Demystifying Your East Peoria Water And Sewer Bill Pay

Paying your water and sewer bill is a regular necessity, but it can also seem like a confusing process. This article will explain the ins and outs of the East Peoria water and sewer billing system to help you understand your bill, payment options, and how to manage this utility cost

An Overview of East Peoria Water and Sewer Billing

The City of East Peoria provides water and sewer services to residents and businesses located within the city limits. The utility bill you receive covers your usage of both water and sewer over the prior billing period. Bills are sent out monthly and are typically due 21 days after the billing date.

Usage is metered, so your bill amount directly correlates to how much water your household or business consumed that month. The rates you pay per gallon help fund operation and maintenance of the water and sewer infrastructure Water rates in East Peoria are some of the lowest in the region

Reading and Understanding Your Water and Sewer Bill

Let’s walk through what’s included on a standard City of East Peoria utility bill:

• Account number: Unique number to identify your property
• Service address: The address receiving water/sewer service
• Billing date: The date the bill was issued
• Due date: Date payment must be received by to avoid late fees
• Previous balance: Any past due balance being carried over
• Payments/credits: Payments or account credits applied since last bill
• Water usage: Total gallons used during the billing period
• Sewer usage: Total gallons discharged to the sewer system
• Water service fee: Flat monthly charge to maintain the water system
• Sewer service fee: Flat monthly charge to maintain the sewer system
• Water volume fee: Per gallon charge based on water usage
• Sewer volume fee: Per gallon charge based on sewer discharge
• Billing period: Dates covered by the current bill
• Meter number: Identifies the water meter monitoring your usage

Adding up the service fees and volume fees results in your total current charges. Any past due balance is then added to get your total amount due for the month.

Convenient Payment Options

The City of East Peoria offers several ways to pay your water and sewer bill conveniently:

• Mail: Send a check or money order using the remittance slip and envelope included with your bill. Allow 7-10 days for mail delivery.
• In person: Pay with cash, check or credit/debit card at the City Clerk’s Office at 401 W Washington St.
• Drop box: Place your payment in the drive-up drop box located in the City Hall parking lot.
• Online: Pay by credit/debit card or e-check via the E-Pay system. A nominal fee applies.
• Auto pay: Sign up to have payments automatically deducted from your bank account each month. Complete an authorization form.
• Over the phone: Call the City Clerk’s office during business hours to pay by credit/debit card.

Online and auto pay options help you avoid late fees and free up time spent manually processing payments each month.

Understanding and Avoiding Late Fees

To encourage prompt payment, the City charges a late fee if the current bill is not paid by the due date. The late fee is 10% of the unpaid balance.

If an account falls significantly behind, water service may be disconnected. A $25 disconnection notice fee and $25 reconnection fee apply in such cases. Avoid these extra costs by paying your bill in full each month by the due date.

If you’re facing difficulty paying your bill, contact the City Clerk right away to discuss payment plan options before service interruption occurs. Some customers may also qualify for the State’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for help managing water and sewer bills.

Monitoring Usage and Costs

Since you pay for exactly the amount of water used, monitoring your household consumption can help control costs. Installing water-efficient fixtures, fixing leaks promptly, and adjusting irrigation systems appropriately are some key ways to use water wisely.

The City’s new customer portal, MyGovHub, allows online account management and billing history review. This helps customers analyze usage trends over time. Consider signing up to take advantage of all the portal’s convenient features.

Questions? Reach Out for Assistance

Don’t hesitate to contact the City Clerk’s office with any questions as you navigate paying your East Peoria water and sewer utility bill each month. They can explain your bill, account history, payment options, and any other aspects of the billing process.

Equipped with a deeper understanding of your water and sewer charges, you can now manage this regular bill more efficiently. Monitoring your usage and costs, selecting convenient payment methods, and paying on time can help you keep your utility expenses under control.