Municipal Billing

General Information

Municipal Service Statements, which include water, sewer, trash, and optional FireMed service, are billed approximately every 30 days. The due date is printed on the bill. The water meter is read approximately every 30 days. The charges are calculated for the service reading period, which is noted on the right hand side of the statement.

Payments are due upon receipt of the statement.

Sign up now for AutoPay, the "No Cost" automatic Municipal Services Statement Payment Program.

Emergency Water Service
Call (714)-536-5921 to report water emergencies such as water leaks, damaged fire hydrants, or quality concerns.

Applying for New Water, Sewer & Trash Service
To start water service you may contact the Municipal Services Billing Section of the Finance Department at (714) 536-5919 (press 9) to provide the city with the required information. Normal phone hours are 8:30am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays. When calling, please be prepared to provide the following information: your billing name, your service address, mailing address of the bill (if different than the service address), employer information, your driver's license, your social security number, a daytime phone number and the date that you wish service started. A deposit may be required to begin service. You may pay this deposit using your credit card. A processing fee will be charged on your first bill. Same day service can be done before 4:30pm by paying an additional fee of $57.00; after 4:30pm the fee is $157.00. Please provide at least two business days notice to begin your water service.

If you need to come to our office, we are located at 2000 Main Street, in the Civic Center Building, on the corner of Yorktown and Main Streets. We are located on the 1st floor of the Civic Center Building. Our walk-in hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays.

You may also start service by mail, but please allow ample time for mail delivery. Our mailing address is City of Huntington Beach, Attention: New Service, P.O. Box 711, Huntington Beach, CA 92648. Please write a note requesting service to be started in your name. Please give your billing name, your service address, and a mailing address for your bill, if different than your service address, your place of employment, your driver's license number, your social security number, a daytime telephone number, and the date you wish service started. Also, please state whether you are an owner or a tenant.

Deposit requirements
A residential property deposit may be waived under the following circumstances. 1. If you currently have service in your name at another location in the City and have not had more than one late payment within the last year or, 2. If you can obtain a letter of credit from another utility company on their letterhead, stating you have had no more than one late payment in the last year.

Click Here For: Credit Inquiry for customers sample letter

Service Discontinuance
To disconnect service in your name, contact the Municipal Services Billing Customer Service Representative in the Finance Department at (714) 536-5919 to provide the city with the required information. Normal phone hours are 8:30am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays. The request can also be made by mail, fax or in person. By mail or fax, please provide written instructions requesting the service disconnection in your name, including the address you want disconnected, the date of disconnect, a forwarding address for your final bill, and your daytime phone number. Your final bill may include credits for any deposits not previously credited to your account. Our mailing address is City of Huntington Beach, P.O. Box 711, Huntington Beach, California 92648. Our fax number is 714-536-5934. To verify that your fax came through, please call us back the next business day at 714-536-5919 (press 9).

Other Utilities
Southern California Gas Company provides natural gas service. For connection or service information, please call Southern California Gas Company at (800) 427-2200.

Southern California Edison Company provides electric service. For connection or service information, please call the Edison Company at (800) 684-8123.

Verizon provides telephone service. For connection or service information, please call Verizon at (800) 482-8706.

Service off for Non-Payment
If your service is off for non-payment, you need to pay your account in full at the City Treasurer's Department before service can be restored. If you have received a white or yellow courtesy tag, please follow the instructions on the tag to avoid additional penalties and service disconnection. Do not mail your payment, as the payment must be received prior to the deadline. For same day credit, payments must be received in the night drop by 7:30 am. A map and location of our night drop is provided on the tag for your convenience.

If you are coming to our office, we are located at 2000 Main Street, Civic Center Building, corner of Yorktown and Main Streets. We are on the 1st floor of the five-story Civic Center building. Our walk-in hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday except holidays.

If making a payment in person the payment must be received by a customer service representative before 5:00 pm.

Water Rates and Fees
The charge for water service is made up of two components: (1) the basic monthly (meter) charge and (2) the water usage or commodity charge. The fees charged for each of these are designed to recover the cost of providing this component to the customer.

