Frequently Asked Questions

All customers must apply in person for all services. Homeowners will need to bring a copy of proof of ownership, and Renters will need to bring a copy of their rental agreement. Also, you will need to bring an item of identification, such as a driver’s license and/or social security card. 

As a homeowner, you can go to the Lauderdale Assessor Website to lookup your property. Simply print and bring this document as your proof of ownership, or you can bring a copy of your deed.

Customers may request to apply by fax or email due to extenuating circumstances. Please print and fill out the Customer Application & Customer Agreement, then call our office at (731) 635-1212.

When applying for utility service and an outstanding bill from a previous address exists, the entire amount due must be arranged to be paid, before the new application will be accepted. Finally, each customer is required to put up a deposit as a part of the application process. We will turn on service the same day, if the application was accepted before 4:00 p.m.

Residential Meter Deposit Information:                                     

Gas Deposit $100
Water Deposit $75
Sewer Deposit $75
Connection Fee $20

For Business or Industrial Deposit Information, please call our office at (731) 635-1212. 

It is recommended Customers discontinuing service will do so in person. However, if they choose to do so over the phone, they must give us their Driver’s License Number and/or Social Security Number.

The customer’s deposit will be applied to the customer’s final utility bill. As a friendly reminder, it is the responsibility of the customer to give notification to the Ripley Gas, Water & Wastewater Department when to discontinue service, in order to protect yourself from any additional utility fees.

All meters are scheduled to be read normally on the 20^th of each month. Depending on your billing cycle, your bill is due on the 15^th or the 23^rd. A 10% penalty is added to any unpaid amount normally the day after for example 16^th or 24^th depending upon your billing cycle. 

If the customer feels there has been an error made on their utility bill, or otherwise questions or disputes the amount of the bill, the customer should discuss the situation with one of our Customer Service Representatives by calling out office at (731) 635-1212. 

If the customer does not feel satisfied after the discussion with the Customer Service Representative, the customer may discuss the problem with the Billing Supervisor, Office Manager, or Utility Superintendent. 

It is the customers responsibility to contact Ripley Gas, Water & Wastewater Department, if they have not received their bill. Failure to receive a bill does not waive penalty or fees.

The bill must be paid in full before 7:30 a.m. on the delinquent date shown on your reminder notice. If bill is not fully paid by said time, the account will be charged a $30.00 overdue processing fee, and subject to disconnection.

Only before the delinquent date, customers can request the following payment arrangement: Pay ½ of the current balance now, and pay the other half within 7 days. Customers cannot make an arrangement after the delinquent date.

Pay arrangements will be approved month to month, if the customer does not break the agreement. If the customer breaks the payment arrangement agreement, no other arrangements will be allowed for the current year, and the customers services are subject to disconnection.

As a note, all payment arrangements must be signed by the person whom is shown on the billing account to be collected.

If a customer has at least two returned checks from your financial institution, a third check will not be accepted as payment. The payment must be in cash, by cashier’s check, or by money order in the utility billing office. You will be charged a fee of $25.00 dollars for processing the first returned check and $50.00 dollars for processing the second returned check. If payment is not received before the delinquent date, the utility service is subject for disconnection.

If a customer has documentation showing they are drawing Social Security, we will move them to our social security billing cycle due date, the 5^th of each month. The Collections Department will normally apply an overdue processing fee to all Social Security accounts that are not paid in full before 7:30 a.m. on the 6^th of the month.

When the collector arrives at the location for which the disconnect order was issued, the collector is required only to disconnect the utility service, and cannot take payments onsite. The entire past due balance and overdue processing fee must be paid before utility services will be restored.

In some cases, payment arrangements are made when there are hospital emergencies, etc. These case emergencies must be approved by the Office Manager or Superintendent. 

If the reconnection is made after regular office hours and standby personnel must be called out to make the reconnection, the customer must pay the past due balance, overdue processing fee, and a $40.00 after-hours fee by 10:00 am the following work day or utility service will be disconnected.  

Customers typically pay their bill with cash, check, credit card, or money order in our office during normal operation hours. However, we are now offering a convenient way to pay your bill online along with the ability to view payment history as well as usage—head over to My Account to learn more about how to set up an account and start paying your bill online! We also offer automatic drafts and bill leveling. To better serve our customers, we currently do not charge any additional fees for using your credit card online, in office, or by phone. And finally, if you cannot pay your bill in person or online, please mail your check or money order to P.O. Box 26, Ripley, Tennessee 38063 or drop your payment in our night drop located at our Drive Thru Window.