How To Pay Your City of Winston-Salem Utility Bill: A Comprehensive Guide

Paying your utility bill to the City of Winston-Salem is easy when you know all your options. As a resident you want to avoid late fees and service disruptions. I’ll explain the ways to pay your water sewer, and other utility bills so you can choose what works best for you.

The City of Winston-Salem provides water sewer stormwater, and sanitation services to residents and businesses. They make paying your utility bill quick and convenient through several methods.

Online Bill Pay

The fastest way to pay your utility bill is online through the City of Winston-Salem website. Here are the steps:

• Go to the City of Winston-Salem Utilities website.

• Click on “Pay Water/Sewer/Stormwater Bill Online Now.”

• Enter your 7-digit account number and 4-digit PIN found on your paper bill.

• Choose whether to pay by credit card or electronic check.

• Enter your payment info and submit.

Online bill pay allows you to avoid mailing delays or driving to an office. You can pay anytime from your computer or mobile device. It takes just a few minutes to process the payment and update your account.

One major benefit of paying online is setting up automatic payments. This ensures your bill gets paid on time each month without you having to do anything. Read on for details on auto pay.

Automatic Bank Draft Payments

The most convenient way to pay your utility bill is by enrolling in automatic bank drafts. This automatically pays your bill each month directly from your checking or savings account.

To enroll in auto pay:

• Print out the Automatic Draft Authorization form from the City of Winston-Salem website.

• Fill out the form completely and include a voided check.

• Mail the form and void check to the address on the form.

Once enrolled, the total amount due will be drafted from your bank account each month on your bill due date. You’ll still receive paper bills for your records.

Automatic drafts ensure you never miss a payment or incur late fees. It’s one less bill you have to remember to pay manually. The funds are deducted each month without any effort on your part.

Paying by Mail

If you prefer to pay your utility bill through the mail, here are tips for ensuring proper processing:

• Use the remittance envelope provided with your paper bill. It allows the payment to be automatically applied to your account.

• Include a check or money order payable to City of Winston-Salem. Make sure your account number is written on the payment.

• Do not send cash payments through the mail.

• Mail your payment at least 5 business days before the due date to avoid late fees.

• Use the mailing address printed on your remittance envelope for payments:

City of Winston-Salem
Revenue Collections
PO Box 2756
Winston-Salem, NC 27102-2756

Mailing your payment allows several days for the City to receive and process the payment. Avoid delays by mailing early before your bill due date.

Pay by Phone

You can quickly pay your City of Winston-Salem utility bill over the phone using your credit or debit card.

To pay by phone:

• Call either 336-727-8000 or CityLink 311.

• Provide your 7-digit account number and 4-digit PIN from your bill.

• Enter your credit card information for payment. Visa, Mastercard, and Discover are accepted.

Paying by phone is fast and convenient when you don’t have time to mail a check or pay online. Just be sure to have your account number handy to complete the payment.

Pay in Person

You can pay your utility bill in person at either of these City of Winston-Salem offices:

Bryce A. Stuart Municipal Building
100 East First Street, Suite 121
Winston-Salem, NC 27101

This location has a drive-through open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. A 24-hour drop box is also available outside the building. Payments left in the drop box after 8am or on weekends will be processed the next business day.

Black-Phillips-Smith Government Center
2301 North Patterson Avenue
Winston-Salem NC 27105

This office is open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm for walk-in payments.

When paying in person, you can pay by cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card. Be sure to bring your utility bill or know your account number.

Paying in person allows you to take care of your bill same-day without relying on the mail. You’ll receive a receipt as proof of payment.

Avoid Late Payments

It’s important to pay your utility bill by the due date each month. Here are some tips for avoiding late payments:

• Mark your due date on your calendar so you remember when payment is due.

• Enroll in automatic bank drafts to ensure on-time payment.

• Mail your payment at least 5 business days early.

• Pay online or by phone up until 11:59pm on the due date.

• If facing financial hardship, call the City immediately to set up a payment plan.

• If you cannot pay the total amount due, pay as much as possible to reduce late fees.

Paying late will result in a 10% late charge added to your bill. If still unpaid, a $20 late fee is added and service may be disconnected. Avoid penalties by paying on time every month.

Payment Plans

If you are struggling financially, the City of Winston-Salem offers payment plans for utility bills. This breaks your balance into smaller installment payments over several months.

To qualify for a payment plan:

• Call 336-727-8000 or CityLink 311 before your bill is past due.

• Pay at least half of the past due balance immediately.

• Payment plans are 3-6 months and are interest-free.

• Monthly installments and new bills must be paid on time.

Payment plans prevent service disruptions. But new charges and bills are still due as normal. Stay current on your installments and ongoing bills to avoid late fees.

Deposits

If your service is disconnected due to nonpayment, a deposit may be required to restore service. Here is how utility deposits work:

• Residential customers are required to pay a minimum $50 deposit if their average bill is below $50.

• All other customers must pay a deposit equal to 1.5 times their average monthly bill.

• Any past due balances must be paid first before service is restored.

• Deposits are due in full on your next utility bill.

• Deposits accrue interest and are credited back after 1 year of on-time payments.

Deposits ensure payment for customers with poor payment history. Pay on time consistently for one year and your good payment record will speak for itself.

Moving In or Out

When moving into or out of a home or apartment in Winston-Salem, you must transfer or stop utility services.

To start new service:

• Contact CityLink 311 at least 3 days before your move-in date to request service.

• Provide your move-in date and new address.

• A deposit may be required based on your payment history.

To stop existing service:

• Notify CityLink 311 at least 3 days before your move-out date to close your account.

• Provide a forwarding address for your final bill to be sent.

• Service will be disconnected on your move-out date.

• Any account balance must be paid in full.

Notifying the City on time ensures proper starting or stopping of services. Update your account information to avoid paying for service at a home you don’t live in.

Monitor Your Usage and Bills

You can monitor your utility usage and bills through the City of Winston-Salem website:

• View consumption history to track your usage over time.

• Set usage alerts to be notified of abnormal spikes.

• View and print current and past bills for recordkeeping.

• Make one-time payments on your account.

• Go paperless by enrolling in e-bills through the site.

Keeping tabs on your usage and bill payment is easy online. Access your account dashboard anytime to get details about your City of Winston-Salem utilities.

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