How To Pay Your Water Bill Online In St. Clair Shores, Michigan

Paying your water bill is an essential responsibility for every resident in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. While you used to have to mail in checks or pay in person, the city now offers a convenient online payment system. In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about paying your St. Clair Shores water bill online.

Understanding Your Water Bill

Before paying your water bill online, it helps to understand what’s on your bill and how it’s calculated. Here are some key things to know

• Billing Frequency: St. Clair Shores issues water bills quarterly. You’ll receive a bill in January, April, July, and October.

• Payment Due Date Payments are due 3 weeks after the bill is issued Make sure to pay on time to avoid late fees

• Usage Charges Your usage charges are based on how much water you use as measured by your water meter. The city charges different rates per 1000 gallons for water versus sewer usage

• Fixed Charges: In addition to usage, your bill includes fixed quarterly charges based on your meter size. For a typical 5/8″ residential meter, this charge is $18.96.

• Current Rates: For 2023, the rates are $5.674 per 1000 gallons for water and $6.932 per 1000 gallons for sewer. Fixed charges and usage rates increase slightly each year.

Knowing how your charges are calculated will help you double check the bill for accuracy before paying.

Signing Up For Online Bill Pay

To pay your water bill online, you first need to sign up for the city’s online bill pay system. Here’s how:

• Go to www.scsmi.net/509/Water-Billing-Rates
• Click on “Pay Online For” in the top menu bar
• Click “Create an Account” under Website Sign In
• Enter your info to create a username and password
• Enter your water account number and property address
• Accept the terms and submit

Once your account is created, you can log in anytime to view and pay your water bill online. I recommend signing up as soon as you move in so you don’t risk forgetting later on.

Paying Your Water Bill Online

Whenever you receive a new water bill, paying online is quick and easy:

• Log into your account at www.scsmi.net/369/Pay-Online-For
• Select “Water Bill” from the list of online payment options
• Review your account balance and enter the payment amount
• Enter your payment info and submit

The online system accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or electronic checks. You’ll receive a confirmation email with your payment details. Payments are typically processed within 1-2 business days.

I recommend setting a reminder on your calendar each quarter when your bill is due to ensure your payment goes through on time. Late payments incur a 10% penalty fee.

Setting Up Auto-Pay

For maximum convenience, you can enroll in auto-pay so your water bill is paid automatically each quarter. To set this up:

• Download the Automatic Payment Authorization Form from the city’s website
• Fill out the form with your account and payment info
• Check the box to authorize recurring automatic payments
• Mail the completed form and a voided check to the Water Billing Department

With auto-pay set up, you don’t have to remember to log in and pay each quarter – it’s done for you! The payment will be withdrawn from your bank account on the due date.

Budget Billing to Level Out Payments

If you want to make your water bills more predictable, St. Clair Shores offers an optional budget billing program. This levels out your payments to the same amount each month.

To enroll:

• Fill out the Automatic Payment Authorization Form
• Check the box to request budget billing
• Submit the form to the Water Billing Department

They will calculate your new monthly budget payment amount based on your past usage. This makes it easier to plan for your water expenses.

Getting Billing Help and Information

If you ever have questions about your water bill or need help with online payments, St. Clair Shores has resources to assist:

• Contact the Water Billing Department: Call 586-447-3317 or visit City Hall in person

• Email: Send inquiries to [email protected]

• View FAQs: Answers to common billing questions are on the city website

The friendly staff can explain charges, set up payments, update account info, and more. Be sure to reach out if you need anything water bill related!

Avoid Late Fees and Disruptions

I always advise paying your water bill on time each quarter. If your payment is late, here’s what to expect:

• A 10% late penalty will be added if not paid within 21 days of the due date

• If still unpaid after 28 days, a shut off notice is issued

• After 35 days, your water service may be disrupted

• To restore service, you must pay the past due bill, late fees, and a $50 turn-on charge

Avoid these headaches and extra costs by paying on time every quarter. Online bill pay makes it quick and convenient.

Moving Out? Request a Final Bill

If you’re moving out of St. Clair Shores, be sure to request a final water meter read and close out your account.

• Call the Water Billing Department at least 3 days before your move date to schedule a final read

• Provide a forwarding address for your final bill

• The final bill will be issued within 1 business day after the final read

Closing your account ensures you only pay for the water used through your move out date. Don’t keep paying on an inactive account!