Living in Florida’s beautiful Manatee County comes with the responsibility of paying monthly utility bills for essential services like water, sewer, and solid waste disposal Luckily, Manatee County offers a convenient online payment system to view statements and pay bills digitally in just minutes
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the process of setting up an online account with Manatee County Utilities reading your utility bill, understanding the various charges and submitting payments by phone, online, or mail.
Overview of Manatee County Utilities
Manatee County Utilities provides water, sewer, and solid waste services to over 115,000 residential and commercial accounts across Manatee County.
Some key facts about the utility:
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Supplies drinking water to over 300,000 residents
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Maintains over 1,600 miles of water mains
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Operates 7 major water treatment plants
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Manages 8 wastewater treatment facilities
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Provides trash, recycling, and yard waste collection
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Runs a state-certified laboratory for testing and monitoring
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Uses advanced metering technology for accurate tracking of usage
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Offers online account access and bill pay
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Available by phone and email for customer support
Understanding your Manatee County utility bill is the first step to monitoring your usage and costs.
Reading and Understanding Your Bill
Manatee County utility bills arrive by mail or email each month and include charges for water, sewer, and solid waste services. Here are the key sections to review:
Account Summary – Shows previous balance, payments received, and the total now due for all services. Compare your current charges to the same month last year.
Meter Readings – Lists meter ID number and the read dates and usage amounts for water and sewer. Check that your usage aligns with your actual household activity.
Charges – Breaks down the total billed for the period into itemized charges for each service: water, sewer, solid waste, etc. Review definitions of each fee in your bill insert.
Messages – Highlights any account alerts, rate changes, or customer notifications. Don’t miss important updates!
Billing History – Tracks your utility payments and balances month-to-month so you can spot usage spikes or billing errors.
Carefully checking your utility bill each month can help you stay on top of costs and catch any irregularities early.
Different Fees on Your Utility Bill
When looking at your Manatee County utility bill charges, you may notice fees for services beyond just water, sewer, and solid waste. Some additional charges include:
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Water Base Charge – Covers infrastructure and maintenance costs and is a fixed monthly fee.
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Water Usage Charge – Variable fee based on the actual amount of water consumed each month. Check for leaks if this is abnormally high!
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Sewer Charge – Fixed monthly fee plus usage charge based on your metered water consumption.
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Solid Waste Charge – Varies based on the size of your trash and recycling bins. This monthly fee covers collection and disposal.
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Stormwater Fee – Helps fund drainage systems and stormwater management programs. Based on a property’s impervious surface area.
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Franchise Fee – Applied to utility revenue as payment to the county for right to access public rights-of-way.
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Taxes – Utility bills are subject to sales, communications, and local option taxes. Shown as percentages of charges.
Understanding what the different fees and taxes pay for can help you budget and manage utility costs.
When and How to Pay Your Utility Bill
Manatee County utility bills are sent out at the beginning of each month, with payment due by the end of the month.
You have multiple options to pay your utility bill on time:
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Online – Log into your account anytime and pay by credit/debit card or e-check. You can also set up autopay.
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By phone – Call the automated payment line at 941-782-8811 and pay with a card.
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By mail – Send a check or money order to the address listed on your bill. Allow 5-7 days for delivery.
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In person – Bring cash, check, or card to the Utilities Customer Service desks at any county location.
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Drop box – Place your payment in the secure lockboxes at designated county offices.
Setup alerts for due dates so your utility bill never gets lost or paid late! Late fees apply to balances not paid after the due date.
Applying for Manatee County Utility Assistance
If you are having trouble paying your utility bill, Manatee County offers programs to help qualified residents:
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Payment extensions – Get more time to pay your balance if you contact them before the due date.
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Payment arrangements – Set up a monthly installment plan to pay your bill over an agreed timeframe.
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Leak payment adjustments – You may qualify for a 1-time bill credit due to an abnormal water leak.
