Average Monthly Payment (AMP)
About
The Average Monthly Payment (AMP) Program does not reduce the total amount you pay for utilities. Instead, it spreads your utility payments evenly over a 12-month period to help avoid large fluctuations in your bill due to seasonal usage changes.
This free program is available to all City of Flandreau residential customers. Eligible customers may enroll in AMP by meeting the program requirements and agreeing to the terms and conditions.
Process
The Deputy Finance Officer calculates your AMP amount by averaging your last 12 months of utility bills. A $5 rounding cushion is then added, and the total is rounded to the nearest whole dollar
Example:
| Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| 12-Month Utility Total | $3,024.23 |
| Monthly Average | $252.02 |
| Rounding Cushion | $5.00 |
| Total AMP Payment | $257.02 |
| Recommended Budget Amount | $260.00 |
Now What?
Participants pay their recommended AMP amount (or a higher amount if desired) for 11 months.
In the 12th month (the "settle-up" month), the account is reviewed:
- If you have paid more than your actual usage, you’ll receive a credit.
- If your usage was higher than estimated, you’ll owe the difference.
After the settle-up month, the average is recalculated for the next 12 months, and a new recommended budget amount is provided.
Delinquent Accounts
Accounts that become past due will be charged a 10% late fee.
If a customer receives two late notices, they will be removed from the AMP program.
At that point, the customer must pay the full account balance by the disconnect date, unless a Promise to Pay Agreement has been arranged.
How to understand your AMP Billing Card