Utility Billing FAQ's

In order to set up a new utility account, the person who will be responsible for the bill must come in to the Othello City Hall with a photo ID.  Staff will collect your information and have you show your ID and sign your paperwork.

Yes, a renter can put an account into his/her name.  A renter authorization form, available at City Hall, must be filled out and signed by the owner of the property before an account will be set up in a renter’s name.

City utility bills include water, sewer, and garbage services.

If you sign up for your account before the 15^th of the month, you will see your first bill at the end of the same month.  (Example:  Sign up on the first of the month, receive your bill at the end of the same month.) 

If you sign up for your account after the 15^th of the month, you will not see your first bill until the end of the following month.  (Example:  Sign up on the 20^th of the month, receive your first bill at the end of the following month.)

Utility bills are due by the 10^th of each month.

Bills can be paid at the Othello City Hall from 8:00 am – 5 pm, Monday through Friday.  A dropbox is provided in front of the building near the flagpole for check or money order payments – no cash payments should be put into the dropbox.

Yes, payment can be made online through your bank’s billpay system or through www.xpressbillpay.com using a debit/credit card or sent directly from your checking account.  You must have your new account number before setting up a payment.

Late fees are assessed only if you have a two-month balance on your bill and have not paid at least the past due portion of your bill by the 10^th of the month.  On the 11^th of the month, regardless of what day of the week it is or if it is a holiday, a $20 late fee will be attached to your account.

Delinquent notices are sent out on the 11^th of the month or the first working day after the 11^th to accounts having a two-month bill.  This notice will state a due date by which the bill should be paid.

If you have a two-month balance which is not paid by the 10^th, a delinquent notice will be mailed to you.  Approximately seven days after the date of the notice, Public Works employees will attempt to contact you at your service location.  At that time, you will be given 30 minutes to contact City Hall to pay your bill or make arrangements for payment with the utility biller.  If no one is at the service location when the Public Works employees arrive, the meter is turned off.

Water will be turned on when the bill is paid in full plus a $40 shutoff fee.  If payment is made after 3:30 pm and needs to be turned on immediately, a $75 fee will be charged to call a Public Works employee back to work to accommodate you.    

Garbage days are Wednesdays and Fridays for residential, Tuesdays and Fridays for commercials.  Call City Hall at (509) 488-5686 for information on your designated pickup day.

The City does not offer curbside recycling.  There are recycling containers for the City’s residential customers at 250 N Broadway Ave.  These are for residential use only.  Items that can be recycled at this location are newspapers, aluminum, and cardboard – no plastics or glass.