ON MOBILE DEVICES AND TABLETS, THIS APPLICATION WORKS BEST IF THE DEVICE IS TURNED IN A LANDSCAPE POSITION.

Please complete and submit the following information to establish your City of Gastonia or Two Rivers Utilities Account at least two (2) business days before your new utility service is needed:

Requirements for new service:

• City of Gastonia/Two Rivers Application - completed with basic information for the primary applicant, and any co-applicants, as well as the location where service is being requested.  

• Identification - required for the primary applicant and any co-applicants.  A clear photo or image of a valid U.S. issued photo identification or completed Identity Verification Form, found on the City’s website under the Utility Customer Service tab, may be used to meet this requirement.

• Proof of Legal Occupancy - copy of lease agreement or proof of ownership where utility service is being requested.

• Contact Phone Number - please provide a valid daytime phone number where you may be reached in case there are questions or issues that need to be addressed prior to establishing your service.

• City Accounts – please note that all City of Gastonia accounts for the applicant and any co-applicants must be current before new service can be established.

• Deposit – customer may also be required to provide a deposit for utility services unless one (1) of the following can be provided:

• Two (2) current written credit references from any creditors or one (1) credit reference from a utility company with at least twelve (12) months of current credit history.  Credit references must be in the same name as the applicant and must state that there have been less than three (3) delinquent payments during the 12-month period.

• Personal Guaranty - if a commercial customer requests that a deposit requirement be waived on the basis of personal credit history with an existing City of Gastonia utility account, he or she shall sign the Utility Service Agreement both as an officer of the business and as an individual, thereby personally guaranteeing the debt.

Deposit amounts vary, based on the utility services available, but are based on two times the average bill amount for the service location and must be paid in full before services are connected. If the service location is new and has no current utility history, or if there has been a change in business type from the previous customer, the Finance Department will use a similar type business to calculate the deposit amount.

Note:  If the deposit requirement amount exceeds $2,000.00 for a new non-residential customer, a surety bond payable to the City of Gastonia, valid for a period of two (2) years, may be accepted. 

Please note that all documentation must be received before services can be connected.  If additional information is needed, an email will be sent from billing@gastonianc.gov with details.  Please check your spam folder or add this email to your allowed senders list.

Submitting your application:

In addition to submitting your application, along with the necessary attachments online through our secure encrypted application, you may also return them to the Customer Service Division as follows:

• Mail to City of Gastonia Customer Service, PO Box 1748, Gastonia, NC  28053

• Deliver in person to the Customer Service Division located on the first floor of the Garland Business Center, 150 S. York Street, Gastonia NC  28052

Please note that we do not recommend returning the information to us via email or facsimile (FAX) due to the sensitivity of identifying personal information included.

Below is required information that is pertinent to establishing, or being a co-applicant of, a utility account with the City of Gastonia or Two Rivers Utilities.  This information is considered by the City of Gastonia to be confidential and is encrypted to keep it secure and separate from basic account information, which may be placed on public record for the purposes of collecting a debt.  In accordance with the Identity Theft Protection Act, as shown below, it is unlawful to place certain identifiable information on documentation that may be placed on public record.

THIS COMPLETED FORM, OR CO-APPLICANT FORM, ALONG WITH PROPER IDENTIFICATION, MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION FOR UTILITY SERVICE THE PRIMARY APPLICANT AND ANY OTHER CO-APPLICANTS ON THE ACCOUNT.

Providing your Social Security Number (SSN) is not mandatory to have utility service with the City of Gastonia but is required if you want to submit your application securely online and/or be eligible for other services such as online account access and payment arrangements.

If you decide not to provide your SSN, you will need to apply in person with the Customer Service Division located on the first floor of the Garland Business Center, 150 S. York Street, Gastonia NC 28052.

Please upload below a clear image of your U.S. government issued photo identification or completed, signed and notarized Identity Verification Form below.  

Acceptable forms of identification include driver's license, passport, identification card, military ID, permanent resident or resident alien card.  Employer work badges or personal photos cannot be accepted.

If you need to access the Identity Verification Form to print and complete, click here:  

There is a 250MB limit on each attachment.

IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION ACT

NCGS §132-1.10(d)

No person preparing or filing a document to be recorded or filed in the official records of the register of deeds, the Department of the Secretary of State, or of the courts that may include any person’s social security, employer taxpayer identification, driver’s license, state identification, passport, checking account, savings account, credit card, or debit card number, or personal identification (PIN) code or passwords in that document, unless otherwise expressly required by law or court order, adopted by the State Registrar on records of vital event, or redacted...

Any person who violates this subsection shall be guilty of an infraction, punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each violation.

The entire Identity Theft Protection Act is available online at:

https://ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/ByArticle/Chapter_75/Article_2A.pdf

Please note that your service request date is based on your application and the lease or purchase agreement provided.  It is the customer's responsibility to notify the City of any changes to dates or location to which you are moving.  Otherwise, you will begin being billed for services on the date and location originally specified.

Notice

Online Utility Exchange provides City of Gastonia credit and past utility information to determine the amount of the deposit required. Deposit amount depends on information furnished by Online Utility Exchange and this amount must be paid in full before utility service is supplied to the location.  This deposit is non-transferable, non-interest bearing, and will not be considered as part payment of any bill where service is continued.  Proof of ownership or a copy of your lease must also be provided at the time of application.

The City of Gastonia asks that individuals provide your Social Security number and business entities provide your federal tax identification number as a part of your application for utility service.  The request for an individual customer’s Social Security number or an entity’s Federal Taxpayer Identification Number is authorized by Section 105A-3(c) of the North Carolina General Statutes.  Individual Social Security numbers and business federal tax identification numbers collected by the City’s Billing and Customer Service offices may be used to check credit worthiness for purposes of establishing the amount of required deposit, to confirm identity of the customer, by means of matching the number with information found in the City’s databases, or to determine whether the customer qualifies for additional services such as payment arrangements or online account access.   They may be released to the State of North Carolina for use in the Debt Setoff program or other governmental agencies or their agents.  It may also be released to private debt collection agencies for the purpose of collecting debts owed to the City.  Access to personal information such as identification, Social Security number and bank account information are only accessible by authorized City personnel for purposes outlined above and general account maintenance.

If any individual decides not to provide their Social Security number as part of your application, you will still be provided utility services.  However, you will be required to apply in person, pay a deposit for utility services and certain services offered as a courtesy by the City of Gastonia, such as payment arrangements and online services, may not be available to you.

I hereby make application for utility services with the City of Gastonia/Two Rivers Utilities at the service location indicated above and certify that the information provided is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.  In requesting utility service, I accept full responsibility for any charges, fees, penalties or other obligations incurred by this account, regardless of service location.  I also agree to abide by all present and future rules and regulations of the City of Gastonia that may apply to my utility service. 

Click here for additional rules and regulations in Gastonia City Code Chapter 14 - Utilities