The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities is transitioning its official online presence to the www.JamestownNYBPU.gov domain as of Monday, March 2.

The change is another step the utility is taking to enhance its cybersecurity and protect customers.

New York municipalities and public power entities such as the BPU are converting to .gov domains to comply with state legislation requiring towns with populations over 1,500 to do so. The shift increases security, reduces phishing risks and certifies the site as an official government entity.

Moving to a .gov domain will provide several benefits, including increased trust and enhanced security for customers and improved public recognition as an official government website with official government email addresses.

“A .gov domain immediately signals that a website or email is official and legitimate,” states BPU General Manager Kristofor Sellstrom. “Because .gov domains are reserved for verified U.S. government organizations, it becomes more difficult for malicious actors to create fake websites or email addresses that impersonate government entities, thereby reducing the risk of phishing attacks and fraud.”

A .gov domain makes it easy for the public to identify and access official information and services. The .gov domains are subject to specific security protocols and requirements, including multi-factor authentication and encryption, which further protect data and systems.

“My Account” pages on the www.JamestownNYBPU.gov website allow customers to schedule additional garbage collections, pay bills, monitor usage, request a recycling calendar, request a new recycling bin and/or garbage container, request business development information and schedule a yard waste bag collection. Landlords can authorize a property manager to access the account and verify a renter as a customer. It is recommended that BPU customers sign up for free portal access to save time and trips to BPU customer service.