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Utility Billing

Show All Answers

1. What are the requirements for new water, sewer and garbage service?

Come to the Utility Billing Department no later than 11:00 am of the day you want the service started, fill out a contract and pay the deposit and connect fee. Inside city limits, the charge is $100 ($80 deposit and $20 non-refundable connect fee). Outside city limits, the charge is $150 ($120 deposit and $30 non-refundable connect fee). Deposits cannot be added to the first month’s bill. You must pay up front before service can be provided.

2. How soon do I need to call in to get water service?

You may come to the Utility Billing Department anytime up to 11:00 am of the same day you want service.

3. Can I pay my bill by credit card?

Yes, via phone or internet, through Official Payments, Inc. at www.officialpayments.com The company accepts Master Card, Discover, and American Express. The company charges a 4% convenience charge. Phone: 1-800-272-9829. The code is 6126.

4. Why is my water bill so high?

We must go by the readings on the meter to calculate your charges, so all we can do is suggest common problem areas for you to check, such as: Sprinkler systems: They use more water than most people think. You can read your meter anytime to keep up with your usage. If it is set to come on during the night, read the meter before you go to bed, then again the next morning before anyone uses any water to see how many gallons were used. Multiply gallons times $3.25 per 1,000 gallons. (5000 gallons = $16.25) Commodes: Sometimes they do not shut off automatically and this can run a lot of water through it while you’re away. (Silent leak – described below.) Leak in the line from meter to house: Sometimes a wet spot does not show on top of the ground because most of Hewitt is on a rocky terrain and the water can go down into the ground.

5. How can I tell if my toilet has a silent leak?

Remove the cover to the tank part of the toilet. Drop 3 – 4 drops of food coloring (blue, red, or green) in the tank. Wait 5 – 10 minutes. If the food coloring appears in the bowl of the toilet, then you have a leak.

6. How can I tell if I have a leak?

Make sure no one in the house is using water, like dishwashers, showers or washing machine. Go out to the meter. On the meter will be a small pea sized circle with a blue or red triangle in it. Watch this triangle for 5-10 minutes and if it moves, you have a leak.

7. Can a payment plan be worked out if I had a leak?

Yes, by calling and working with the utility billing staff, arrangements can be worked out to get the bill paid off in a timely manner.

8. How can the meter reader read my meter if there is so much dirt on it?

Mother Nature has her way of covering up meters by the wind blowing, ground shifting, rain and even mowing your yard. The meter reader does not necessarily have to wipe off all the dirt in order to read the meter. Remember, they are trained and do this on a daily basis.

9. Why do the billing periods have more days in some months and less in others?

Some months have 31 days and when a month has five Fridays, there are extra days in the billing period, but you will only be billed twelve times per year.