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335 East Canal Street, Peru, IN 46970 (765) 473-6681

Frequently Asked Questions

AMI Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my electric and/or water meter being replaced?
Over time, meters become less accurate and can provide inaccurate readings. By replacing our meters, Peru Utilities will be able to bill more accurately and efficiently for water/electricity usage. In addition, the new system will include an automatic meter reading technology that will save labor time, prevent any recording errors, minimize wear and tear on vehicles, minimize the need for utility personnel to go on the private property of customers, and allow water line leaks to be identified earlier by analysis of data collected.
Does this mean my bill will be increasing?
Not necessarily. In cases where rates remain consistent, the new meters will simply record consumption more accurately. In some cases, your bill may increase, but only if the current meter is underreporting usage. Presently, the majority of customers are paying for the water/electricity they are actually using, while a few customers are only paying for a portion of actual usage. This condition is not fair to all customers. The new system will ensure fairness and equality for all customers from this point forward.
When will this work be performed?
The work will begin in April of this year. The entire project will take approximately 8 - 12 months to complete. In most cases the transition will be completely transparent and will not affect the customers. The work will be performed during normal working hours of 8:00AM – 4:00PM (EST).
How will this affect my service?
A UMS employee will come to your residence and replace your water and/or electric meter. When the water meter is replaced it will be checked to verify that water is presently not in use. If no water is being used the meter will be replaced. There will be interruption of service for approximately 30 – 60 minutes during the change, but after that it will be the same great service that you’ve come to expect.
How long will it take?
In most cases, it’s a simple procedure that will require about 30 - 60 minutes.
How do I know who is authorized to do the work?
Peru Utilities has contracted with Utility Metering Solutions (UMS) to conduct this service. All UMS installers will have an ID badge indicating their name and their employment with UMS, and will be wearing bright yellow t-shirts/jackets/vests with “UTILITY METERING SOLUTIONS” or “UMS” on the back. Installers will travel in vehicles that have a large “UMS” magnet on the side. All UMS installers have successfully completed a comprehensive criminal background check.
Do they need to come inside my house?
Yes, but only if the water and/or electric meter is located inside the home.
What will they do inside my house?
Installers will remove the old water and/or electric meter, install the new meter, and clean up the area if needed. Installers will have you sign and acknowledge the new meter has been installed, and provide you with an emergency phone number in the event you have questions or concerns after the installation.
Do I have to be present for the installation if the meter is inside my home?
Yes, if the water and/or electric meter is located inside your house. For your peace of mind, we require that an adult be present during the installation. The installer will not enter your home unless authorized to do so by someone 18 years old or older. The installer will not enter your home if your children are alone.
Do I have to be present for the installation if the meter is outside my home?
No, if your outside meter is accessible, it will not be necessary for anyone to be home. In this case, the majority of the work will take place near the street in the water meter box or at the outside electrical box.
 
However, if your water and/or electric meter is not accessible, for example within a locked area, then please call the UMS Call Center at (844) 741-6248 to (re)schedule the installation appointment.
I’m on vacation or not available that day. Whom do I call?
For outside meters which are accessible, it will not be necessary for anyone to be home. In this case, the majority of the work will take place near the street in the water meter box or at the outside electric meter box.
For water and/or electric meters inside your home or outside meters which are not accessible, please call the UMS Call Center at (844) 741-6248 to (re)schedule the installation appointment.
 
If you have any questions or concerns, contact Peru Utilities office at (765) 473-6681.
Why was I not able to turn on my water after the meter was installed?
In rare instances, the main cut-off valve to your home may be left off. This will occur when the Utility Metering Solutions installation team is not able to pressurize your home following the installation. The normal cause of this condition is when an inside spigot is opened during the installation and subsequently left open. The water is not turned back on to ensure a sink or bath tub does not overflow with the customer is not home to turn the water off. In these cases, your water will be left off and a door hanger will be left on your door providing you a point of contact to call to have your water turned back on immediately.
Is there any special care or maintenance that I need to do to my new meter?
No, your new meter does not require any maintenance by the homeowner. As before, Peru Utilities will take care of all maintenance. However, please know that this new meter has transmitting technology on it that allows your meter to be read remotely.
Will wireless technology affect my health or privacy?
The new meters will not negatively affect health or privacy. In fact, overall health will be improved and privacy enhanced by replacing vehicles and manual visits to your home with environmentally clean radio communication. The wireless portions of the system will be operated according to Federal Communications Commission rules and will not interfere with other radio frequencies in the area. The transmitters use one-quarter of the power of a cellphone transmission. In fact, exposure to radio waves from smart meters is minuscule. The amount of exposure to radio waves decreases with the square of the distance from the radio source and the total transmission time is only 15 seconds per day.
I still have questions, where can I get additional information?
Peru Utilities is working with Utility Metering Solutions to answer everyone’s questions as thoroughly as possible. If you have further questions, please send an email to amiquestions@peruutilities.com

