Post Date: 03/20/2020 4:13 PM

Medicine Hat – The City of Medicine Hat continues to work with individuals and businesses who are experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 and who may be unable to maintain their payments relating to utilities provided by the City.



Effectively immediately, the following measures are in place:

Automatic utility bill deferral for the next 90 days for all residential, farm and small commercial customers without penalty

No utility disconnection will occur for the next 90 days

No late penalties for customers utilizing the deferral.

Nothing is required at this time in order to enact the utility bill deferral for the next 90 days.



Other customers requiring the utility bill deferral or other payment arrangements are encouraged to contact the Collections Group at collections@medicinehat.ca or phone 403.529.8113.



As previously announced, the following utility support measures were put in place, effective March 16, 2020:



• Disconnection warning letters and the related $20.00 service fee will be deferred for 90 days

• Utility disconnections will be deferred for 90 days thereby eliminating the disconnection fee ($58.50) and reconnection fee ($58.50)

• Customer overdue reminder notices will replace the disconnection warning letters asking customers to contact Customer Service for special payment arrangements (no fee associated)

• Utility arrears transferred to property tax accounts (and $40.00 service fee) will be deferred for 90 days



These measures are in alignment with the Financial Support announcement made by the Alberta Government on March 18, 2020.



Residents are also advised of recent telephone scams: the City is not making phone calls threatening disconnects and asking for credit card information. Do not give credit card information as the City is not conducting these calls. If in doubt, phone Customer Service.



Remember the four C’s: Calm, Cautious, Courteous, Compassionate.

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For media inquiries, please contact:



Public Information Officer

City of Medicine Hat

403.548.9675