The Snohomish County PUD is experiencing a paper shortage. Customers who recently received mailed bills did not get a payment envelope. (The Herald)

The Snohomish County PUD is experiencing a paper shortage. Customers who recently received mailed bills did not get a payment envelope. (The Herald)

Envelope-less in Everett due to supply chain disruptions

City utility bills have arrived without a return envelope due to the shortage. The PUD faced a similar challenge in March.

EVERETT — If you received a utility bill from the city of Everett this week, you might have noticed something missing.

A return envelope for your payment.

It wasn’t a mistake. They didn’t have any.

There’s a shortage due to a disruption in the envelope supply chain, another consequence of the pandemic’s impact on labor and materials. Tuesday marked the first utility billing to go out without a return envelope.

“While we are doing everything we can to obtain more envelopes, it is unknown how long the envelope supply shortage will last or continue to affect Everett,” Kevin Barnes, Everett utility services supervisor, said in a statement posted on the city web site. “We appreciate our customers’ patience and ask for their help dealing with this inconvenience.”

Everett isn’t the first local government entity to encounter this challenge.

It hit the Snohomish County Public Utility District in February when its envelope vendor reported it couldn’t deliver the regular March shipment and it would be April before the next batch could be sent.

Officials called other vendors. No luck. They searched Amazon but came up empty for what they needed. It seemed everyone lacked paper products.

There are multiple factors. Mills scaled back operations during the public health crisis. As they ramp back up, there’s been high demand — and high prices — for source material such as wood pulp, according to an analysis prepared for Printing Industries of New England.

John Haarlow, the PUD’s chief executive officer, even tried Costco — to no avail.

“Unfortunately, standard store-bought envelopes don’t work,” Haarlow said in a video posted on the utility district website.

In response, the PUD, and now the city, stepped up efforts to get customers to go paperless by paying online, in person or by phone.

The utility district uses a lot of envelopes. On average, it mails out 12,500 bills a day. In March, those didn’t include a return envelope.

Not everyone needs one. Of the PUD’s 354,625 customer accounts, 154,067 do not receive a paper bill. That total includes 13,000 customers who have gone paperless since the district made the public aware of the envelope shortage.

Since February, the district is offering an incentive to switch — a $5 credit toward purchase of any energy-efficient product from the PUD Marketplace. The offer is available through the end of July.

There will always be customers who want to mail in their payment. And while the shortage may ease in the short-term, the district anticipates its return.

“We are so aware that this could come back up at any time,” district media liaison Kellie Stickney said.

Everett has nearly 29,000 active customer accounts and mails about 1,400 utility bills a day. In March, more than half paid by mail, with about 29% paying electronically, according to city figures.

City staff foresaw the shortage’s impact in March. They penned a pitch to switch to paperless in the city’s April newsletter. There’s no incentive program, however.

“By using the service manually or signing up for recurring online bill pay, you avoid the need for a paper envelope, save yourself the postage and you’re helping the environment,” it reads.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dospueblos.

Talk to us

More in Local News

Angelica Montanari and daughter Makena, 1, outside of the Community Health Center of Snohomish County Everett-Central Clinic on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Providers at Community Health Center of Snohomish County vote to form a union

Providers expressed hope for improving patient care and making their voices heard with management.

Granite Falls
Two suspects charged in motorhome shooting near Granite Falls

Bail was set at $2 million for each of the suspects, Dillon Thomas, 28 and David Koeppen, 37.

Logo for news use, for stories regarding Washington state government — Olympia, the Legislature and state agencies. No caption necessary. 20220331
Supreme Court rules state’s new capital gains tax is legal

The 7-2 ruling clears the way for collection of payments starting next month. The tax is expected to bring in $500 million a year.

NO CAPTION NECESSARY: Logo for the Cornfield Report by Jerry Cornfield. 20200112
A thumbs up for capital gains, kind words for the Senate budget

It’s Day 75. Here’s what’s happening in the 2023 session of the Washington Legislature

A residential home is demolished at what will be the site of a new Lake Stevens Library on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Sophia Gates / The Herald).
Site clearing begins for new Lake Stevens library

The initial work on Chapel Hill property brings dream of a new library closer to reality.

Rep. June Robinson, D-38
Schools, housing, salaries score big in Senate Dems $70B budget

The proposed spending plan also spends money to fight climate change, help abortion providers and study police pursuits

Dr. J. Matthew Lacy, Chief Medical Examiner for Snohomish County, answers preliminary questions from the state regarding his qualifications and experience as a medical examiner during the trial of Richard Rotter on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
At Rotter trial, debate breaks out over graphic autopsy photos

A judge ruled some close-ups of Everett officer Dan Rocha’s injuries could be used, while others were ruled out.

In this side-by-side image, the Totem Diner and Pacific Stone Company signs put on a flirty display for all to see Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Signs of love on Rucker Ave: blushing rocks, scrambled eggs, a coffee date

Messages on display on Totem Family Diner and Pacific Stone Co. signs reveal “secret crushes.” More updates expected.

Brenda Mann Harrison
Encounters with a tow truck driver and a dentist

The value of local journalism shows up in unexpected conversations.

Most Read