CITY OF THOMASVILLE
MARKETING DEPARTMENT
P.O. Box 1540 · Thomasville, Georgia 31799 · Telephone: (229) 227-7001 · FAX: (229) 227-3366
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Greg Lawrence
229.227.4051
CITY OF THOMASVILLE’S ON-BILL FINANCING PROGRAM SEES GREAT SUCCESS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY
THOMASVILLE, GA – May 31, 2011– Since January, the City of Thomasville’s new On-Bill financing program has achieved great success by boosting spending power to qualified Thomasville Utilities customers and putting money into the local economy.
The On-Bill financing program began as a $200,000 venture into 0 percent financing for the City of Thomasville. It has since developed into an almost half-million dollar increase to the local community’s spending power, giving many customers the means to go forward with plans to make efficiency upgrades to their homes.
“The On-Bill financing program afforded me the opportunity to perform two large upgrades to my home; the installation of a new air conditioning unit and a new washing machine,” said Sunny Gay, Client Relations Manager with TNB Financial Services. “Since I participated in the On-Bill financing program and completed the upgrades to my home, my water and electric bills have decreased 50 percent. If the City did not offer this program, I would not have been able make these upgrades.”
Once the program received the “green light” from the City Council at the end of 2010, the On-Bill financing program began executing loans in January of 2011. Since the program’s commencement, 87 loans have been granted, averaging approximately $4,375 per loan. This has translated into increased business for local retailers and contractors.
“This program is beneficial to our community in two ways; it has helped to pump money into our local economy which has boosted business to local retailers and contractors and it is enabling our customers to make their homes more energy efficient, allowing them to lower their monthly utility bills,” said City of Thomasville Utilities Credit Manager Ricky Duncan.
The On-Bill financing program is funded by the Department of Energy through the Georgia Environmental Finances Authority. This program allows the City of Thomasville to collect loan payments through its customers’ monthly utility bills. These loans are given to qualifying customers who wish to purchase energy efficient appliances and upgrades to their homes.
For more information about the program or a list of qualifying appliances and upgrades, call 227-7001.
###