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Public
Power
Do you know the
difference between Public Power and Investor-Owned Utilities?
A municipal utility, such as the Hudson Light and Power
Department, is a not-for-profit organization owned by the
people it serves. Private utilities are businesses with
stockholders. In October, we mark Public Power Week by
celebrating the benefits municipal utilities are able to
offer their customers. Benefits such as . . .
. . . Low Rates! It pays to do business with
us. With no stock holders and dividends to worry about, our
savings are passed directly to the customer. That's one of
the reasons why HL&PD rates are lower than any private
utility in the State.
. . . Local
Control!
Municipal ratepayers have a stronger voice in the way their
utility is operated. Board members are elected; and meetings
are open to the public. The Hudson Municipal Light Board
monthly meeting dates are posted with the Hudson Town Clerk.
. . . Superb
Service!
We're there at the flick of a switch! The HL&PD has one
of the finest distribution systems around. What's more, our
employees are your neighbors. When you've got an electric
problem in the middle of the night, they're close by and able
to respond quickly.
Founded in 1897,
the HL&PD is proud of its top-notch performance and
excellent services. Read on for just a sample of some of the
ways we try to live up to our motto: We're here to serve you!
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Landlord
Transfers
Automatic Transfers
Landlords can also
authorize to have accounts automatically transferred into
their names whenever a tenant relocates. Need a form? Click
here for an Automatic Transfer Form or call 568-8736.
Telephone Transfers
Landlords with an
established credit record can sign an authorization to have
accounts transferred into their names with a telephone call.
This avoids the need to sign up for every account. Need a
form? Click here for a Telephone
Transfer Form or call 568-8736
Bill Paying
All-Electric
Budget
An 11-month leveled
budget for customers who heat with electricity. The budget
runs from October to August. 568-8736
Direct
Payment
Customers of the
Hudson National Bank can pay bills directly from their
checking accounts via a telephone transfer. 568-2408
Estimated
Lien Bills
Property owners on
a municipal system are subject to the Massachusetts Municipal
Lien law. This law allows municipal water and electric
departments to attach a lien to property if bills are not
paid in full. Calls us to make arrangements for an estimated
lien bill to take to your passing. We'll need at least
twenty-four hours notice in order to draw up a bill for you.
Remember, your estimated lien bill only shows that the
current electric bill is paid to a certain date. Property
owners should also request lien certificates from the Hudson
or Stow Town Collectors to show clear title. 568-8736
Gift
Certificates
Gift certificates
are available at our main office only at 49 Forest Avenue.
You'll need to know the name and address of the person whose
account you'd like to us to credit. We'll place your gift on
the customer's account, and give you an announcement
certificate to present to the recipient of your thoughtful
gift. 568-8736
Payment
Plans
Six-month
arrangements to help customers bring past due accounts up to
date. 568-8736
Rate
Analysis
When more than one
rate is applicable for an account, it is up to the customer
to choose the rate. We can help you decide with a rate
analysis. 568-8736
Industrial
Rate Spreadsheets
We have
spreadsheets available to help you calculate rates 12, 13, 14
and 16. 568-8736
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Conservation
Appliance
Test Meters
Borrow one of our appliance test
meters
to determine how electricity is being used in your home.
568-8736
Appliance
Usage Checklist
Ask for one of our
appliance usage checklists. We list the average, low and high
electrical consumptions for appliances you have in your home.
Use to checklist to conduct your own energy consumption
survey on your home.
Histories
We've got 13-month
histories available on every account. We may even be able to
provide you with a longer history. 568-8736
HELPS
A two-tiered
conservation program that will help answer your questions.
Sponsored by Hudson Light. 1-888-333-7525 or
visit www.munihelps.org
Usage
Analysis
We can provide a
study of your daily average kilowatt-hour consumption for the
current year in comparison to past years. Depending upon your
installation date, we can currently look back to January of
1991.
