NEWPORT BEACH : Don’t Forget to Pay the Water Bill
The City Council this week increased the delinquency fee charged to people who don’t pay their water bills on time.
Beginning Feb. 10, a 10% penalty will be imposed on the unpaid balance of delinquent accounts.
Right now, late payers are charged a flat fee of $1. Glen Everrode, the city’s revenue manager, said that fine doesn’t deter people from paying their bills late.
“Fifteen percent of the people that we send bills to don’t pay upon receiving the first bill,” he said.
Under the new rules, delinquent bills will cost an average of $2 in penalties, Everrode said.
People who fail to pay their water bills will have service discontinued and will be charged $75 to have their water turned back on.
The council also voted to stop requiring deposits when residents first receive water service.
The city hopes the move will save the city more than $34,000 annually, Everrode said. It costs $661 a week to process an average of 75 water deposits, keep track of the money and send it back when customers leave, he said.
New customers will also see their water turn-on fee cut in half, from $75 to about $37.
Everrode said the new policies will bring fairness to the billing process.
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