How To Pay Your Utility Bill in Ceres, CA: A Comprehensive Guide

Every Ceres, CA resident and business owner needs to make sure they pay their utility bills on time and in full. The city offers water, sewer, and garbage services that need to be paid for regularly in order to keep working. It can be a chore to pay your bills, but the City of Ceres gives you a number of easy ways to do it.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about paying your City of Ceres utility bill

Overview of City of Ceres Utility Billing

The City of Ceres Finance Department handles utility billing and collections for all customers using city water, sewer, and garbage services This includes sending bills, processing payments, and maintaining customer accounts.

Customers are billed every month for usage. Bills are mailed out around the 25th of each month and are due by the 15th of the following month. So for example, your January bill covers usage from December 16th through January 15th and is due on February 15th.

If your payment is late, a 10% penalty fee is added to your account on the 16th. The city may disconnect service for non-payment after proper notice. Reconnection fees apply to resume service after a disconnection.

Ways to Pay Your Ceres Utility Bill

The City of Ceres offers several options for how to pay your utility bill conveniently. Here are all the ways you can pay:

Pay Online

The easiest way for most people is to pay online through the City of Ceres website. You can set up an online account to receive email notifications when your bill is ready, view your balance, see past statements, and make quick online payments by credit/debit card or e-check.

You don’t have to worry about your payment getting lost in the mail when you pay online because it is processed right away. You’ll have peace of mind knowing your bill is paid on time.

Pay by Mail

If you’d rather not pay online, you can use the payment stub and envelope that come with your monthly bill to mail in a check or money order. Don’t send your payment until 7–10 days after the due date. If you don’t, you may be charged late fees.

One advantage of mailing your payment is you have a paper record for your files. Just be diligent about mailing it out in time.

Pay at City Hall

Head down to Ceres City Hall at 2220 Magnolia Street to pay your utility bill in person at the Finance Department customer service counter. They accept cash, checks, credit cards, and debit cards.

City Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm, except on city holidays. This is a good option if you want to pay with cash or need same day payment processing.

Use the Drive-Up Drop Box

For a no-contact payment option, use the drive-up utility payment drop box located on the Magnolia Street side of City Hall. There’s a traffic lane that lets you easily deposit your payment envelope without leaving your car.

The box is emptied daily so your payment will be processed no later than the next business day. Just be sure to allow enough time before your due date.

Pay over the Phone

You can make a one-time payment over the phone by calling the Finance Department at (209) 538-5757 during normal business hours. Have your account information and payment details ready. Phone payments can be made by credit/debit card or e-check.

Sign Up for Auto-Pay

Forget late payments for good! Enroll in auto-pay through the online payment system to have your bill paid automatically each month on the due date from your preferred payment method.

Auto-pay gives you predictable, timely payments without the effort of remembering to pay manually. Just monitor your account regularly for any billing discrepancies.

Payment Methods Accepted

The City of Ceres accepts the following payment methods for utility bills:

• Cash – Accepted in person at City Hall
• Personal Check – Accepted by mail, in person, or in drop box
• Money Order – Accepted by mail, in person, or in drop box
• Credit Cards – Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
• Debit Cards – With Visa or MasterCard logo
• Electronic Check – Via online payment or phone

Make sure you have an accepted form of payment before it’s time to pay your bill. The city does not accept counter checks, temporary checks, credit card convenience checks, or electronic banking bill pay checks.

Financial Assistance Programs

If you’re having trouble paying your utility bills, the City of Ceres offers financial assistance programs and payment plans for qualifying customers, including:

• Low Income Utility User’s Tax Exemption – 3% discount for eligible low income residents
• Senior Citizen Utility Assistance – Lower utility rates for residents age 62+
• Payment Arrangements – Make partial payments over time if you cannot pay in full

Contact the Finance Department for details and to see if you might qualify for an assistance program. Don’t wait until your utilities are shut off to ask for help.

Avoid Late Fees and Disconnection

To keep your utilities on and avoid extra fees, your payment must be received by the city on or before the due date printed on your bill – not just mailed by that date. The due date is always the 15th of the month.

If your payment is late, a 10% penalty is added to your account immediately on the 16th. If your past due balance remains unpaid for 60 days, your service may be disconnected.

Reconnection fees apply and any past due amounts must be paid before service is restored. Avoid headaches and extra costs by paying on time every month.

Options If You Can’t Pay on Time

If you find yourself unable to pay your full balance by the due date, take action right away to avoid disconnection:

• Request an Extension – Call the Finance Department to ask for a few extra days to pay. One extension may be granted.
• Make Partial Payments – Set up a payment plan to pay the past due amount over 2-3 installments.
• Apply for Assistance – See if you qualify for financial help based on age, income, or disability.
• Negotiate a Payment Arrangement – Discuss your situation and work out a reasonable long-term payment schedule.

As long as you communicate proactively with the city, they will work with you on solutions to avoid service interruption. Don’t wait until after shutoff to reach out.

Moving In or Out of Ceres? Starting or Stopping Service?

Whenever you need to start new utility service with the City of Ceres, transfer service to a new address, or stop services at your property, be sure to contact the Finance Department right away to manage the change.

To start new service when moving in, you’ll need to provide information to establish an account and pay a deposit if required. Request service connection at least 3 days before your move-in date.

When moving out, notify the city at least 3 days before your move-out to arrange a final meter read and closing bill. You must keep service in your name until your scheduled disconnection date.

The city needs proper notice to handle account opening and closing smoothly. Don’t wait until the last minute!

Reviewing Your Utility Usage and Charges

The City of Ceres wants you to understand the charges on your utility bill. Carefully review each monthly statement when you receive it. Check that:

• The account name, service address, and meter ID are correct
• The meter readings align with your actual usage
• The rates match current city fee schedules
• Credits from previous overpayments or estimates are reflected
• No fees or penalties are incorrectly assessed

Compare your consumption month-to-month to spot any unusual spikes that could indicate leaks or other issues. Report any discrepancies right away before your next billing cycle.

Staying on top of your utility usage and charges enables you to catch errors early, dispute improper fees, and monitor your costs accurately. Review those bills!

Communicating with the Finance Department

If you ever have questions about your City of Ceres utility bill, need help paying your bill, or want to give feedback on the billing process, the Finance Department is ready to help.

You can reach the Utility Billing staff by phone at (209) 538-5757 or visit their office at City Hall, 2220 Magnolia Street. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm, excluding city holidays.

Friendly and knowledgeable representatives can answer billing questions, take payments, set up payment plans, start/stop service, and more. Be proactive in seeking assistance if paying your bill becomes difficult.

With multiple payment options and helpful utility billing staff, paying your Ceres utility bill can be painless. Use this guide to make bill paying easy and uncomplicated each month in the city. Stay on top of your usage, choose a convenient payment method, and reach out for help when needed.