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Education
Newsline
Whether its
surviving power outages, understanding industry restructuring
or saving money on your electric bill, we try to keep you
informed with the Customer Newsline.
Tours
Groups interested
in the inner workings of a power plant can tour our
facilities on Cherry Street. Youths will need to bring a Station Tour Release Form on the day of the visit.
568-8736
Safety
24-Hour
Dispatch
If you have a
problem when the Office is closed, our emergency after-hour
line is staffed 24-hours a day to help. 562-2368
CPR
HL&PD field
crews are trained in CPR.
Medical
Alert
We take special
interest in its customers who use medical equipment requiring
electricity. During extended power outages, we will try to
call you. If you use life-sustaining equipment requiring
electricity, have your physician send us the following
information: 568-8736
- Name of
patient.
- Type of
equipment in use.
- Is there a
back-up system?
- How long will
the back-up system last?
- Is there an
alarm system?
- Emergency
phone number.
Handicap
Access
Our Offices at 49
Forest Avenue are now handicapped-accessible from the front
of the building. A new ramp and automatic door was recently
installed at the front door to improve access for our
customers.
Radio
Alert
If you have an
emergency and see an HL&PD vehicle, ask for assistance.
All trucks sport a "Radio Alert" sign to remind you
that we have a two-way radio and will summons aid for you.
Senior
Citizen Safety
In 1996, we
launched our safety education program for Senior Citizens. In
addition, with a Senior Citizen's permission, the Department
will alert a friend or family member of any billing problem
that may indicate trouble at home. 568-8736
Student
Safety
In order to teach children to treat
electricity with respect, the Department sponsors a safety
program for third graders in Hudson and Stow. 568-8736
Street
Light Patrol
We want your
neighborhood to be as safe as possible. Every week, HL&PD
personnel patrol the streets of Hudson and Stow at night
checking for malfunctioning street lights. To report a
flickering or burnt-out light, call the Office and we'll
check it out. 568-8736
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Communications
Bilingual Assistance
Portuguese-speaking
customers who do not know the English language can find
assistance from our Bilingual office employee. 568-8736
Forms
Can't make it into
the Office for a form? Print one from these pages and send it
to us with the proper information and requirements:
Voluntary
Load Curtailment/Notification Program
When
power supplies become tight in New England, the Independent
System Operators of New England (IS|O-New England) may order
utilities to take certain steps to "stretch"
supplies. Large businesses which are willing and able to
reduce electric usage upon request can help avert the
collapse of New England's electric system by joining our voluntary
curtailment program. We'll ask you to do what ever you can do
conserve when ISO orders us to take this step. In return,
we'll keep you appraised of New England's power situation via
fax notifications.
Billing
Meter Reading
Your
bills are based on actual monthly meter readings. Sometimes
we have problems accessing meters. Snow may be piled in front
of the meter, bushes may grow too large, dogs may be leashed
closed to the meter, or the meter may be located inside of
the house. You can help us by making your meter accessible to
our meter readers.
All
Hudson Light and Power Department metermen carry
identification badges. If you're not sure about the person on
your property claiming to be the meter reader, ask to see his
identification or call the Office at 568-8736.
Disputing a Bill
If you
think something is wrong with your bill, give us a call at
568-8736 and we'll investigate.
You
may think that your bill is too high. We can double
check your meter reading free of charge or run a
comparison analysis for you.
You
may think that something is wrong with your meter.
Upon request, the Office will schedule a meter change
at your location and test your meter. There is a
$15.00 charge for a single-phase meter (most
residential meters) and a $75.00 charge for
poly-phase meters (usually commercial meters). This
charge is only assessed your account if the meter
tests out more than 2% fast.
Once your dispute is
investigated, we'll let you know the results in writing. You
then have the right to dispute this decision by requesting a
hearing before the Hudson Municipal Light Board. You can also
contact the Massachusetts Department of
Telecommunications and Energy.
Drop us a line: 
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