Household Services

ENERGY SMARTS

Your Own Utilities offers several Energy Smart Plus (e+) energy conservation programs for homes and business, including: • Free energy audits • Loans for energy-efficient appliances and systems • Grants for ceiling insulation • Rebates for solar water heating • Rebates for natural gas or ENERGY STAR appliances • Rebates for high-efficiency heat pumps and air conditioners

HOUSEHOLD SERVICES

CITY UTILITIES

SERVICES

The City of Tallahassee Utilities, also known as Your Own Utilities, offers its customers a full range of utility services. These include electric, water, wastewater, stormwater, natural gas and solid waste services, as well as a successful recycling program.

As a national award-winning public utility, Your Own Utilities is dedicated to protecting and enriching the quality of life in the Tallahassee community while providing reliable utility services, environmental leadership and customer service excellence. Through its Energy Smart Plus (e+) initiative, the City provides numerous products and services to help customers save energy, water and money. Free energy audits, ceiling insulation grants, appliance rebates and energyefficiency loans are just a few of the many options available.

GOING SOLAR

Electric utility customers with the City of Tallahassee now have the option to have either a portion or all of their monthly electric bill powered by solar energy. There are three participation levels customers can choose from: 25%, 50%, and 100%. The rate for Tallahassee Solar is 5 cents per kilowatt hour, in lieu of the normal fuel charge. This will be the fixed rate for the next 20 years. For more information, visit Talgov.com/ YOU/solar.aspx.

INQUIRIES

Customers can call (850) 891-4YOU (4968) for all utility information. Customer service representatives are available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Sunday (with emergency service available 24/7). Utility account information is available anytime through an interactive voice system and on the web through e+ Online, an innovative, easy account management tool. Hearing- and speech-impaired customers can contact Teletype services at 711. Online services are available at Talgov.com/YOU.

STARTING/CHANGING SERVICE

Requests to start, stop or transfer services can be made by going to Talgov.com/YOU. Customers also can use the interactive voice system at (850) 891-4YOU (4968) to transfer or stop utility services, get account information and request free energy audits. Written requests for residential utility services can be mailed to: Utility Customer Service, 300 S. Adams St., Box A2, Tallahassee, Florida 32301. The customer’s name, address and Social Security number, along with the date of connection or disconnection, should be included with the request. In-person requests can be made at Utility Customer Service on the first floor of the Frenchtown Renaissance Center, 435 N. Macomb St. A photo ID is required.

DEPOSITS

Deposits are required for each utility service and can be billed over the customer’s first three months’ utility bills. Deposits will be returned after three years if the customer maintains a good payment record or when the account is closed. In addition, a letter from the customer’s previous or current utility company indicating at least two years of service with a good payment record may eliminate any deposit requirement. This letter should be presented with the request for service.

Service connection fees apply to utility accounts that are new, transferring or reconnecting after being disconnected for nonpayment.

BILL PAYMENTS

Utility bill payments can be made several ways, including online, through the DigiTally mobile app, in-person at the Frenchtown Renaissance Center and at remote payment sites located conveniently throughout the city. Your Own Utilities also offers free electronic billing through the SmartBill, which is sent via email. The SmartBill provides a quick, free One-Click payment option.

Other automated options include a bank draft program; an automated phone payment option; a quick-pay online option for those wishing to make a payment that day; and a phone payment option at (877) 765-8189. With the latter, customers will be connected to Western Union Speedpay’s automated phone payment system, managed for the city of Tallahassee. Payments can be made using a customer’s checking or credit card

MOSQUITO CONTROL

Leon County offers free residential property inspections to help determine where mosquitoes are breeding and how to stop them. If you have standing water, such as ponds or pools, Mosquito Control will treat it with larvicides to prevent mosquitoes from hatching. Inspections, prevention and treatments are free to residents. Citizens may request to have their address not sprayed during normal operations. Call (850) 606-1400 for more information.

account. Transactions over the phone are subject to the Western Union transfer fee.

In-person payments can be made at the cashier’s window at the Frenchtown Renaissance Center, located at 435 N. Macomb St., weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Remote payment locations and operating hours can be found by visiting Talgov.com/YOU or by calling (850) 891-4YOU (4968).

