Town of Wellesley, Massachusetts - Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
How do I report a streetlight is out?	You may email the Line Supervisor Jim Verner at jverner@wellesleyma.gov or you may call the substation during regular business hours at 781-235-7600 extension 3390. Pole numbers are located about six feet from the bottom of the pole and are very useful to have when you call in the outage.
Can a person pay their bill at the WMLP website?	No, payments must be made either at the WMLP office at 455 Worcester Street, or via the mail with your remittance form.
I have my bills paid automatically from my checking account, why do you include the return envelope with my bill?	We recently purchased a new mailing machine that allows us to exclude the return envelope in cases where the balance of the account is less than >.01 or if the account is schedule for automatic withdrawal through our direct debit program. If you are still receiving an envelope please contact Suzanne Newark at snewark@wellesleyma.gov
May I pay my utility bill by credit card?	We do not offer credit card payments at this time. Direct Debit, cash or check maybe used to pay your utility bill.
What is an average bill?	The average residential electric bill in Wellesley is for approximately 950-kilowatt hours for average cost of $121.07.
How do I get the utilities in my name?	In order to establish an account for electricity in the Town of Wellesley and Application for Utility Service must be completed and if you are a renter a Security Deposit will be required. Please see the “Are you Moving?” section of the website.
How do I transfer the name on my account?	A final reading will need to be set-up and a final bill produced. Please call the WMLP at 781-235-7600 to do so.
How far in advance do I need to call when scheduling a final reading of my electric and water meters?	A final reading should be set up one to two weeks prior to you moving out. If you are selling your home then the final bill will be ready for you to pay the day after you or your agent schedule the final reading. Appointments are set up between 8 AM and 10 AM and again from noon time to 2 PM Monday through Friday. Our busiest times for final readings are the end of May and beginning of September (when the colleges change over) and the end of June once school is done. At these times please be sure to call ahead in order to schedule the appointment.
Can I write one check for my taxes and my utility bills?	No. You should pay each bill separately and be sure to include the remittance slip for each payment. You can use one envelope to mail the payment to the processing center.
Can I go to the Town Hall to pay my bill?	Yes. Town Hall will accept payments, and will interoffice the payment to the WMLP. Please allow for the extra days in processing. For your convenience, there is a locked payment box at the Municipal Light Plant located at 2 Municipal Way which is just off Route 9 next to the Fire Station. The payment box is to the right of the staircase under the lamppost payments may be dropped off here at anytime.
Why is my bill so high?	Electric consumption varies from household to household. As of August 2009, the electric rates to WMLP customers is approxiamately 46% less than those charged to customers in surrounding towns. To see ways to save on your consumption please see the energy consumption chart under the “Conservation” section of this website.
Can I get the requirements to upgrade my electric service on-line?	Yes. Please go to “Service Upgrades” for all requirements.
Can I pay for my house service upgrades with a credit card?	No. Only cash or checks are accepted for service upgrades.
Can I apply on line for a service upgrade? Is there a fee?	Yes. You can download the Application for Service by going to the “Service Upgrades” or “Downloadable Forms” section of this website. There is no application fee, but there is a charge for the work. Those charges will be estimated by the WMLP’s Construction Engineer.
How is the amount of my Security Deposit determined?	The security deposit is required from all renters and commercial properties. The amount of the security deposit is based on the three highest months bills from the pervious five years of tenancy.
I didn't close on my house until the 1st why was it read the on the 27th of last month?	The first day of your bill is the last day of the previous owners bill. If they requested that the meters be read on the 27th then that is when the meters would be read.
Will you change my address to my winter/summer home?	Yes. We will be happy to change your mailing address, please call customer service at 781-235-7600.
What is the “demand” charge on my bill?	A demand charge applies to commercial customers and is defined under the Rate Tariffs section as “The Billing kW shall be the greater of the maximum fifteen (15) minute metered kW demand during the Billing Period or 90.0% of the metered kilovolt amperes during the Billing Period, but not less than 250 kW.”
When is my meter read? When is my bill going to be sent?	Meters are read at different times during the month. The schedule is based on the first number in your account number. The bills are produced approximately 3 business days after they are read. If your account begins with a: 1 – it is read around the 8 – 12th of each month 2 –it is read around the 12th – 15th of each month 3 or 5 –it is read around the 15th – 18th of each month 4 – it is read around the 22nd – 26th of each month Commercial accounts or those beginning with number 7 are read from the 28th or the month through the 3rd of the following month.
Why are there double utility poles and when will they be removed?	Double poles are created when the owner of the pole (either Verizon or WMLP) installs a new pole. The old pole cannot be taken away until all the services are moved to the new pole. This includes electric, cable and telephone. The WMLP is dedicated to moving our electric lines from double poles within 60 days of installation. We are also dedicated to removing the poles that we own within 60 days of when the other lines are moved.
When can I dig in the street?	The Town of Wellesley’s Department of Public Works (DPW) Engineering Division sets the dates for Street Opening Permits. Please visit the DPW section of Town of Wellesley website.