As a Santa Clara resident, I rely on our city’s utilities to provide essential services like electricity, water, sewage, and recycling. Over the years, Santa Clara has made paying these utility bills quicker and easier through online payment systems, autopay programs, and more.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll outline the various ways locals can pay Santa Clara utility bills. Whether you prefer the ease of digital payments or need more personalized service, there is an option for you. Read on to learn how to simplify utility bill management!
Overview of Bill Payment Options
Santa Clara offers residents several ways to pay monthly electric. water sewage and recycling bills
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Online – Fast and secure payments through a web portal
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AutoPay – Automatic bank account deductions on due date
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Phone – 24/7 pay-by-phone line with live support
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Mail – Traditional paper check payments sent by mail
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In-Person – Pay at Santa Clara City Hall downtown
This range of options provides flexibility based on your needs and preferences, And most payment methods are completely free to use!
Benefits of Paying Online
For maximum convenience, I recommend Santa Clara’s online bill pay. Here are some key advantages:
It’s Fast
Online payments post instantly, so you don’t need to worry about due date delays.
It’s Secure
The online portal utilizes top-level security protocols to protect your information.
It’s Paperless
Go green by ditching paper bills and opting for e-bills instead.
It’s Accessible
Pay anytime, anywhere with an internet connection on your desktop or mobile device.
It’s User-Friendly
The online portal has an intuitive, easy-to-use interface. Perfect for bill pay beginners!
Step-by-Step Guide to Paying Online
Ready to start paying Santa Clara utility bills digitally? Here is a simple walkthrough:
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Visit www.santaclaraca.gov
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Click on “Pay My Bill”
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Click “Pay Without Registering”
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Enter your Santa Clara account number
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Select your utility provider and input payment amount
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Enter credit/debit card details and billing address
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Review payment summary and submit
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Receive instant emailed confirmation
And just like that, your utility bill is paid online in minutes! Sign up for paperless billing to go completely digital.
Seamless AutoPay Option
For the ultimate bill paying convenience, I love using Santa Clara’s AutoPay program. This links your utility account to your bank account to automatically deduct payments on the due date each month.
To enroll, simply complete the AutoPay form on the city website. Provide your Santa Clara account details and bank account information to get set up.
Then relax knowing your utility bills will be paid on time, every time without you lifting a finger. It doesn’t get easier than that!
Assistance is Always Available
One thing I appreciate about Santa Clara Utilities is their outstanding customer service. If any questions or issues come up regarding your bill or payment options, their team is ready to help:
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Online – Request support using the online contact form
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Phone – Call (408) 615-2300 to speak with a representative
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In-Person – Visit Santa Clara City Hall at 1500 Warburton Ave
No matter how you opt to pay your monthly charges, you can feel confident knowing Santa Clara Utilities has your back.
Choose the Right Solution for You
Santa Clara offers a range of bill payment choices so locals can pick the option that best fits their needs. I recommend trying the fast and easy online bill pay portal or setting up seamless AutoPay deductions.
But you also can’t go wrong mailing a check or dropping by City Hall if you prefer more personalized service. However you choose to pay utilities, Santa Clara makes the process quick and convenient.
Visit santaclaraca.gov today to explore your bill payment options. Simplifying utility bill management is just a few clicks away!
How do you Sign up for Utilities?
What are my payment options? You can pay by check, Credit Card, Money Order, Cashiers Check Equal Pay: Residential customers can now take the guesswork out of budgeting for your utility bill. With hot summers and cold winters, sometimes it is hard to predict what your utility bill will be each month. With the Equal Payment Plan, the bill is figured by taking the prior 12-month actual charges to calculate the new average for the equal pay amount. Your meter will continue to be read each month. This plan has three requirements.
- You must have 12 months of history at the current utility location.
- Your account must be current.
- You authorize Santa Clara City to debit your checking account for the monthly equal pay amount.
