Setting up utilities in Lake Worth (Palm Beach, Lantana: city hall, rent, loans)

[NathanSmith]

So - I'm forgoing the blog idea - and will instead just append my experiences on this thread.

Well, we're official LW residents now. So far - so good. Neighborhood is great. Downtown is a blast. People are very friendly.

Utilities:

You must go in person to the LW utilities office at city hall. The office itself doesn't look much different than the booking room in a county jail. Really run-down and dirty.

LW utilities consist of: water, trash, sewer, recycling, and electricity. The final deposit money we had to come up with was $405. So be prepared for that.

You must turn off every single breaker in your house as well as shut off all water valves (behind the toilet, under sink, etc) or they won't turn your utilities on.

Customer service phone number is severely understaffed. Expect wait times of 20+ minutes. Better make sure you know exactly what you need when you get through.

The power has indeed gone off one time in the 2 weeks we've lived here. The entire downtown area went dark in the middle of a sunny day. Outage lasted about 2 hours.

Haven't gotten a bill yet. We'll see what that looks like.

Got a ridiculous letter in the mail yesterday from LW utilities. Something about providing easy access to our meters. The standout part of this poorly written form letter is a section that reads something like this: "Please put yourself in the meter reader's shoes and make your meters accessible or we'll just guess what your usage is and bill accordingly." Then there's a silly provision stated in the letter about safety of the meter reader being a priority and blah blah blah.

Here's the funny part - and I want to respond by letter actually - but am scared of getting black-balled. I'd like to say: "Put yourself in the shoes of the new resident - who just moved in and had utilities turned on for less than 10 days. Imagine walking around and not knowing where all your damn meters are - then finding them in the open, clear of obstructions and then getting this rude letter."

It was a truly asinine letter and smacked of a typical complaining bureaucracy. Way to further the stereotype, LW local gov't.

After being on hold for 30 mins with customer service - I gave up. I will keep trying though b/c I don't want to get their 'estimated usage' bill b/c some meter reader is too lazy to lift the latch on my backyard gate and walk in to do his/her job. My meters are 100% accessible. The only impediment would be the unlocked gate latch - and I'll be damned if that latch constitutes a threat to the safety of the reader! haha!

Anyhow - here's my first post. So far - sketchy. I hope it gets better. But the initial experience from the new resident perspective is created to make the resident feel like they're a burden and troublesome brat to the hard working municipal gov't workers.

Stay tuned for what the first bill looks like!

[jatazz830]

I am a former resident of Lake Worthless and all I can say is hold on for the ride!!!! Estimate your bill to be about $300.00-$400.00 during June-September. Lake Worth is and always be my hometown, but I am glad I got out.

[kjb131313]

Just get ready.....................I had one wall unit A/C that I turned on when I got home from work. My bill was still over $100 a month. I loved downtown LW and was a regular at Igot's and Brogue's etc but got tired of the undercover drug scene. It took me 2 years to realize just how much drug usage there was in downtown LW. Good luck.

[NathanSmith]

I have a question for the previous 2 posters: As I understand it - the utility bill is a one-stop bill that includes water, elect, sewer and trash. If that's the case - then 300-400 bucks isn't any different than what I paid in WPB after you add them all up. If that's not the case- and you get 2 or 3 separate bills - would you please let me know by replying to this thread?

Thanks

[rainroosty]

Been living in Lake Worth for 30 years. Never a problem, nice utilities office, best service and our electric bills are always very good. Highest bill ever was about $130, lowest about $70.

[LakeWorthExperienced!]

Hi NathanSmith! I have found your blog very interesting! My family and I have been in LW since 94' and we have seen so many changes for the better. Downtown is great, bonfires on beach etc..however the electric is high. We are a family of 4 and pay $400.00+ just for the electric. Last month we turned off hot tub..been hanging clothes outside on sunny days to try to bring it down, and it is still high. We are a 3 bdroom home, keep our air set at 78*. open windows at night. Our Lantana property that we rent has 4 people and electric is half. I plan on keeping up with your LW experience and I am sorry I had to laugh about your 1st 2 weeks here when you said your power went off etc..!! what a start! Good luck!

[NathanSmith]

Glad you liked the post, LakeWorthExp!

So, some time has passed. Here's what's happened:

power gone off just a few times. One time in the middle of a hot summer night - due to a pole mounted transformer exploding. However, the work crew was out within half an hour and worked most of the night and fixed it. That was really splendid.

My elec bill is truly outrageous. I'm like you, no matter what I seem to do to conserve electricity - my rate sticks at $400/month.

Sadly, I have had more than a few friends ask me about living in LW. After I'm done raving about how cool downtown is and how my little family "fits in" better here than elsewhere - they inevitably ask me about the electric bill. Then the truth comes out. Every single person who has personally asked me about living in LW can't move past the utility bill issue. 100% of them have decided to purchase a home outside of the city. If this doesn't get our city council's attention - I don't know what else will.

Commissioner elections are tough for me this year. I just need to know - plain and simple - which ones are going to actively work (and not just pay lip service) to lower our electric bills.

I could care less at this point about a revitalized casino building project, or whatever else politicians are promising to make LW bigger and better.

All they need to do is lower the electric bills. Sorry - this reply wandered off into a rant!

[LakeWorthExperienced!]

Hey NathanSmith!

I hear you..LW is such a nice place to live..I wish they would put the electric bill issue first as it is seems nobody I know, not even the single man who lives next door, can get their bill under $400+ !

Unfortunately, Suzanne Mulvehill won the election and she is the one who was quoted that "Lake Worth is a cash cow.. and you don't kill the cow". Also the Casino renovation project. UGH!! I am now very worried for the city! I really hope that they are for the people because I do love it here! Read these two articles from the Palm Beach Post..interesting...and lets hope for a bright future here in LW! Oops! I think I am ranting now! Whew!

Lake Worth City Commission: Suzanne Mulvehill, Christopher McVoy hold slim leads

Lake Worth unanimously approves contract to begin 1922 casino renovation

[NathanSmith]

I just forwarded the link to this entire thread to Commissioner Mulvehill and Mayor Varela at City Hall.

I hope they read it. Would be awesome if they respond.

Also - my electric bill is never below $400.

*sigh*

[LakeWorthExperienced!]

I truly hope it inspires our newly elected! Want to stay positive! Maybe I want too much for this town! Lower electric bill, code enforcement to hold people responsible for maintaining their properties...maybe the city can fine the rich "out of towners" who bought properties when the banks were giving loans to everyone, and who fail to maintain their properties! hmmm...

I have had the air off completely for the last week, turn off ceiling fans when I am not home, drying clothes outside as much as possible this month to see what happens! Stay tuned! On the positive side...bonfires on the 12th and 26th!