Common Questions about Utility Billing

The billing cycle is monthly for all customers.  

Payments are due 20 days from the bill date.

On rare occasions, a meter reading used to calculate a monthly utility bill is an estimated reading. If your bill contains an estimated reading, it will be indicated with an "E" printed next to the reading that is an estimate.

Sign up for E-Billing by registering through the Web Self Service portal.  Paperless billing provides an electronic version of your utility bill and is an exact replica of your paper bill.  Each month when your bill is ready to be viewed, you will receive a notification email.

Yes, you can make a utility payment using Visa or MasterCard online or by phone.

These payments post to your account real time and are convenient for most customers.

The City of Raleigh does not add any additional credit card fees to process these payments.

Yes.  Our AutoPay option does just that.  Go to our Online Services page to learn more, or if you are ready to get started just fill out and submit the online AutoPay Request form. 

A PDF version of the AutoPay Bank Draft Authorization form is also available, for customers who prefer to print the form, fill it out, and mail it to the Utility Billing office.

When establishing a new account, a $50.00 Service Initiation fee will be assessed for each address and each meter.

Apply for New Service

The Service Initiation Fee is waived for landlords who have registered the property with Utility Billing's Landlord Program.  Note:  The Landlord Authorization Form must be submitted prior to the establishment of the account in order to have the $50.00 Service Initiation fee waived.

The City of Raleigh may ask for these types of items to ensure accurate billing for previous customers and for new occupants of a residence.

A late fee of $5.00 or 1.5% of the past due amount (whichever is greater) is applied to any account with a past due balance.  An account with a past due amount is also subject to disconnection of services.

To avoid late fees being applied to any account, be sure to pay the total amount due on or before the due date.

A service disconnection notice is a courtesy notification for accounts that are past due or delinquent.

A door hanger is left at the premise location if a trip has been made to disconnect services for nonpayment.

If services are interrupted, additional fees will be applied.

You will be required to pay your FULL past due balance. Payment must be made prior to reconnection of services (Municipal Code Sec 2-3004).

Visa or MasterCard payments can be made online or by calling Utility Billing's automated voice response system at 919.890.3245. These payment methods post to your account in real time and are convenient for most customers. The City of Raleigh does not add any additional credit card fees to process these payments.

In addition, you can pay in person at one of our authorized payment locations.

Every attempt will be made to reinstate services within 24 hours of receipt of payment. Ensure that all faucets are turned off and stoppers in sinks and tubs are open prior to service reconnection to prevent accidental flooding.

Cash payments must be made in person.

The authorized payment locations accept payments by cash, check, money order, Visa or MasterCard.

*Locations not listed are NOT AUTHORIZED.  If you pay at an unauthorized location, you may be charged a handling fee and your payment could be delayed several days or weeks.

The payment will be reversed off of your account, and a returned payment fee will be included in your next bill. Also, your credit rating with Utility Billing will be negatively affected.

Multiple returned payments will result in payment restrictions that require future payments to be made by other secured methods such as credit card, certified check, money order, or cash.

If the returned payment was made to restore disconnected services, upon notification by the bank of the return the City of Raleigh may disconnect your services immediately.

For more information, see the About Returned Payments section.

Yes. The account holder must be the responsible party (i.e., the surviving spouse or descendant, an estate or trust, etc.). Call a Utility Billing Customer Care representative at 919.890.3245 who will assist you with changing the account.

For more details, see the Name Changes section.

Yes. Online forms are provided as just one of the options for making requests to the City of Raleigh's Utility Billing division.

Printable forms are available on this website for customers who wish to print, complete and mail the forms.

Requests for forms and/or services can also be sent via email to utilitybilling@raleighnc.gov, obtained in person at the Raleigh Municipal Building or by calling our Customer Care Center at 919.890.3245.

Yes, under certain conditions water leak adjustments will be made by reducing the high bill to twice the customer's average consumption.  A leak adjustment may occur only after all leaks have been repaired and may require a verified meter read by the City of Raleigh's Public Utilities Division.  

Consideration for leak adjustments is made only for leaks that do not return to the sanitary sewer system.  Administrative fees will not be adjusted.  Leak adjustments will cover a two month consecutive period only.

The City policy states that consideration will be provided for leak adjustments for usage charges caused by a leak that occurred outside of the customer's control on the customer's side of the meter when the consumption exceeds twice the average usage over the previous twelve (12) month period.   

Water leak adjustments must be requested by contacting the Utility Billing Division and must be accompanied by a plumber's receipt or other proof of the repair.  A determination is made and a letter is sent to the mailing address on file within the billing system stating approval or disapproval of the leak and the details.

Contact Utility Billing to determine if you qualify for a leak adjustment.

No adjustments will be granted where the following situations exist:

• Usage above the customer's average monthly consumption is due to seasonal usage such as watering of sod, gardening, filling swimming pools or whirlpools, washing vehicles, etc.
• Leak was caused by a third party from whom the customer is able to recover their costs. Examples include, but are not limited to, theft, vandalism, and construction damage, unoccupied or vacant properties.
• Leak continues for three (3) or more months
• The meter at said property, has been accessed, tampered with, or turned on/off by anyone (including a licensed plumber) other than a City of Raleigh employee and resulting in further loss of water.
• The plumbing, fixtures, connections or pipes are within the customer's responsibility. Examples of leaks within the customer's control include, but are not limited to:
  • toilet leaks
  • leaking faucets
  • leaking bid hose connections or other readily available water pipes, connections, or fixtures

Contact Utility Billing to determine if you qualify for a leak adjustment.

Tiered billing is a method of billing that rewards customers for lower consumption.

Rates are calculated using average consumption figures across the service area and customers are charged more or less, as they move from tier to tier.

The first 4 CCF's are billed at the Tier 1 rate and the 5th CCF is billed at the Tier 2 rate.

All consumption on irrigation meters is billed at the Tier 3 rate.

The billing system automatically bills consumption at the proper tiers if there is additional consumption due to a bill cycle greater than 33 days.

The system will adjust the tiers and prorate the calculations accordingly.

General account information is provided in Spanish through the automated voice response system.

Customer service can be provided in Spanish when contacting our Customer Care representatives.

Also, the City of Raleigh's website can be viewed in Spanish by scrolling to the bottom of any page and selecting SPANISH in the language box.

Utility bills are NOT available in Spanish at this time.

Utility Billing, a division of the Finance department, handles billing and billing services. All other issues, like discolored water, main breaks, low water pressure, impervious surface calculations, etc. will be addressed by one of the following:

• For more information regarding Public Utilities Administration, Water Plant, Wastewater Treatment Plants, Reuse, Constructions, Sewer Maintenance, Water Distribution, Meters and Warehouse, visit Public Utilities.
• Questions concerning permit fees for installation of water lines for new construction should be directed to the Inspections Department.
• For more information regarding stormwater fees, see Stormwater Utility Fee.
• For more information regarding solid waste charges, see Solid Waste Services.