How to Pay Your Water Bill in Los Banos, CA

Paying your monthly water bill is an essential responsibility for residents and businesses in Los Banos, California. The city provides water, sewer, and trash services to the community and relies on customers paying their utility bills on time. This article will walk through the various ways you can view and pay your Los Banos water/utility bill.

Los Banos Utility Billing Overview

The City of Los Banos Finance Department handles utility billing services for the city’s water, sewer, and garbage collection. This includes:

• Monthly billing for residential and commercial accounts
• Payment processing and account management
• Providing billing statements and payment receipts

Utility bills are sent out monthly and are typically due 21 days after the statement date. Los Banos offers several payment options to easily pay your water bill on time each month.

Ways to Pay Your Los Banos Utility Bill

There are a few different convenient payment methods available to pay your monthly Los Banos water/sewer/trash bill

Pay Online

The easiest way for most customers is to pay online through the City of Los Banos online payment portal. You can make quick one-time payments or set up an account to manage recurring payments and enrollment in paperless billing.

To use the online system, you simply need your account number from your latest bill. There are no service fees for paying online. You can use credit/debit cards checking accounts or T-Mobile Money for online payments.

Pay by Phone

You can pay over the phone by calling the Los Banos Finance Department at (209) 827-7000. This automated phone payment system is available 24/7 and allows you to use electronic checks or major credit/debit cards.

Pay by Mail

Mail in a check or money order payable to “City of Los Banos” using the payment stub from your water bill. Be sure to allow 5-7 days for delivery time so your payment is received by the due date. Send payments to:

City of Los Banos
PO Box 1310
Los Banos, CA 93635

Pay in Person

Take your water bill payment to Los Banos City Hall located at:

520 J Street
Los Banos, CA 93635

City Hall is open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, except on major holidays. You can pay with cash, check or credit/debit card when paying your utility bill in person.

AutoPay

You can enroll in automatic monthly payments to have your Los Banos water bill paid on time without any effort. Payments will be automatically deducted from your bank account or charged to a credit/debit card each month. Enroll through the online payment portal or fill out an autopay form available on the city’s website.

Budget Billing

The Budget Billing program averages your payments over a 12 month period so you pay a consistent amount each month. This can help avoid season spikes in your utility bills. Contact the Finance Department to enroll.

What Payment Methods Are Accepted?

The City of Los Banos accepts the following payment methods depending on how you choose to pay your water bill:

• Credit/Debit Card – Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
• Electronic Check – Via your checking account number and routing number
• Cash – For in-person payments only
• Money Order – Made payable to “City of Los Banos”
• Check – Personal, cashier’s check, etc. Make payable to “City of Los Banos”
• T-Mobile Money – Can be used for online payments

Make sure any checks or money orders are made out properly to avoid delays in processing your payment.

Reviewing & Understanding Your Bill

You can analyze and understand your monthly Los Banos utility bill by looking at a few key sections:

• Account Summary – Provides account number, balance due, due date
• Payment Stub – Detach and send with mailed payments or bring to City Hall
• Utility Usage – Lists usage and charges for water, sewer, trash services
• Message Center – Important account notices from the city
• Billing History – Shows your last 6 months of billing activity and payments

Reach out to the Finance Department utility billing staff if you need help interpreting parts of your monthly bill.

Late Fees and Penalties

To avoid additional charges, make sure to pay your Los Banos water bill by the due date printed on your monthly statement. Late fees and penalties include:

• Late Fee – 15% of any overdue balance
• Disconnect Notice Fee – $10 if issued a disconnect notice
• Disconnect Fee – $50 if service is disconnected
• Reconnect Fee – $50 if service needs to be reconnected after disconnect

Payment arrangements may be available if you contact the city before your service is scheduled for disconnection.

Setting Up New Water Service

To establish new water service with the City of Los Banos, you will need to submit a new service application and pay a deposit. This can be done at City Hall or through the utility billing department. Requirements include:

• Photo ID
• Proof of ownership/rental agreement
• Social security number
• $200 deposit per residential account

The city needs 1-2 business days notice to set up your water service once approved. Be sure to transfer service out of your name if you move out of a rental property or home.

Water Bill Assistance Programs

Los Banos offers bill assistance programs for qualifying low-income customers, including:

• Low-Income Discount – 30% discount on water bills for those under 200% of federal poverty level
• Medical Hardship Program – Reduced bills for households with medical needs
• Payment Arrangements – Extended payment plans for overdue balances

Inquire with the Finance Department to see if you are eligible for any utility bill assistance based on your situation.

In Summary

Paying your Los Banos water, sewer and garbage bill on time is important make sure your services stay connected. The City of Los Banos offers flexible payment options like online, phone, auto-pay, mail or in person. Understand your monthly bill and utilize any assistance programs if eligible. Reach out to the Finance Department billing team with any questions!