If you would like to participate in the Equal Monthly Payment Plan, please click the following link, (form tab) or contact the City at 435-673-6712 and request an application, or applications are available at our offices located at 2603 Santa Clara Drive.
Water Base fee – Base fee helps to cover the fixed costs to the city’s water company, such as pumps, storage facilities, and distribution system. It covers the water system (city’s water pipelines and distribution of water) to the city’s customers.Water Consumption – Accounts for the water used and is added on top of the Water Base Fee. The city has a tiered water rate system, which increases in cost the more water that is used. Various sized meters will have multipliers added to the meter to track the consumption. Your typical ¾” residential water meter has a multiplier of ten, meaning you take the consumption usage figure and times it by the multiplier to get the total gallons used for the billing-cycle. The Washington County Water Conservancy District passed a 10 cents per 1,000-gallon water rate increase effective July 1, 2022. This increase has been built into the newly adopted tiered water rate structure. This new tiered water rate structure was adopted in part to encourage water conservation, but at the same time keeping rates competitive for indoor water use.
| BASE RATE | $37.25 | # OF GALLONS |
|---|---|---|
| 0-9000 Gallons | 1.05 | per 1,000 gallons |
| 9001 – 16000 | 1.58 | per 1,000 gallons |
| 16001 – 23000 | 1.83 | per 1,000 gallons |
| 23001 – 30000 | 2.58 | per 1,000 gallons |
| 30001 – 36000 | 3.23 | per 1,000 gallons |
| 36001 & Up | 4.53 | per 1,000 gallons |
| MONTHLY BASE CHARGE | ||
|---|---|---|
| METER SIZE | RATE | # OF ERU’S |
| 5/8 x 3/4″ & 3/4″ | $37.25 | 1 |
| 1″ | $62.85 | 1.8 |
| 1 1/2″ | $133.25 | 4 |
| 2″ | $229.25 | 7 |
| 3″ | $517.25 | 16 |
| 4″ | $933.25 | 29 |
WCWCD Excess Water Use Surcharge Santa Clara has approved the Conservancy District’s increase in the Excess Water Use Surcharge for new connections to the District’s regional system connecting on or after January 1, 2023.
Washington County Water Conservation District In addition to existing water rates, beginning January 1, 2023, fees for high water use will be assessed to users who exceed a monthly water use threshold. The monthly water use threshold is based on the date the user’s impact fee was paid. Users who paid an impact fee on or prior to December 31, 2022 will be assessed $1 per 1,000 gallons for excess use while users who paid an impact fee on or after January 1, 2023 will be assessed $10 per 1,000 gallons for excess use. The collected fees will fund conservation initiatives. Click here for details.
Excess Water Use SurchargeIn addition to existing water rates, beginning January 1, 2023, fees for high water use will be assessed to users who exceed a monthly water use threshold. The monthly water use threshold is based on the date the user’s impact fee was paid. Users who paid an impact fee on or prior to December 31, 2022 will be assessed $1 per 1,000 gallons for excess use while users who paid an impact fee on or after January 1, 2023 will be assessed $10 per 1,000 gallons for excess use. The collected fees will fund conservation initiatives.
| Thresholds for Residential Connections | |||||
| Date | Water type* | Winter (Dec-Feb) | Spring (Mar-Apr) | Summer (May-Sept) | Fall (Oct-Nov) |
| Impact fees paid on or before December 31, 2022 | Potable only or potable with secondary | 36,000 gallons per month | 36,000 gallons per month | 36,000 gallons per month | 36,000 gallons per month |
| Impact fees paid on or after January 1, 2023 | Potable only | 8,000 gallons per month | 15,000 gallons per month | 20,000 gallons per month | 15,000 gallons per month |
| Potable with secondary | 8,000 gallons per month | 8,000 gallons per month | 8,000 gallons per month | 8,000 gallons per month | |
*Potable water is treated to drinking water standards. Secondary water is untreated water used for irrigation purposes.
