 NCTCOG is pleased to introduce a new Shared Services program to assist cities in providing their residents with protection against the high cost of broken or leaking utility lines. In response to local entities’ interest in a service line warranty program, NCTCOG issued a RFQ among four leading utility line providers. The review committee, comprised of five NCTCOG member cities representing various populations within our region, unanimously selected Utility Service Partners, Inc. (USP) as the preferred service provider. Last fall, USP teamed with the National League of Cities (NLC) to create the NLC Service Line Warranty Program. USP has been endorsed by NLC is an NLC Enterprise Program partner.
On January 27, 2011, the NCTGOG's Executive Board voted to adopt a shared services agreement with USP to allow member cities to participate through an interlocal agreement. Participation by each city is strictly voluntary.
Residents who have not set aside money to pay for an unexpected utility line repair now have an opportunity to obtain a warranty that will provide repairs for a low monthly fee, with no deductibles or service fees. The work is performed by licensed, local plumbers who will call the customer within one hour of filing a claim. The repair is performed professionally and quickly, typically within 24 hours. USP provides a personally staffed 24/7 repair hotline for residents, 365 days a year.
Once your city has approved the Interlocal Agreement with NCTCOG, start up is simple and requires very little of your city employees’ valuable time. The following steps are necessary to participate in the program.
- Execute a one-page contract provided by USP
- Approve the recommended press release (this is designed as a general notice to reduce resident confusion and calls to the city with questions)
- Approve the campaign letter provided by the USP Marketing team
- Access monthly reports via the web
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