Newport City Hall

The city’s Department of Utilities will waive all interest and late fees for October and November utility bills after a processing error caused some customers to see incorrect account balances, officials announced Tuesday.

A payment batch was inadvertently posted twice in October during manual processing as the department transitions away from its legacy billing platform. While the issue was corrected, it occurred after October bills had already been generated, causing some customers to receive statements showing inaccurate balances.

Both October and November bills are now due Nov. 28, with updated balances reflecting the corrections. The city said it will continue waiving penalties until the billing cycle is fully stabilized and will provide customers at least 30 days’ notice before resuming any interest or late fee charges.

Customers enrolled in autopay should note that both October and November payments will be drafted on the Nov. 28 due date unless they suspend autopay through their online accounts. Department staff are available to assist residents who need help with that process.

The department said it offers flexible payment plans for customers who need assistance and recognizes some households have experienced financial pressure during the transition.

Notices explaining the adjustments were included in customer bills and posted online. Customers with questions may contact the Billing Office during regular business hours.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...