A Guide to Paying Your Huntsville Utility Bill

Living in Huntsville, Texas means being a customer of the city’s municipal utility services. Paying your Huntsville utility bill on time each month ensures uninterrupted water, sewer, and trash pickup services. The city offers a variety of payment options to make paying your utilities easy and convenient. This comprehensive guide provides key details on payment methods, account management, fees to avoid, and money-saving tips for Huntsville utility customers.

Huntsville Utility Services Overview

The City of Huntsville provides the following utility services to residential and commercial customers within the city limits

• Water – Clean drinking water supplied to homes and businesses through over 390 miles of water lines.

• Wastewater – Sewer service that safely removes and treats wastewater via 250 miles of sewer mains.

• Solid Waste – Trash and recycling pickup services helping keep Huntsville clean and green.

Utility accounts are assigned to individual properties with monthly billing. Customers are responsible for paying bills on time to avoid service disruption.

Understanding Your Utility Bill

Huntsville utility bills contain detailed information to help you understand the charges each month. Key sections include:

• Account Summary – Lists previous and current charges, payments received, account balance and due date.

• Service Address – Verifies the property address where services are being provided.

• Meter Readings – Shows meter ID number and current and previous readings for water usage.

• Consumption Analysis – Monthly usage chart helps identify irregular spikes.

• Message Board – Important notifications like rate changes from the Utility Billing department.

Reviewing your utility bill closely makes it easier to catch any billing errors. Monitoring usage helps identify potential leaks.

Ways to Pay Your Huntsville Utility Bill

The City of Huntsville offers several payment options to provide flexibility:

• Online – Pay via the city’s online payment portal using credit/debit card or e-check.

• Phone – Call the Utility Billing office during business hours to pay over the phone.

• Mail – Send a check or money order using the payment stub from your bill.

• In Person – Pay with cash, check, or money order at the Utility Billing office.

• Drop Box – Place your payment in the drop box at the Utility Billing entrance.

• AutoPay – Sign up to have payments automatically withdrawn from your bank account each month.

Select the most convenient payment method that fits your needs to pay by the due date.

Pay Online Using the Customer Portal

The easiest and most popular way to pay your Huntsville utility bill is through the online customer portal. Here’s how to pay online:

1. Visit www.huntsvilletx.gov and click on “Online Payments”.

2. Select “Make Online Payments” and enter your account number and PIN.

3. Choose a payment method – credit/debit card or e-check.

4. Enter the payment amount and submit.

The portal allows online payments 24/7. You’ll receive a confirmation email with your receipt. Payments made by 5:00 pm reflect in your account the same day.

Avoid Late Fees and Disconnection

To avoid penalties and potential service interruption, Huntsville utility bills must be paid by the due date printed on your bill. Key deadlines include:

• Due Date – Payment must be received by the due date on the bill, typically between the 20th-25th each month.

• Late Fee – A 10% late fee is applied to past due accounts after the due date.

• Shut Off Notice – If a bill is still unpaid after 15 days past due, a shut off notice is issued.

• Shut Off Date – Utility services are disconnected if a bill is 30+ days past due.

• Reconnect Fee – A $40 reconnection fee is charged to resume services after shut off.

Avoid additional fees and service disruptions by paying your utility bill early or on time. Communicate immediately with Utility Billing if you expect difficulty paying a bill.

Payment Plan Options in Huntsville

If you are struggling to pay your Huntsville utility bill, the Utility Billing department provides options to set up payment plans or extensions.

Some examples of payment solutions include:

• Payment extensions – Due date can be extended by 7 days if you are paid monthly or bi-weekly.

• Deferred payment plan – Past due balance is paid over a 90 day period along with current monthly charges.

• Payment arrangement – Making partial payments towards a past due amount on an agreed schedule.

• Budget billing – Fixed monthly payment amount based on usage helps avoid seasonal spikes.

Contact Utility Billing to discuss your situation and set up an approved payment plan if facing disconnection. Payment arrangements can help avoid service interruptions.

Tips for Managing Your Utility Account

Here are some tips for staying on track with your Huntsville utility account:

• Review bills closely each month and report any suspicious charges or issues immediately.

• Monitor your consumption on a monthly basis to identity abnormal usage patterns early.

• Sign up for billing reminders through email or text to receive due date notices and payment confirmations.

• Consider budget billing or autopay to simplify payments if you qualify.

• Update account contact information so you receive billing statements and shut off notices.

• Take advantage of Huntsville’s customer portal to check your balance and make payments.

Proactive account management prevents surprise fees and service disruptions. Know your billing cycles, payment options, and account status.

Handling your Huntsville utility bill does not need to be a hassle. Pay online, by phone, or automatic bank draft for convenience. Leverage payment plans if necessary and monitor closely each month. Consistent on-time payments ensure continuous utility services.