How to Pay Your City of San Marcos Utility Bill Online

If you live in San Marcos, Texas, you likely receive water, electric, trash, and other utility services from the city. Paying your monthly utility bill is essential to avoid service disruption. The City of San Marcos offers several ways to pay your bill conveniently, including a fast online payment option.

Overview of San Marcos Public Utilities

The City of San Marcos provides the following utility services to local homes and businesses:

• Electricity
• Water and wastewater
• Trash and recycling collection
• Stormwater management

Key facts about San Marcos utilities

• Part of the Public Services Department
• Over 12,000 water connections
• More than 17,000 electric connections
• 4 weekly billing cycles
• Office located at 630 E Hopkins Street

The city tries to give all of its customers reliable, high-quality utility services at fair prices.

Benefits of Paying Your Bill Online

Customers of the City of San Marcos can safely view and pay their utility bills online through a payment portal. Here are some key benefits of paying your city bill online:

• It’s fast – Make payments instantly without waiting for checks to clear.
• It’s convenient – Pay anytime, anywhere with an internet connection.
• Avoid late fees – Online payments avoid mail delays so your bill is less likely to be late.
• Go paperless – Sign up for e-bills to get statements electronically.
• Payment tracking – Your online account stores payment history details.
• Set up autopay – Schedule automatic monthly payments from your bank account.
• Secure transactions – The portal uses encryption to keep your data safe.

How to Sign Up for Online Bill Pay

Signing up for online bill pay only takes a few minutes. Follow these steps

1. Go to the City of San Marcos online portal at citizenselfservice.sanmarcostx.gov.

2. Click “Register” in the top right corner.

3. Enter your utility account number and email address. Click “Send Verification Code”.

4. Check your email for the verification code and enter it. Click “Verify”.

5. Create a username, password, and security questions. Accept the terms and click “Register”.

6. You’re registered! Log in anytime to view and pay your city utility bill online.

How to Pay Your Bill Through the Online Portal

Here is the process for making a payment on your City of San Marcos utility bill online:

1. Log into your account at citizenselfservice.sanmarcostx.gov.

2. Locate your account on the dashboard and click “Pay Bill”.

3. Select your payment method:

   • Credit/debit card
   • Electronic check

4. Enter your payment details and billing address.

5. Carefully review the payment info and click “Continue” to submit.

6. You’ll see a confirmation page and receive a payment receipt via email.

Pay early in your billing cycle to avoid late payment penalties!

Other Helpful Online Account Features

In addition to making one-time payments, your online account offers other useful options:

• View bill statements and account balance
• Sign up for paperless e-bills
• Access 12 months of payment history
• Update your contact information
• Set up automatic monthly payments
• Receive bill reminders and past due notices by email

Watch Out for Convenience Fees

While paying online is incredibly convenient, be aware that the City of San Marcos does charge service fees for some payment methods:

• Credit/debit card – 2.75% convenience fee ($1.50 minimum)
• Electronic check – $1.25 flat fee

So you’ll pay an extra $1.50 to pay your $75 utility bill with a debit card. However, avoiding late fees and other hassles makes the small convenience fee worthwhile for most customers.

Payment Assistance Programs

If you’re struggling to pay your San Marcos utility bill, payment assistance programs are available, including:

• Bill due date extensions
• Payment arrangements and deferred payment plans
• Temporary waiver of late penalties
• Leak adjustment credits
• Utility bill reductions for qualifying low-income customers

Contact the utility services office to learn more about bill help programs.

Paying Online Is the Easy and Convenient Option

No one wants to waste time and gas paying bills in person. By using the City of San Marcos online portal, you can pay your utility bill anytime, anywhere in just minutes. Sign up for an account to simplify bill payment and avoid late fees. Paying online gives you peace of mind knowing your city utilities are taken care of each month.