Billing Information

There have been many inquiries regarding why the Hooksett Sewer Commission does not accept credit and debit cards for payment on-line or over the phone. The Sewer Commission does not accept these forms of payment because of the fees involved. Each transaction incurs a fee to the Sewer Commission, and those fees will have to passed on to our customers. The Commission has just raised rates substantially for future loan payments, and it will not raise them again for a service not all it's customers would truly benefit from.

According to an article in the February 3, 2010 Union Leader, Rising interchange, or "swipe fees", charged by credit card companies are affecting small businesses across the country. An owner of a Shop N Save in Bristol NH states that since 2005, the swipe fee he is charged by credit card companies has gone up 50 percent”. He has little choice but to pass the cost onto customers. *

In these economic times the added costs for such a convenience is just not feasible to an entity as small as the Hooksett Sewer Commission. Customers can set up payments to be sent from their bank accounts to the Sewer Commission. The payment comes as a check to the Commission, and therefore is not an automatic payment, but will be sent usually within 2 days to us.

We hope this explains why the Sewer Commission is not accepting these forms of payment. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office.

* Gretyl Macalaster, "Rising Sweep Fees Hurt Small Businesses", NH Union Leader, 2/3/10

RENTS

Residential:    $33.00
Commercial:   $53.00
Industrial:      $83.00

USAGE CHARGES

$5.60 per thousand gallons water used (ex. 10,000 gallons usage = $56.00)

  • BILLS CANNOT BE PAID ONLINE AT THIS TIME
  • Bills are sent out the first week of January, April, July & October
  • Payment is due within 30 days of bill date
  • Accepted forms of payment – Personal Checks, Bank Checks, Money Orders & Cash (only at window) NO DEBIT OR CREDIT CARDS
  • Usage Dates – Please note, the Sewer Commission uses water department readings to determine usage. Sewer Commission bills are NEVER current, but always one quarter behind water bills. (ie. Sewer Commission January (Qtr 1) bills are for usage from July to October, NOT October to January).
  • Property owners with wells are charged 20,000 per quarter unless owners put in a well meter (at their expense). Readings are given to the Sewer Commission by the home owner quarterly. If you believe that you do not use 20,000 gallons, but do not want to install a meter on your well you can request a gallonage reduction from the Sewer Commissioners. HOWEVER, the Commissioners will most likely only approve applications for reduction if you are over 55 and/or 2 or less residents live at the home at all times. Fill out the Well - Gallon Reduction Request Form and send to Commissioner for Review.

  • What is the "RENT" charge? The rent charge is the quarterly charge for being hooked up to the sewer. It is the base charge like any other utility charges besides usage, but the NH State Statutes define it as RENT, and therefore that is put on the sewer bills. You are NOT renting any equipment. Any billing inquiries can be directed to hooksettsewer@comcast.net

Policies

  • Failure to receive a bill does not exempt customer from late fee
  • Accounts with checks returned for insufficient funds will incur a $25 fee. If there are two checks returned within one billing year, the Sewer Commission will no longer accept personal checks for payment.
  • At the end of each CALENDAR year, any unpaid balances on accounts are turned over to the Hooksett Tax Collector and will be added to the property tax bill.
  • UNPAID BALANCES ARE NOT CARRIED FORWARD AND WILL NOT SHOW ON THE FOLLOWING YEAR'S BILL
  • A properly installed and inspected deduct meter must be in place to receive any credits for outside watering (see deduct meters).

Change of Address

  • If you move, but still own the property, you MUST contact the Hooksett Sewer Department and provide a forwarding address to ensure your bill is received in a timely manner. No late fee will be waived due to delays in forwarding mail. If you reside elsewhere part of the year you must also contact the Sewer Office when you leave and give the correct address to forward mail to, and contact the office again when you return to town. Again, late fees WILL NOT be waived if no notice is given.

Final Bills

  • If the property is to be sold, please make sure you contact the Hooksett Sewer Commission and the water department that services your property (if applicable). Any unpaid sewer bills STAY WITH THE PROPERTY, not the former owner, and to ensure that new owners are not burdened with bills that are not their own, a final bill must be ordered. Both Central Hooksett and Village Water District personnel will inform the Sewer Department of a final reading. However, those on Manchester Water will need to call in the reading on their final water bill to the Sewer Department Office so a final sewer bill can be processed. MANCHESTER WATER DOES NOT INFORM US WHEN PROPERTY CHANGES HANDS.

Tenant Bills

  • Owners of rental properties must receive a copy of their sewer bills, even if their tenants pay utilities. This ensures that the owner knows payments are being made, and if any unpaid balances are going to be turned over to the Tax Collector. Copies of bills can be sent to tenants for them to pay. Tenant finals can be done when renters move out, just contact both the water and sewer departments when service in your renter's name should cease.

PLEASE NOTE:

The most that can be deducted from your bill without a meter installed is 10,000 gallons.