payments are ten percent (10%) higher. Each bill for service is due within fifteen (15) days after issuance unless such day falls on a holiday or weekend, in which case payment is due on the next work day. If full payment is not received at the City's offices or other approved payment location on or before the due date, all of the customer's utility services will be considered delinquent and subject to disconnection.
Disputed Bills
If a customer believes that the amount of any bill rendered by the City for service is in error, he should request an explanation of the bill from the Utility Billing department. A customer may request, in writing, an investigation of the matter, setting forth all information relative to the dispute. The amount of the disputed bill should be paid by the customer. The City will investigate the matter promptly and will communicate its findings to the customer and credit any amount of money that has already been paid by the customer and that has been shown to have been paid in error. The City will not discontinue service nor will the customer's credit be impaired in any way during the investigation of the disputed bill.
Disconnections
A customer may request a disconnection of utility service at any time unless there is a provision to the contrary in the service contract or applicable rate schedule. The customer is responsible for any use of service until the City has had a reasonable time to secure final reading or to remove the meter.
Service may be disconnected by the City for the failure of the customer to pay bills in accordance with the provisions of Section 1009 of the City of Brenham Rate Tariff Schedules or for failure to comply with the terms of his service contract or the rules and regulations in the Rate Tariff.
Utility customers can now receive the amount of the current utility bill with a text message the day it is billed. The message will indicate the address and amount with a link to allow the customer to pay the bill with a credit card. Keep in mind this is intended for customers who are currently not enrolled in automatic bank drafting or credit card drafting.
BEFORE YOU DIG - DIAL 811. IT'S THE LAW!!! Color codes for Utilities Markings
Water Blue
Sewer Green
Gas Yellow
Electric Red
Digging can be dangerous. There are buried utilities throughout the city. Hitting a utility line can be both dangerous and costly. Without knowing the locations of the buried utilities, you jeopardize your safety as well as others and the inconvenience of being without the service.
Before beginning any project that requires you to move earth, DIAL 811. This is a free service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The locate center will contact the city and the utility departments will mark their lines within 2 business days. Wait the required time - at least 2 business days. Once lines are marked, dig with care and dig safely by hand-digging within 18 inches of any marking.