| Thresholds for Non-Residential Potable Connections | |||||
| Meter Size | Monthly Threshold | ||||
| 3/4″ meter | 36,000 gallons per month | ||||
| 1″ meter | 80,000 gallons per month | ||||
| 1.5″ meter | 260,000 gallons per month | ||||
| 2″ meter | 420,000 gallons per month | ||||
| 3″ meter | 850,000 gallons per month | ||||
| 4″ meter | 1,400,000 gallons per month | ||||
| 6″ meter | 2,600,000 gallons per month | ||||
| 8″ meter | 4,200,000 gallons per month | ||||
Current Fee: $1.75
Wastewater is used water. It includes substances such as human waste, food scraps, oils, soaps and chemicals. In homes, this includes water from sinks, showers, bathtubs, toilets, washing machines and dishwashers. Businesses and industries also contribute their share of used water that must be cleaned.
Current Sewer Rates: Residential – $26.05 Commercial – $32.65
How many cans do I get and how do I request them? Residential waste service includes up to 2 waste containers and 1 recycling container if in an area serviced by curbside recycling. Please refer to the lid of the BluCan container to help our program be successful and keep costs low. Additional containers are available for an additional service fee upon request by calling our office at 435-673-2813. For new residences needing cans, or to have your cans repaired or replaced, call our office or fill out this form.
List of Recycling Materials Accepted:Aluminum cans Cardboard – i.e.: packaged food boxes, shipping boxes, etc. (No greasy boxes) Mixed paper – i.e.: Junk mail, magazines, paper bags, and paper packaging, etc. Plastic #1 and #2 – i.e.: Water bottles, milk jugs, detergent bottles, etc. (Hint: look at the bottom of the container for a number 1, 2, … located inside the recycling symbol.) (No plastic bags) Steel food cans – i.e.: tuna fish cans, #10 food storage cans, etc. Please do not place your items to be recycled in bags, they should be placed directly in the Binnie or in the BluCan recycling container as separate items! Glass – Should only be taken to the Binnies and not be placed in the BluCan container!!!
Location of Recycling Bins: Gubler Park – Southeast Corner Parking Lot
The City Will Begin Accepting Utility Payments Through Drive-thru Window
FAQ
What is the phone number for Santa Clara Electricity?
If your power outage isn’t on the list, please fill out this form or give us a call at 408-615-5640.
Who provides electricity in Santa Clara CA?
How do I pay in Santa Clara?
You can call 408-615-2300 at any time of the day or night to pay with a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover credit card. Pay with a check or money order made out to the City of Santa Clara. Mail your payment to the address below.
Why is Santa Clara a good place to start a business?
The City has owned and operated its own electric, water and sewer utilities for over a century. Businesses have moved to and grown in our community thanks to low utility rates and high service standards. Rules, regulations, rates and fees adopted by the Santa Clara City Council.
How do I use the city of Santa Clara ACH payment option?
For the City of Santa Clara’s ACH Enrollment Form to be used as a payment method, it must be fully filled out and processed by the City of Santa Clara. It is necessary to agree to email the City of Santa Clara on the day of the transfer in order to use this payment option.
What is a Santa Clara utility bill scam?
Scammers are calling people in Santa Clara and asking for cash, credit card, or gift card payments on their utility bills. In some cases, residents have also been asked for personal identifying information, such as their social security number. This is a scam.
Does Santa Clara have an excess water use surcharge?
The Conservancy District has been given permission by Santa Clara to raise the Excess Water Use Surcharge for new connections to the District’s regional system that happen on or after January 1, 2023. Starting January 1, 2023, people who use more water than a certain amount each month will have to pay extra for it on top of the regular rates.
How do I pay my utility bill online?
We now offer online bill payment. It’s fast and easy. After you have created your “My Utilities Account: Login and select Billing from the top menu bar. Choose “Automated Payments” from the drop-down menu. Check the “Pre-Authorize Payments” box. Select either the “Credit card plan” or “Bank plan” payment option, depending on your preference.
