In order to avoid additional fees, late penalties, and water service shut-off for non-payment, its important to know the “life cycle” of your bill and the key dates used to determine when your bill is considered unpaid or past-due.
If you ever have questions or concerns about your utility account, please contact Utility Services Customer Service at (912) 651-6460 or use our online contact form at www.savannahga.gov/customercontact.
Below is a table which shows when bills are due, when additional fees and penalties are added, and when the service shut-off period begins.
Paying your monthly water bill on time is important to avoid late fees, penalties, and potential service disruption. But life happens, and you may occasionally find yourself wondering just how late you can pay before facing consequences. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll overview key payment deadlines and late payment grace periods for water bills, using examples from major utilities.
Understanding Your Water Bill Due Date
Most water utilities issue bills monthly, with a due date around the 20th to 25th of the month. For example
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City of Detroit bills are due on the 24th of each month
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City of Savannah bills are due on the 20th of each month
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Mount Washington KY bills are due on the 15th of each month
It’s important to know your specific due date and mark your calendar. If you sign up for paperless billing, you can receive email reminders as well.
Grace Period Before Late Fees Apply
Most water utilities provide a grace period before applying penalties to late payments. Common grace periods include:
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5-10 days after due date
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Up until the next billing cycle
So if your bill is due on the 20th, late fees may apply starting the 25th or 1st of the next month. Detroit gives a 4 day grace period, while Savannah provides 10 days. Check with your provider.
How Late Until Water Shut Off?
If you miss the due date and grace period, water service will eventually be disrupted for non-payment. Typical timelines are:
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30 days past due date – Shut off warning
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45-60 days past due – Potential water service shut off
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Past 90 days – Water service disconnected
Again, specific details depend on your utility. Detroit may shut off after 60 days, while Savannah starts shut offs after 38 days past due.
Tips to Avoid Late Payments
To avoid fees and maintain service, be sure to:
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Know your exact due date, mark your calendar
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Pay online or via auto-pay for on-time delivery
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Sign up for bill reminders via email or text
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Contact utility immediately if late payment expected
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Learn about bill assistance programs if struggling
Can I Get an Extension?
If you cannot pay on time, call the water company immediately to explain and request an extension or payment plan. Options may include:
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One-time due date extension (rare)
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Payment plan spreading balance over 6 months
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Applying for bill assistance based on low income
Do not wait until after shut off occurs – contact them right away if you anticipate payment issues. Be proactive and take advantage of assistance programs if eligible. Most water providers want to keep service active and work with customers facing hardships.
Consequences of Late Water Bill Payment
Paying late can lead to:
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Late fees from 10% to $50+
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Shut off and restoration fees up to $125
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Disconnected service until balance paid
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Poor account standing and credit issues
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Liens against property for unpaid balance
Avoid these costly headaches by knowing due dates, paying on time, and contacting the utility with any issues. Responsible bill payment is key to maintaining water service.
Administrative Fee & Late Penalty
Why is there a $50 fee on my bill?
The $50 administrative processing fee is added when a bill is not paid within 18 days after its due date. The fee is for the cost of managing the delinquency process for past-due accounts.
Is this a cut-off fee? If so, why am I being charged the fee but my water is still on?
The administrative fee applies to all bills that are subject to water service cut-off, but it is not a “cut-off fee.” The fee is for the cost of managing the entire delinquency process, not just the service cut-off phase.
Will I be charged additional fees to restore my water service after I am cut-off and have paid my balance in-full?
There is no fee to reconnect water service.
Why is the City charging an administrative fee?
The administrative fee is designed to defray the cost of managing delinquent accounts—which includes the staff time and resources required to monitor delinquent accounts, as well as the cost for crews to manage service cut-offs and restorations.
It would be unfair to ask customers who pay on time to also pay for the cost of managing delinquent accounts, so the City has targeted penalties and fees which only apply to past due bills.
My bill is due soon and I can’t pay the full amount. Can I avoid the administrative fee and late penalty?
The $50 administrative fee can be avoided by entering into a payment arrangement before the initial due date on the bill. Late penalties will continue to be charged to any account with a delinquent balance, until the past-due balance is paid in full.
Where Can I Pay My Water Bill? – CountyOffice.org
FAQ
What happens if you pay utilities late?
At first, nothing may happen. However, if too much time passes, there may be late fees or shut-offs. Penalties can vary depending on the provider. Some providers may offer programs to help families afford electric bills.
Does paying water bill late affect credit?
If you pay your rent, utilities, and medical bills on time, they won’t affect your credit score because credit bureaus don’t report them. But if they’re very late or in collections, they’ll likely get reported and affect credit scores negatively.
What happens if I don’t pay my water bill in California?
A final disconnection notice will be sent if you don’t follow the terms of an amortization plan for 60 days or more, or if you don’t pay your current residential service charges for 60 days or more.
Can you pay your bills late?
If you don’t pay your bills on time, you might have to deal with late fees, higher interest rates, losing your car, your home going into foreclosure, and damage to your credit score, depending on the bill.
Will My Water Company turn off if I miss a payment?
Like most other utilities, your water company won’t turn off your water the day after you forget to pay your bill. Rather, you can likely miss two to three months of payment without losing service. That’s because many utility companies offer a two- to three-month grace period or even longer.
Can I get help paying my water bill?
Most utility companies offer assistance in paying for water bills. If you fall behind on your utility bills, there are ways to make them, and depending on your income, you may even be able to get help with your monthly water bills. Still, the only way to know is to ask, so don’t wait until you’re behind on your water bill.
What happens if I don’t pay my water bill?
Non-payment of your water bill is a big deal. There is a chance that you will be charged a late payment fee or sent to a collection agency. This can hurt your credit score because it will show up on your credit report. So contacting your water company before it comes to this can help avoid it altogether.
Do you have a hard time paying your water bills?
A study from 2017 found that about 1 in 12 Americans have trouble paying their water bills on time. This may come as a surprise to you. Researchers also hypothesized that the number of people with past due water bills could triple by 2022.
What happens if I miss a water bill?
Rather, you can likely miss two to three months of payment without losing service. That’s because many utility companies offer a two- to three-month grace period or even longer. If you don’t pay your water bill on time, you will probably get a letter in the mail telling you when you need to pay it or your water will be turned off.
Why should I pay my water and sewer bill?
Your water and sewer bill payments make it possible for us to keep the work going. Your continued payments make all the difference. Thanks to you, we can keep making critical improvements to upgrade our 100-year-old systems for all of us. Let’s continue to be that difference. If you need help paying your bill, we’re here to help.
