Paying Your Utility Bill in Blaine, WA Made Simple

Paying your city utility bill in Blaine, WA has never been easier thanks to the variety of convenient payment options available. Whether you prefer to pay online, by phone, by mail or in person, the City of Blaine has a payment method that will work for you. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through all of the ways Blaine utility customers can pay their bill each month.

Online Bill Pay

For those who prefer the speed and convenience of paying bills online the City of Blaine offers a few different options

• Payment Portal on City Website: The easiest way to pay your Blaine utility bill online is through the city’s website (www.ci.blaine.wa.us). On the utilities page, you will find a link to the Payment Portal where you can log in and pay your bill instantly without any fees.

• Bank Bill Pay Many banks and credit unions now offer online bill pay services Simply set the City of Blaine up as a payee in your bank’s online system and schedule one-time or recurring payments Payments are either sent electronically or via check depending on the bank.

• MoneyGram: The city has partnered with MoneyGram to offer another way to pay utility bills online. There is a $1.50 transaction fee, but you don’t need to register and can make one-time payments by credit card.

No matter which online payment method you choose, you will need your 9-digit utility account number to reference the correct bill. Payments made online are typically processed and posted to your account within 1-2 business days.

Pay By Phone

For those who don’t have consistent internet access or who prefer to speak to someone directly, the City of Blaine offers utility bill payment by phone. To pay your bill over the phone, you will need to call 360-543-9981 and speak to the cashier.

When paying by phone, you will need to provide your utility account number and billing address. The cashier will then take your payment information over the phone and process the transaction. Payments made by 1pm will typically post to your account the same day.

The City only accepts credit card payments over the phone, so you will need to have your card information handy. There are no extra fees for paying your utility bill by phone.

Pay By Mail

If you prefer the old fashioned way of paying bills, you can always mail your utility payment to the City of Blaine. Simply write your 9-digit account number on your check or money order and mail it to:

City of Blaine Utilities
435 Martin St., Suite 3000
Blaine, WA 98230

Mailed payments are considered on-time as long as they are postmarked by the due date printed on your bill. However, mailing payments does mean it will take 3-5 business days to post to your account, so make sure to mail in plenty of time to avoid late fees.

Sending cash through the mail is not recommended. For your protection, the city asks that utility bills are paid by check or money order only.

Pay In Person

For utility customers who live nearby or who simply prefer the most hands-on payment method, the City of Blaine allows in-person bill payment at the cashier.

The cashier window is located at Blaine City Hall at 435 Martin Street. Cashier hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 3:30pm, except from 12:00pm to 1:00pm when they close for lunch.

When paying your bill in person, you will need to provide your account number and billing address to the cashier. They accept payment by cash, check, credit card and money order. Any in-person payments made before 3:30pm will typically post to your account right away.

Payment Assistance Programs

The City of Blaine understands that utility bills can sometimes be a financial burden. That’s why they offer payment assistance programs and flexible payment plans for those who qualify.

Some of the bill assistance options include:

• Whatcom County Helpline House Utility Assistance – Provides bill payment assistance for qualifying low-income residents.

• Payment Arrangements – Payment plans and flexible due dates can be arranged with the utility billing office.

• Senior/Disabled Discount – Seniors 62+ and disabled individuals can get 15% off their utility bill.

If you are struggling to pay your utility bill, be sure to contact the billing office right away to learn about programs that can help. They would much rather set up a payment plan than send an account to collections.

Late Fees and Disconnection

To avoid penalties, it is important to pay (or make payment arrangements) by the due date printed on your bill – which is usually the 15th of each month. If your account is still unpaid after the 25th, a $10 late fee will be applied to that month’s bill.

If a bill remains unpaid for multiple months, the account may be forwarded to a collection agency. Collection fees will be added to the total amount due.

For accounts more than 60 days past due, water service may be disconnected. Reconnection will require paying the full past due amount, collection fees, interest and a $25 disconnection/reconnection fee.

Disconnection can be avoided by paying on time or setting up a payment plan before the due date. The City aims to keep customers connected – not disconnect them.

Change of Address or Service

If you are moving within Blaine, you will need to notify the utility billing office to stop service at your old address and transfer or start service at your new property. Some key points about address changes:

• To ensure proper billing, changes must be requested at least 3 days before your move.
• Provide forwarding address and date of service termination when disconnecting old service.
• A deposit may be required to start service at a new Blaine address.
• Make sure previous account is paid in full before transferring service.

Changing or stopping service requires completing a utility service request form, available on the city website or from the billing office.

Summary

Whether you prefer automatic bank bill pay, calling up the friendly cashier, mailing in a check or swinging by city hall, Blaine offers a payment method that will work for you. And if you ever have trouble paying on time, be sure to contact billing right away to set up a payment plan – they are always willing to help keep customers connected.