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Low-income assistance – Limited credits are available for customers below 150% of federal poverty level.
Call Manatee County Utilities as soon as possible if you anticipate difficulty paying your full bill. They can discuss options to avoid service disruptions.
Managing Your Online Utility Account
Manatee County offers a convenient online portal for customers to access billing history, make payments, view usage, set up alerts, and more.
Follow these steps to create your online account:
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Get your new account number from your latest bill or welcome letter.
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Go to www.mymanatee.org and click on “Pay Utility Bill Online”.
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Select “Sign Up Now” and enter your account details.
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Verify your email and create a password.
Once your account is created, you can log in anytime to pay bills, check meter readings, update contact information, and go paperless. This gives you 24/7 access and control over utility account management.
Pay On Time and Stay Connected
Manatee County offers a range of payment options, from automatic bank drafts to mailed checks to in-person cash payments. Find the method that fits your needs. And take advantage of online account tools to track your utility costs and get alerts for upcoming bills.
If you ever face difficulty paying on time, be sure to contact Manatee County Utilities right away to ask about assistance programs or payment arrangements. With a few simple clicks online, you can keep your utility account current and avoid any service disruptions.
LOBBY CLOSED TO PUBLIC
The Utilities Lobby is closed to the public. A walk-up Drop Box is located on the north side of the Administration building. Payments may also be made by any of the methods on the BILL PAYMENT OPTIONS page. All other business may be conducted over the phone, including opening new service. Call (941) 792-8811.
Not sure what to do with something? Unincorporated Manatee County has started a new solid waste center. It’s also possible to sign up to get this newsletter: For more information please visit www. mymanatee. org/wastewizard.
How can we help you? |
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Contact Utilities at (941) 792-8811 and use the following extensions from 8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. for your specific issue:
After normal business hours, report emergencies through the (941) 792-8811 number by choosing option 8. Transferring of Non-County Utility Systems: Ext 5278
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New water/wastewater rates effective June 1, 2024
New water and wastewater rates go into effect on all bills rendered on or after June 1, 2024. Visit our rates page for further details.
Manatee Answers for You; How to pay your water bill
FAQ
How do I pay my manatee utilities by phone?
You can pay your bill over the phone with a MasterCard or Visa, or you can use your checking or savings account. Dial (833) 425-2099 to pay by phone. Make sure you have your new Manatee County Utility account number, bank account number, or credit card number ready.
What is the electric company for Manatee County?
What is the emergency number for Manatee County Utilities?
How do I pay my Manatee County utility bill?
Dial (833) 425-2099 to pay by phone. Make sure you have your new Manatee County Utility account number, bank account number, or credit card number ready. You can drop off payments at a walk-up drop box at the locations below. Please keep in mind that payments made at the following location will not show up in your account for 3 to 5 days because they are being processed.
Does Manatee County pay with a checking or savings account?
Paying using checking or savings account will remain free of charge for our Utilities customers. Customers in Manatee County can now use their Customer Self-Service to ask for rebates, rain barrels, and many other things. Questions?.
How do I pay my utility bill online?
Complete the Account Contact Info section to stay up to date with the latest information on your account. Add Address: Enter your mailing address. Add Phone Number: Enter your phone number. Add Email Address: Enter your email address. As long as you already have a Customer Self Service (CSS) account, you can pay your bill online through CSS.
How do I Activate my utilities account?
Account ID: Type in your new Utilities Account Number, like 100XXXXXX. You can find this number on your welcome letter or on your next bill. Activation Code: Type in the eight-character activation code that you found in your welcome letter (for example, A1B2C3D4) or on your next bill. section to stay up to date with the latest information on your account.
How much does it cost to pay a utility bill?
If you choose to pay using a credit or debit card, there will be a $2. 50 processing fee with a maximum amount of $500 per transaction. Paying using checking or savings account will remain free of charge for our Utilities customers.
