Phone Number:
(409) 787-2251
Fax Number:
(409) 787-2259
E-mail:
cityhall@cityofhemphill.com
Mailing address:
PO Box 788, Hemphill, TX 75948
Physical address:
211 Starr St, Hemphill, TX 75948
Utilities
The City welcomes you as both a citizen and utility customer, and we take pride in providing the best utility services and other city services in an efficient manner.
If you would like to establish new residential or commercial services with the city, our new account forms can be downloaded and completed by clicking on the links below.
The City of Hemphill does not assess a property tax and receives no revenue from property taxes. The City receives the majority of its revenue by billing for the following utility and other citizen services:
- Water,
- Electricity,
- Natural gas,
- Waste water also known as Sewer, and
- Garbage service.
The City of Hemphill owns all of its municipal utilities listed above, and, as such, the city obtains revenue from these utilities and from general sales and use tax. The City uses a contractor for garbage services. Depending on the services at your particular location, you will receive a bill each month for each service, all on one bill. If you think you may need a dumpster at your location, then you can call our offices for pricing and to make your request.
The billing period is usually anywhere from the 7th-16th of the of the previous month to the 7th-16th of the current month, depending on when your meters are read by our meter reading personnel. The bills are mailed out during the last week of the current month and are due on the 10th of the following month.
(For example: If your billing period is 10/7/2019-11/08/2019, your bill will be mailed out during the last week of the November 2019. It will be due on 12/10/2019, and if it is not paid by 4 pm on the 15th of the month or the Monday following the 15th of the month, in this case 12/16/2019, then a $30 late charge/fee is added. If your bill is not paid by 4 pm on 12/20/2019, then your services will be disconnected. There is no late fee added for residential customers over the age of 60, but you must contact our office to let us know if you are over age 60.)
See our Utility Billing Payment and Extension Policy, which is posted on our website.
TIPS AND OTHER INFORMATION REGARDING CITY UTILITIES:
- Any metered service can be reread, if requested, just call our offices.
- Our utility billing clerk compares your usage every month for each metered service to your historical usage, and if the clerk assesses that it looks too high, then the clerk requests a reread.
- Electric Meters—Electric meters typically slow down if they are malfunctioning. If you suspect that your electric meter is malfunctioning report it to our offices. You can request to have your meter tested. We will then replace/swap your meter and send the first meter off for testing. If the tested meter is found to be defective, there is no charge; however, if the meter is tested, and it is determined that it is NOT defective, then there is a $25 charge for testing.
- Water Meters—Water meters typically slow down if they are malfunctioning.
- Gas Meters—if you smell gas in your home, on your property, around your gas meter or suspect that something may be wrong, contact our offices immediately. Our personnel will be dispatched to do a leak test. The City is NOT allowed to come into your home to light pilot lights.
- Water tips—If you are filling a swimming pool or if you have a water leak under your home or in your yard that does not go into the sewer system, the City can adjust your sewer bill. For pools, read your meter before and after you fill it and bring the readings to our office with the date listed also. For water leaks under your house or in your yard, we can base the sewer adjustment on your average water usage. Please note that if your toilet is leaking, then that goes into the sewer and cannot be adjusted. Sewer usage is based on water usage. Also, a leaking toilet can use a great deal of water in a month, so check your toilets frequently. One way to check for a leak is to place food coloring in the tank. If the color seeps through before you flush it, then you have a leaking toilet. This means you will need to replace the interior parts of the tank.
If ANY meter stops functioning, we will estimate your usage based on your historical usage or the usage at that location, depending on how long that you have been a customer at that location.