SOLID WASTE

Your Own Utilities provides solid waste services for all residents who live inside the city limits. Solid waste crews collect garbage and recycling once a week at the curb; yard waste and bulky items are collected every other week. Schedules and information on solid waste services are mailed to customers once a year. Charges for solid waste service are included on the customer’s monthly utility bill. Customers can view their pickup schedule or report a missed pickup by visiting Talgov.com/ YOU or by calling Utility Customer Service at (850) 891-4YOU (4968).

HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE

Rolling garbage containers are provided to residents for household garbage disposal. If utility customers don’t have a garbage or recycling container at their home, they can call 891-4YOU (4968) to request one to be delivered.

Garbage is collected once a week at curbside. Customers’ containers should be at the curb no earlier than the day before the scheduled collection day and should be at least 3 feet away from obstacles such as mailboxes or shrubbery and away from low-hanging lines. Garbage containers must be removed from the curb no later than the day after service.

Non-hazardous and non-recyclable materials should be placed in garbage bags before being put in the container.

Customers with medical/physical limitations who are unable to roll their garbage container to the curb can apply for Helping Hands Service at no additional charge. Back-door garbage and recycling premium services may also be purchased in accordance with the established rates. To apply for either service or for more information, call 891-4YOU (4968) or visit Talgov.com/YOU.

RECYCLING

The City of Tallahassee makes recycling convenient. No sorting is needed, and all plastic, glass, metal and cardboard can be placed together in the recycling container. Recyclable items include plastic containers holding less than 3 gallons, metal cans, glass bottles, newspapers, magazines and cardboard. Plastic bags and Styrofoam are not recyclable.

To avoid bugs and odors, cans, bottles and jars should be rinsed out. Crushing containers and breaking down boxes will increase the amount of material that will fit into the recycling container. For a complete list of recyclable items and a list of where to recycle items that don’t go into the container, visit Talgov.com/YOU.

Recycling is scheduled for pickup every week on the same day as garbage pickup. Containers should be at the curb no earlier than the day before the scheduled collection day. The container should be placed so that it is at least 3 feet away from obstacles such as mailboxes or shrubbery and not located under low-hanging lines. The recycling container must be removed from the curb no later than the day after service to prevent a safety hazard.

Customers with medical/physical limitations who are unable to roll their container to the curb can apply for Helping Hands Service at no additional charge. To apply for this service, call (850) 891-4YOU (4968) or visit Talgov.com/YOU.

YARD WASTE

Yard waste is scheduled for pickup from the curb every other week according the customer’s Red/Blue week schedule. Yard waste includes grass clippings, pine straw, leaves, twigs, small limbs and shrub trimmings. If placed at the curb off schedule, it will be picked up on the next scheduled collection day. Customers may request a special collection to have waste removed prior to the scheduled collection day for a fee.

Items should not be loose; they should be in heavy-duty plastic or paper trash bags or cardboard boxes. Limbs and trimmings that can’t be bagged should be stacked in piles no higher than 4 feet. The maximum size of limbs is 6 feet long and 4 inches in diameter. Larger items should be properly disposed of by the customer or scheduled for a special pickup by calling (850) 891-4YOU (4968). If a special pickup is requested, the fee for collection will be added to the customer’s utility bill.

BULKY ITEMS

Bulky items are scheduled for pickup from the curb every other week according the customer’s Red/Blue week schedule. Bulky items are those that are too large to fit in the garbage barrel and are not yard waste. These include furniture, mattresses, bicycles, appliances, swing sets, lawn furniture, barbecue grills and plastic pools. If placed at the curb off schedule, they will be picked up on the next scheduled collection day. Customers may request a special collection to have waste removed prior to the scheduled collection day for a fee.

Hazardous waste items that cannot be collected as bulky items include car batteries, paint cans still containing paint, tires and electronics. Other hazardous waste can be taken to the Leon County landfill’s household hazardous waste center. Electronics can be donated to Goodwill or placed at the curb for pickup on Thursday of the customer’s scheduled week.

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GETTING IN TOUCH

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