A Comprehensive Guide to Paying Your South Feather Water and Power Bill

They provide important water and power services to people who live and work in the Oroville, CA area. Their name is South Feather Water and Power Agency (SFWPA). To keep your service going, you need to pay your utility bill on time every month. Managing and paying your SFWPA account is easy with this guide. You can do it online, over the phone, or through the mail.

Overview of South Feather Water and Power

SFWPA is a special municipal utility district providing water and power to residents and businesses in Butte County, CA Key services offered include

• Drinking water treatment and delivery
• Wastewater/sewer utilities
• Hydropower from Oroville Dam and other sources
• Recreational facilities around Lake Oroville

As a customer, you receive monthly billing statements for the SFWPA services utilized at your property. Rates vary based on factors like usage volume and meter size.

Payment Options for Utility Bills

South Feather Water and Power offers multiple ways to pay your monthly bill conveniently

Pay Online

Paymentus, which can be reached directly from the SFWPA website, is the best way to pay online. You can pay by credit/debit card, eCheck, Venmo, PayPal and more.

With an online account, you can also access billing history, set up autopay, and receive paperless statements.

Pay by Phone

Call the SFWPA office at (530) 533-4578 and select the billing option. Have your account number, balance due, and payment details ready.

Pay by Mail

Mail a check or money order to:

SFWPA
2310 Oro Quincy Hwy
Oroville, CA 95966

Write your full account number on the payment and allow 5 business days for processing.

Pay in Person

Visit the SFWPA office at 2310 Oro Quincy Hwy in Oroville to pay your bill in person Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm.

Accepted payment methods include cash, check, credit/debit cards, and money orders.

Understanding Billing Cycles and Due Dates

SFWPA utility bills are issued on a monthly billing cycle depending on your service location.

Payment due dates are typically around the 20th of each month. Check your individual statement for the exact due date.

Failure to pay your balance by the due date will incur a late penalty. Overdue accounts also risk service disconnection.

Budget Billing Program

To make utility costs more consistent, SFWPA offers an optional Budget Billing program.

This averages your payments over the past 12 months to calculate a “fixed” monthly amount. Your account is reviewed and adjusted quarterly as needed.

Contact SFWPA customer service to enroll in Budget Billing if desired. This can help avoid billing spikes.

Payment Assistance Programs

If you are having trouble paying your utility bill, SFWPA offers programs that may help, including:

• Payment arrangements – Set up a monthly installment plan interest-free.

• LIHEAP assistance – Federally funded bill payment assistance, applied directly to your account.

• Leak adjustment – One-time adjustment if a leak caused abnormally high water usage/billing.

Reach out to SFWPA customer service to discuss qualification requirements and apply for any relevant assistance programs.

Avoid Late Fees and Disconnection

Stay on top of your bill and due dates to avoid penalties. Sign up for email billing reminders through your online account, or use SFWPA’s IVR automated phone system to check your balance 24/7.

If you expect to miss a payment, contact SFWPA immediately to set up a payment plan and discuss your account status. With communication, you can often avoid disconnection.

Disconnected accounts also incur a $50 reconnection fee when service is restored, so keep your account current at all times.

Starting New Utility Service

To set up new SFWPA utility service for a residential or commercial property, you must open a new account.

Application Process

• Fill out a New Service Application form, available on the SFWPA website or by visiting the office.

• Pay a $20 account setup fee per service type.

• Provide ID, proof of ownership/lease, and other requested documents.

• Pay any required deposit based on your property type.

After submitting the application and fees, new service usually begins within 1-3 business days.

Service Deposits

All new SFWPA accounts require paying an initial refundable deposit, which is eventually credited back after 12 months of on-time payments.

Deposit amounts are:

• Residential: $100
• Commercial: $200-$1000+ depending on business

Without an established positive payment history, deposits are mandatory for service activation.

Changes to Service Requests

To change or stop existing SFWPA service, you must notify the utility directly and complete paperwork.

For service disconnection, submit a Stop Service form at least 5 days before your stop date. You must pay any final bill balance.

For service downgrades like meter size changes, contact SFWPA customer service to discuss options and complete a service order form.

For address or account changes, update your contact information directly through your online account portal or by calling customer service.

Understanding Your Utility Bill

When reviewing your SFWPA statement each month, key sections to check include:

• Account number and service address
• Previous meter readings vs. current readings
• Water usage in CCF units
• Electric usage in kWh units
• Total new charges for each service
• Billing period dates and due date
• Amount due

Notify SFWPA immediately about any billing errors or concerns. Save bills to compare monthly usage.

Getting Copies of Past Utility Bills

To review billing history, enrolled paperless billing customers can conveniently log in to their online account and access up to 24 months of statements digitally.

Alternatively, you can request mailed or emailed copies of previous bills directly through SFWPA customer service. Specify the statement months needed when submitting your request. Allow a few days for processing.

Accessing past bills can help you analyze usage trends over time or double check payment records.

Troubleshooting Billing and Service Issues

For billing questions or to report utility service problems, contact SFWPA customer service promptly.

Have your account number, address, and details about the issue ready to explain the situation. Technicians can be dispatched for further on-site investigation as warranted.

Many problems can be quickly resolved with a call. But if service visits are required, provide access to your property so repairs can be made swiftly.

Closing Your Utility Account

When moving out of your property, take steps to formally close out your SFWPA utility account:

• Submit a Stop Service request at least 5 days before your move date.

• Provide a final service stop date and forwarding address.

• Receive and pay a final bill immediately to avoid collections issues.

• Get your account deposit refunded if eligible.

Remember to terminate services to avoid ongoing billing in your name after vacating the property.

Key Takeaways