Only about 500 Sturgeon Bay Utilities customers are delinquent, less than usual for this time of year, but those who are, have debts piling up quickly. General Manager Jim Stawicki says the theory of quality over quantity can work in reverse.

Stawicki doesn’t have an answer to why the pattern is cropping up, except to say that for some people, if they do not have to pay, they won’t, and it is impossible to adjust that behavior. A utility shutoff moratorium is in place until at least October 1st. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission has extended the grace period twice already, including earlier this month. Stawicki says SBU is in better shape than many other public utilities across Wisconsin. Some systems are seeing as many as a third of their customers fall behind on payments.

Photo courtesy of SBU website.