Number 1 -Basic daily charge - the following are the basic meter rates, effective January 3, 2008

Number 2 - The water usage or billing unit charge is based on actual meter readings. The statement shows current use in units. A unit equals 748 gallons or 100 cubic feet of water. Each unit costs $1.3939.

All bills are due upon receipt and must be received by the due date. Please allow sufficient time for mail delivery. Payments not received by the due date are subject to a tag fee and a possible delinquent status fee and scheduled shut off. Please pay your bills when received to avoid the late fees. If your payment will be late because of insufficient time for mailing, use our night drop located on the fountain side of the Civic Center building near the police station. Our address is 2000 Main Street at the corner of Yorktown and Main Streets. Our walk-in office hours are from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays. For same day credit, payments must be made in the night drop by 7:30am.

Sewer Service User Charge
The Sewer Service User Charge applies to all City water customers with connections to the City sewer system. Charges will be billed at a daily rate. Sewer Service rate effective January 3, 2008 are as follows:  

 

Revenue from these charges will be directed exclusively to the repair and replacement of the City sewer system. If you have questions regarding the sewer charge, please call the Sewer Customer Service Representative at (714) 374-1618.

FATS/OILS/GREASE (FOG) Sewer Fee

This FOG fee is effective January 1, 2005. The City is required to administer the FOG program for Food Service Establishments (FSE) within its jurisdiction.

FSEs with a grease control device are charged $.3452 per day

FSEs without a grease control device are charged $.9534 per day.

Please see the attached file for FOG Program Facts.

Trash, Refuse & Recycling Fees

Trash collection service is required for all residences in Huntington Beach. Residential accounts with up to 4 dwelling units will automatically be billed for trash collection on the same statement received for water usage. No separate sign-up is required. The service is provided by the city's contracted hauler, Rainbow Disposal Co.

Multi-family residences with 5 or more dwelling units and other commercial properties must contract directly with Rainbow Disposal Co. for commercial bin service. Please call them at (714) 847-3581.

Effective July 1, 2006, the rate for residential refuse collection is $0.6122 per dwelling unit per day (approximately $18.62 per month). Low-income seniors, age 62 and over, may apply for a 50% discounted rate. If you believe you qualify for the reduced rate, please contact the Rodger's Senior Center at (714) 536-9387.

For additional information regarding trash collection and recycling programs in the City of Huntington Beach, please call Public Works customer service at (714) 375-5010. Customer service hours are 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Water Conservation
The City of Huntington Beach is actively working on a water conservation program. The program at this point is voluntary and we are asking all households to reduce water by not washing down walks and driveways, by not leaving their hoses running while washing their car, and by not having run-off, over spray, or mid-day watering of their landscape. Shorter showers, washing only full loads of dishes and full loads of clothes can dramatically reduce water consumption. Leaking faucets and toilets should be promptly repaired.

Your water bill shows usage in units of 100 cubic feet of water. An average household in Huntington Beach uses 12 units per one-month reading period. To convert this to gallons, multiply by 748. This will give you approximately the number of gallons you used during that reading period. If you divide the number of days in the reading period (approximately 30 days) you will have the number of gallons you use per day. For example, if your bill indicates you used 15 units of water and the reading period is 30 days, you would multiply 15 units times 748 gallons for a total usage of 11,220 gallons. If you divide this by the 30 days in the reading period, your average daily usage is 374 gallons.

If you need additional information, call (714) 536-5921 during our regular telephone hour's 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, and a representative from the Water Division will assist you.

Senior Exemption Information
Eligible senior citizens may apply for exempt status for city utility tax on all other utility bills (telephone, cable, gas and water). To obtain this exemption, an application certificate must be completed and submitted as indicated to City of Huntington Beach, Rodgers Senior Center, at 1706 Orange Avenue, Huntington Beach, California 92648. Eligible senior citizens will be advised if their application meets required criteria and annual verification is required to maintain exemption status.

For additional help and information contact:
Rodgers Senior Center
1706 Orange Avenue
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 536-9387