Billing & Payment

When is my bill due?
Bills are due 20 days from the time the service was billed. If a bill is being paid within this 20 day period, you need only pay the net amount shown on the bill. Payments received after the due date are subject to a penalty in the amount of 10% of the current wastewater service billing and 3% each for the current water and electric service billing. A great way to avoid penalties is to sign up for direct debit.
Do you offer a direct debit payment option?
We certainly do! In fact, it saves you time and money, and helps us keep your rates low. We set your account up for automatic debit from your checking account. Your bill will be mailed to you just as before, but it will include a comment line, “DRAFT—DO NOT PAY.” We will debit your checking account 20 days after the bill date. You have until the due date to review your utility bill and contact us if you feel the charges are incorrect. To sign up or learn more, click here to see 6 easy ways to pay your bill. Select Automatic Draft, EFT Pay.
How can I pay my bill?
Glad you asked! There are six  easy ways to pay your bill.
Do you offer a budget billing program?
We do!  Customers who are home owners living in total electric homes are eligible to participate in the Budget Billing Program. The budget amount is based on the previous year’s consumption and calculated on current rates. The program begins each June and the reconciliation month is the following May.  Please contact our Customer Service department for assistance.
Do you offer an online payment option?
We certainly do! Please keep in mind that when you pay online, the pending payment shows immediately on our screens but does not "post" to the system until the next morning's reconciliation. Visit our secure payment site
If I cannot pay my bill by the due date, can I make arrangements to pay it?
Prior to the date of disconnect, a customer who is unable to pay a bill by the due date can make arrangements to pay a past due bill through a “Promise To Pay Agreement.” These agreements can be structured to meet the needs of individual customers. However, customers who have failed to abide by previous agreements are not allowed to enter into new agreements until their credit history indicates that they have not been delinquent for 12 consecutive months.
What happens if I don't pay my bill?
Customers who have not paid a bill by the due date are subject to a penalty in the amount of 10 percent of the current wastewater service billing and 3 percent each for the current water and electric service billing. Failure to pay within 14 days of the due date results in termination of services. Disconnections will not be done past noon on any day that precedes a weekend or a holiday. Disconnections will not be done when the temperature is below 32 degrees F, unless the disconnection is for a bad check.
What will happen if my check doesn't clear?
Customers paying bills with checks drawn on accounts with non-sufficient funds will be given 3 days to correct this deficiency. Customers failing to do so will be disconnected without further notice. Customers disconnected due to bad checks will not be allowed to pay via check until their credit history indicates that they have not been delinquent for at least 12 consecutive months.
How do I get my service reconnected?
Customers disconnected for non-payment may be reconnected by paying the past due amount, the current bill and a reconnect fee. The current reconnect fee may be found in the Rates and Service Conditions Section. Payment must be made in cash or by money order. Checks are not acceptable. Payment must be made at the business office during regular business hours. Peru Utilities field service employees will not accept money from customers for any reason.
Is it possible to exempt payment penalties?
Customers who are retired or disabled and who receive their only income from retirement, disability and/or Social Security may be exempted from penalties if the due date of their bill falls prior to receipt of their monthly check. To be considered for penalty exempt status, the customer must make application at the main office. To retain penalty exempt status, the customer must pay the full amount of the bill each month without having any charges carried forward to subsequent billings. The customer must establish nine months of satisfactory payment history prior to being eligible for penalty exempt status. An exception to this would be those customers who are on the Budget Billing Program and whose budget payments are less than the actual bill for a given month.
Does Peru Utilities use estimated meter reads?
Peru Utilities does its best to read each water and electric meter every month. There are, however, circumstances that make estimating a necessity. All estimates are based on an average of the customer’s historical monthly usage with consideration for weather changes. If consumption is estimated, it is so stated on the bill. Any over or under estimation is reconciled at the time of the next actual meter reading, so the customer is always billed or credited with the difference.
What are your rules and regulations regarding service?
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ABOUT OUR RATES
As stewards of the electric power, water, wastewater and stormwater resources belonging to the city of Peru, Peru Utilities’ mission includes providing utility services in a dependable, competitively priced and environmentally responsible manner. A not for profit entity, Peru Utilities voluntarily maintains rates according to the guidelines established by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Profits sustained by revenues earned are returned to the rate payers in terms of lower rates. Peru Utilities received approval of current rates by the Peru Utility Service Board in conjunction with the Peru City Council after careful consideration of the cost to provide services. The rate structure is considered public information and can be reviewed on this website.

