Utility Bill
Accounts inside the City of Santa Cruz, most of which are billed for water, sewer and refuse, are billed monthly. Accounts in unincorporated areas, which are billed only for water, are billed bi-monthly. The utility bill includes: the billing period, utility consumption during the period, the amount due for services, a graph showing water use, the payment due date, and the late payment date.
There is a 35-day period in which the bill may be paid before it becomes delinquent. A reminder bill is automatically generated if the bill has not been paid within that time in accordance with Public Utility Commission regulations. A late fee is added to the bill if it becomes delinquent. Further lack of payment results in a 48-hour notice to the customer, followed by disconnection of service.
There is a $40 fee to turn water back on between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday IF it has been turned off for non-payment. The after hour/weekend fee will be $130.
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Types of Charges
All utility rates are established by resolution of the City Council. Utility charges are detailed in the Rate Schedule. All customers are charged a monthly "readiness-to-serve" charge to cover the basic costs of fire protection and customer services, including the meters and meter reading activity. Water use is charged according to the customer type and amount consumed. Single family residential and duplex customers are billed for water at five price levels, depending on how much water they consume.
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Block No.
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Inside City Monthly
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Outside City
Bi-Monthly
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Block 1: Essential Needs
Units per billing period:
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$ 1.57
1 to 4 units
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$ 2.00
1 to 8 units
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Block 2: Average Indoor Needs
Units per billing period: |
$ 4.00
5 to 9 units
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$ 5.10
9 to 18 units
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Block 3: Average Outdoor Needs
Units per billing period: |
$ 5.14
10 to 14 units
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$ 6.55
19 to 28 units
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Block 4: High Use (up to 200% of average use)
Units per billing period: |
$ 7.05
15 to 18 units
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$ 8.98
29 to 36 units
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Block 5: Inefficient Use
Units per billing period: |
$ 8.79
over 18 units
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$11.21
over 36 units
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| Coast Irrigation: |
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$ 1.27
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For All Other Customers:
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$ 4.00
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$ 5.10
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Elevation Surcharge:
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$ 0.20
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$ 0.20
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An 8.5% utility tax and a 3% franchise tax are charged on these amounts. All other customers are billed for water at the block 2 rate. Properties at higher elevations are assessed a small surcharge due to the added energy costs associated with pumping to elevated storage tanks.
Customers inside the City of Santa Cruz (see map) also receive sewer and refuse services from the City. Sewer service is charged at a flat rate for residential customers. Refuse charges vary according to the size of the container requested. Refuse rates include recycling services. All refuse customers are required to have the minimum service of one 20-gallon cart per week in accordance with the City Municipal Code. Requests for refuse service changes are charged a nominal fee and must be made in writing. Customers outside the City limits are assessed charges for sewer service through property tax bills and receive refuse and recycling services from a private waste company.
Payment Options
Customers may pay by cash, check, money order, automatic debit or Visa or MasterCard. Payments may be made in person Monday-Thursday and every other Friday at two locations: The SCMU office at 212 Locust Street from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and in Room 101 of City Hall, 809 Center Street from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Payments may also be dropped in a payment box outside the SCMU office or mailed to P.O. Box 682, Santa Cruz, CA 95061-0682. Payment may also be made over the phone with most major credit cards. Online Bill Pay
Terminating Utility Service
To terminate utility service, call SCMU at 831-420-5220 at least two days in advance and indicate the day, Monday-Thursday, you would like to terminate service. If the account is not in your name, you will be asked to confirm your authority. There is no fee to disconnect service, and the balance of your security deposit, if any, will be mailed to the forwarding address you provide for SCMU.