WATCH FOR NEXT YEAR
New Phone SCAM
Nebraska City Utilities would like to notify our customers and the general public of yet another new phone scam that multiple customers have brought to our attention.
The scam involves someone contacting you by phone posing as your utility company (We know from some customers they have faked their caller ID), claiming you have missed a payment and owe money that must be paid within a short amount of time (we have been told they have been saying you have 30 minutes to make a payment).
Our recommendation should you receive a call like this, no matter what the person sounds like or what the caller ID information says, that you hang up the phone and call us back (preferably during the business office’s hours of 8-4PM) and inquire directly with us.
When you do, please pass on as much information about the SCAM call as soon as you can so we can work to identify and eliminate the SCAM and its associated threat(s).
If you have any questions please call our main number 24/7 at 402-873-3353, reach us by email at service@nebraskacityutilities.com, or reply using the “REPORT AN OUTAGE/PROBLEM” option on the located on our website’s main/home page in the right most column.
IMPROPER USE OF WET WIPES AND OTHER MATERIALS ARE RAISING SEWER COSTS FOR THE CITY
SEWER COSTS WILL MOST LIKELY BE INCREASING DUE TO WET WIPE/OTHER MATERIAL INFLICTING DAMAGE
Since the beginning of the pandemic in late 2019 and early 2020 we have been seeing wide use of wet wipes being disposed of via flushing them into the sewer system. THESE ARE NOT TOLIET PAPER AND WE HAVE REPEATEDLY NOTIFIED THE PUBLIC of the damage these wipes and similar materials cause to the city’s sanitary sewer system.
It takes very little effort to properly dispose of these as solid waste in the city refuse pickup similarly to disposable baby diapers. Doing so saves us all, as a community in maintenance costs. Costs that will eventually lead to fee increases for everyone we serve.
WET WIPES ARE NOT SAFE FOR THE SEWER SYSTEM EVEN IF THEY SAY THEY ARE FLUSHABLE!!!
IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE WET WIPES SAY FLUSHABLE OR NOT!!! Both types cause extreme issues with the sewer system that have a high price tag including costs of employee overtime hours, mitigation, and repair/replacement of the damaged equipment.
Damage with a replacement cost of $25,000 – $35,000.00 per raw lift pump per incident
The Nebraska City Waste Water Treatment Plant has a primary lift (pumping) station with 2 pumps that handle all waste water collected in the city. At least one of these pumps must be running at all times to raise the waste water from the incoming sewers to the level where it can be processed by the facility.
In the picture above the damage is very evident inside of one of these two very important pumps. When you summarize the costs of the damage shown in the picture you get:
1.) A mechanical shaft seals needs to be replaced at $2,500 just for the seal mechanism itself, plus the cost for a dedicated installation of the seal mechanism by the manufacturer of the pump.
2.) Over 40 employee hours for two operators to pull the pump, clean the pump, ship the pump for repair, and then receive and reinstall the pump which costs nearly as much as a new shaft seal mechanism.
3.) The cost of repairing/replacing the damaged pumps
4.) Finally, add on any penalties levied by Federal and State regulators (if there is a raw waste water discharge) and the cost can soar into the tens of thousands of dollars per incident. We at Nebraska City Utilities strive to be responsible to our environment and do all we can to perform our duties and protect the world we live in, however, when equipment fails we do not have a choice in the matter.
Damage to the primary clarifiers with a cost up to $25,000 dollars per incident
The rags and wet wipes clog up the primary clarifiers, plugging lines and damaging the scrapers/rakes that help remove the solids from the waste water.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE…
DISPOSE OF YOUR WET WIPES AND OTHER FIBER MATERIALS THAT DO NOT BELONG IN THE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM AS SOLID WASTE!!! This small step performed by every member of the community helps us perform our mission to responsibly provide the best service for the lowest possible cost to you, our community.
WE THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO HELPING OUT WITH THIS ONGOING ISSUE!!!
Notice to Customers Using Online Services
There has recently been some confusion about how to properly use our online services to conduct business with Nebraska City Utilities. Our billing (Accounting) system and the online bill pay systems are separate systems.
To check your balance you should click the “Customer Login” Link circled in red in the graphic/picture above. You will need to create a user account to access this feature.
To make a payment you should use the “Pay My Bill Online” Link circled in orange in the graphic/picture above. You just need to enter basic information to access the correct account and it will show limited information to verify you have the correct account. The balance due is what should be paid for the current billing period.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALL CUSTOMERS TO KNOW THAT YOU SHOULD NOT USE THE “PAY MY BILL ONLINE” LINK TO CHECK YOUR BALANCE. IT ONLY SHOWS WHAT IS DUE BY THE DUE DATE. IF YOU PAY IN FULL BEFORE THE DUE DATE IT WILL NOT CHANGE TO $0.00 UNTIL AFTER THE DUE DATE PASSES! FOR CUSTOMERS THAT DO NOT PAY IN FULL A NEW BALANCE WILL SHOW AFTER THE BILL DUE DATE HAS PASSED.
So to check your balance (especially if you are unsure if you paid your current bill ) use the “Customer Login” link and if you haven’t already done it go through the account setup. This is to prevent you making double payments on your account.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please contact us at 402-873-3353 or via the contact us form on this website.
Once Again it is Time to Begin Preparing for Winter
Wise Water Tips
Outside your home
- Lawn watering uses a lot of water. Water your lawn only when it needs it. An easy way to tell if your lawn needs water is to simply walk across the grass. If you leave footprints, your lawn may be thirsty! Generally, lawns only need an inch or so of water per week during the summer months. Water your lawn wisely by:
How To Read Your Bill
- Account Number
- Date the bill was mailed
- Bill notes (ex. Paid by bank, Budget, Past Due Balance, etc…)
- Amount due if paid by due date
- Payment due date
- Amount due if paid after due date
- Summary of service history up to 13 months w/ a temperature line for our service area
- Utility description name and meter number/s
- Service period – the time period for which this bill was calculated.
- Number of days and usage total by service
- Charge by service
- Service Address and Amount due for the service address
- Messages and announcements
Your account number and any meter number will be needed to register to use our new customer log-in