HOLD HARMLESS
Peru Utilities makes no guarantee of continuous service. Each customer agrees not to hold Peru Utilities liable for the interruption of its service which may cause inconvenience or damage to the customer. In consideration of the acceptance of the customer application for utility services, the customer and all those persons using the utilities at the location stated in the application thereby release and discharge Peru Utilities of all claims of damages, demands or actions whatsoever in any manner arising or growing out of the use of said utilities.

APPLICATION PROCESS
We require proof of identification to obtain or transfer service. A driver’s license is preferred. All unmarried adults listed on the rent receipt or lease agreement must sign the contract for service. Any other balances owed Peru Utilities by the applicant(s) must be paid at the time of service. Also required: - Renters rent receipt or lease agreement. - Property owners legal description of the property (within 14 days of signing a contract for service). - Individuals buying property on contract copy of the contract. - Mobile home park occupants lot rent receipt.

DEPOSITS
City Ordinance No. 23 requires that we collect deposits from residential as well as commercial customers. Residential deposits are as follows:
     Electric $100 (Total Electric—$140)
     Peru Water $40
     Grissom Water $35
     Peru & Grissom Wastewater $30
     Commercial deposit requirements are generally based on twice the average monthly balance.

We hold your deposit for one year. The retained deposit will be applied to the final bill or may be transferred to a new account number under the same name (by your request).

RETURNED CHECKS
A $25 fee is charged for each returned check or rejected draft. We reserve the right to refuse payment by check from customers with two returned checks within a 12-month period. Customers on electronic draft are removed from the electronic draft program after one returned draft.

PAYMENT FOR SERVICE
Your payment is due within 20 days of receipt of the bill. Payments made after the due date are subject to late fees. The current late penalties are: 3% for electric, 10% for wastewater and 3% for water.

A Disconnect Notice for non-payment appears on the monthly bill. Once services are scheduled for disconnection, you must pay: the past due amount, the current amount due (even if the bill has not been sent) and a $25 or $50 service fee. The payment must be made in cash or by credit card; personal checks are not accepted. We may also require a deposit before your service is restored.

In case of default on payment, we will place a lien against the property. The amount of the lien will be the storm water and wastewater fees plus the lien fee.

PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS
We will work with customers who require special arrangements for additional time to pay due to extreme hardship or unusual circumstances. However, keep in mind that arrangements are a privilege. Arrangements must be made prior to the disconnection date. If you fail to fulfill the arranged payment schedule, future requests for special arrangements may be denied. Termination of service may occur if you do not completely fulfill your obligations.

CLOSING ACCOUNT
You must notify Peru Utilities of the date you intend to vacate the premises. If you fail to notify us, the service will remain in the name of the customer who signed for service until notification of non-residency is received.

LANDLORD REQUIREMENTS
Property owners are not permitted to retain utility service in their name to assist tenants in avoiding paying debts to Peru Utilities. Such action may result in legal action against the landlord. Landlords are required to sign for the return of service to their name upon a tenant moving out or to sign an “owner’s letter” for the right to conduct business via phone. The owner is responsible for the wastewater and storm water portions of the tenant’s bill should the tenant fail to pay, as mandated by Public Law 354-1987.

ACCESS TO SERVICE
It is each customer’s responsibility to keep all trees, bushes or shrubs trimmed away from meters and lines so that they are at least two feet from the wires and meters to allow for meter reading. If our personnel are unable to read your meter, you will be notified with a service tag on your door. If we are unable to read your meter for three consecutive months due to growth, enclosure, pets, etc., services are subject to disconnection without notice until access for reading is obtained.

METER TAMPERING
The customer is prohibited from tampering with a meter in any way. Should tampering occur, the account holder is subject to disconnection and prosecution in the amount of the cost of parts, labor, equipment and overhead plus an estimate of lost service revenue.

