Apex (NC) to Resume Utility Late Fees and Shutoffs as Delinquent Balances Top $6 Million
Town will restart penalties July 1st and phase in service disconnections beginning in September, ending multi-year pause on enforcement across electric, water, and sewer accounts
Apex, NC, Apr. 29, 2026 — Apex is preparing to restart utility late fees and resume service disconnections this summer as more than $6 million in unpaid customer balances continues to weigh on the town’s billing system. The move marks a return to standard enforcement after a multi-year pause tied to billing disruptions, system changes, and meter upgrades that left penalties and shutoffs largely suspended.
Town data shows about $6.1 million in balances more than 30 days past due, including approximately $4.4 million that has remained unpaid for more than 90 days, spread across 4,405 customer accounts out of more than 30,000 active utility accounts. Those figures reflect the combined impact of deferred enforcement and lingering account issues that developed during the town’s transition to a new billing system and infrastructure upgrades.
The current system differs significantly from how utility billing typically operates. Apex is not charging late fees on overdue accounts and has not been disconnecting service for nonpayment, even when balances have accumulated over several billing cycles. That approach is now shifting back to a standard model, where missed payments trigger penalties and, if left unresolved, eventual service interruption.
Under the timeline presented to Town Council, late fees will resume July 1st, applying a 1.0% charge to outstanding balances one day after the due date. Accounts that remain unpaid and reach at least $500 in combined charges and fees would become eligible for disconnection, with the first round of potential shutoffs beginning September 22nd for customers in the town’s first billing cycle. Additional cycles would follow on a staggered schedule based on billing dates.
The enforcement process is structured to include multiple layers of notification before service is interrupted. Customers would receive at least two written notices and two automated calls, along with updated bill messaging, targeted outreach, and online account alerts. The town is also expanding communication through its website, social media, and direct outreach to customers with larger balances.
Disconnections themselves would vary depending on the services tied to an account. Customers with electric service could see remote shutoffs initiated through the town’s system, while others may require in-person service interruption by utility crews. Water and sewer service may also be affected depending on account configuration, reflecting the town’s combined utility billing structure.
To provide flexibility, Apex is continuing to offer deferred payment arrangements, allowing customers to spread delinquent balances over up to 12 months. Customers enrolled in those plans would not incur late fees as long as both their current bill and payment plan amount are paid on time, providing an alternative path to avoid penalties and disconnection.
Town officials framed the decision as a balance between customer support and fiscal responsibility, noting that utility services operate as enterprise funds that depend on customer payments to remain financially stable. “We want to support our customers, but we also want to provide proper financial stewardship for the town’s resources,” Finance Director Jon Griffin said during the presentation.
The scale of the delinquent balances has also drawn attention from residents, particularly regarding broader town finances. One resident questioned whether taxpayers would ultimately bear the burden, saying, “We’re going to have to… pay… to pay for the people that haven’t paid their utility bills.” Another resident noted that the $6 million in delinquent balances is roughly equivalent to about three cents on the town’s property tax rate, underscoring the size of the issue in budget terms.
For residents with overdue accounts, the next several months represent a transition period before enforcement fully resumes. Late fees will begin in July, while disconnections will not start until late September, creating a window for customers to bring balances current or enter payment plans before facing service interruption.
The return to standard billing practices signals the town’s effort to stabilize its utility system after several years of disruption, while also reestablishing expectations around payment and enforcement. How quickly the outstanding balance declines and how residents respond to the renewed policies will likely shape the town’s financial outlook in the months ahead.