RIGHT TO DISCONNECT We reserve the right to disconnect all services if the customer fails to abide by our contract.
What is the "tracker"; and how does it impact my bill?
Peru Utilities buys all electric energy from the Indiana Municipal Power Authority (IMPA) and delivers it to Peru’s customers. The wholesale price of electricity changes frequently. It is especially sensitive to the cost of fuel used to produce electricity whether generation is powered by natural gas, coal, or nuclear fuels.

Even small changes in our cost of energy can have a significant impact on our local operations. As the wholesale cost of our electricity increases or decreases from the cost basis included in our rate, we are permitted to pass the change through, up or down, to our customers, in the form of the Tracker.

The tracker mechanism assures our customers that they receive credits when credits are due. It also allows us to adjust prices without requesting a base rate change every time fuel prices fluctuate. The tracker is a fixed surcharge per kWh of energy we expect to sell during the next quarter. It is fixed for three months at a time, but fluctuates from quarter to quarter.

Here is how it works: We estimate what we project our wholesale cost of power will be looking ahead three months. At the end of each quarter, we compare the usage and cost we projected three months earlier to what actually has happened. Any variance is added to or subtracted from the tracker calculation we make up for the next quarter.

In short, the Tracker surcharge is based on an estimate of utilization for the next quarter after adjusting for any variances between the estimated and actual utilization in the prior quarter.

Service

How do I report a street light out?
Please fill out this online form to report a street light out.
How do I report other electrical related problems?
For urgent matters, it's always best to call the office (765-473-6681) to ensure prompt attention. For issues that are not urgent, please fill out this online form to report other electrical related problems.
How do I submit a request for trees to be trimmed?
Please fill out this online form to report a tree that needs trimmed.
How do I report a problem with a plugged catch basin?
Please fill out this online form to report a problem with a plugged catch basin.
How do I report other water or wastewater related problems?
For urgent matters or emergencies, it's always best to call our office (765-473-6681) to ensure prompt attention. For other issues, please fill out this online form to report other water or wastewater related problems.
What are your office hours?
The Business Office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
Utility crews are out as early as 7:00 or 7:30 a.m. depending upon the season, and generally work until 3:30 or 4:00 p.m.  Emergency call charges apply for services after hours.
On which holidays is the office closed?
Our business office is closed on the following Holidays:
New Years Day
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Friday After Thanksgiving
Christmas Day
Must I pay a deposit to begin receiving utility services?
Customers having no previous credit history with Peru Utilities or any other utility service company must pay a deposit. New and existing customers who have received a disconnect notice from either Peru Utilities or their former utility supplier within the previous 12 months must pay a deposit.

Deposits may be waived for new customers who provide a letter of credit from a previous utility supplier that states that the customer has been a customer of that supplier for at least 12 consecutive months and has not received a disconnect notice from that supplier during the most recent 12 months. Deposits may also be waived for current customers wishing to transfer a service to another location provided that they have not had two or more late penalties or a disconnect within the most recent 12 months.
What are the deposit amounts?
Residential customers with total electric service - $140
Residential customers with partial electric service - $100
Residential customers, Peru water service - $40
Residential customers, Grissom water service - $35
Residential customers, Peru or Grissom wastewater - $30

Commercial and industrial customers are charged two times the estimated average monthly bill. Peru Utilities retains the right to evaluate the actual billings for commercial and industrial customers and revise the deposits accordingly.
What documentation must I bring to apply for service?
All applicants are required to provide proof of identification to obtain or transfer service. A driver’s license is preferred.

In addition:  Renters must show a rent receipt or lease agreement, new property owners must provide legal description of the property, individuals buying property on contract must provide a copy of the contract and mobile home park occupants must provide a lot rent receipt.

We require that all unmarried adults listed on the rent receipt or lease agreement sign the contract for service. 
Am I required to maintain the area near my meters?
It is the customer’s responsibility to keep all trees, bushes or shrubs trimmed away from meters and lines so that they are at least two feet from the wires and meters to allow for ease of meter reading. If our personnel are unable to read the meter for three consecutive months due to growth, enclosures, pets, etc., services are subject to disconnection without notice until access is restored.
How do I end my service and close my account?
Customers who wish to discontinue their utility services must notify the main office by phone or use the link on this website to request disconnection. The notification should be made at least three days in advance of the intended date to provide adequate time to finalize the account. The final bill will be rendered in the next billing cycle.

Please note that if a customer fails to notify Peru Utilities, the service will remain in the name of the customer who signed for services until notification of non-residency is received.
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