FAQs • Baytown, TX • CivicEngage

How can they read my meter when it's full of water or has grass grown over it?: With the implementation of Automated Meter Reading (AMR), readings are obtained electronically even if the meter box is full of water or has grass grown over it. The ProRead registers are sealed and transmit through a Meter Interface Unit (MIU) located in the meter box lid which picks up the readings emitted by radio frequency.

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Utility Billing FAQs

1. Can I pay my bill at any other location?

Yes. The Food Town on Garth, Baker, and North Main, Wal-Mart on Garth and Highway 146, Kroger on Garth and Alexander Drive, JoeV’s on Garth, and Ace Cash, both Garth locations.

To avoid late charges, payment must be received in the Utility Billing office by 4:00 p.m. on the due date.

2. Do you accept credit cards by internet or phone?

By internet, yes. Mastercard, Visa, and Discover credit cards. You can pay online by visiting our online payment portal.

To avoid late charges, payment must be received in the Utility Billing office by 4:00 p.m. on the due date. We do not offer phone payments.

3. Do you charge a late fee?

Yes. The late charges are 10% of the water, sewer, garbage, and Municipal Drainage Utility Service (MDUS) charges.

To avoid late charges, payment must be received in the Utility Billing office by 4:00 p.m. on the due date.

Payments left in the night drop after 4:00 p.m. on the due date are considered late and will have a late fee assessed. Payments made using Official Payments are posted the next business day when funds are received and therefore are considered late.

4. Do you offer payments by bank draft?: Yes. Visit our online payment portal page to set up automatic bank draft.

5. Do you send a notice before water is disconnected for non-payment?: Yes. The Utility Billing office sends a notice of non-payment in the form of a letter once the account is past due and at least eight days prior to the proposed termination date. The letter states the date by which payment must be made to avoid service interruption.

6. How much is the deposit?: If you own the property, the deposit is $50.00 per unit. If you are renting or leasing, the deposit is $200.00 per unit. Business and commercial deposits are calculated based on comparable business use applied to current rates. There is also a $30.00 service fee per meter.

7. Is my payment posted to my account the same day it is received?: Payments received in the Utility Billing office before 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday are posted the same day received. Payments placed in the night drop box or paid online are posted the next business day.

8. Is there a charge for transfer of service?: Yes. There is a $25.00 service charge to transfer service and the bill must be paid to date.

9. What are my payment options?

The City accepts cash, check, money orders, automatic bank draft, and a credit card with proper identification.

In person/drive-thru Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m.

Online: www.baytown.org (Online Services)

Automatic Bank Draft

Night Drop

Mail: PO Box 4265 Houston, Texas 77210-4265

Utility Service Payment Portal

10. What determines the amount on my utility water bill?: This is determined by water usage recorded on your individual water meter, which is read monthly. The number of occupants of the home, the size of the home, and the size of the lawn are some of the possible factors that my or may not apply. The meter tells us exact usage.

11. What if I cannot pay my bill? Is there a place in Baytown that will provide assistance?

Yes. Please contact one of the following office.

Baytown Resource and Assistance Center at 281-424-5752

Harris County Social Services at 281-422-8564

12. What is the MDUS fee on my bill?: The MDUS fee stands for Municipal Drainage Utility System. Please contact the Engineering Department at 281-420-6545 for more information.

13. What will I need to pay if my water is disconnected for non-payment?: The past due amount plus a $50.00 delinquent fee. If all outstanding charges or fees are paid in the Utility Billing office before 2:00 p.m., the water will be reconnected the same day. If payment is made after 2:00 p.m., water will be restored the next business day

14. When am I charged a $50.00 delinquent fee?: The $50.00 delinquent fee is automatically generated and charged, if the past due amount is not paid in the Utility Billing office before 4:00 p.m. on the notice for non-payment due date.

15. When can I make a payment arrangement?: At any time authorized by Utility Billing prior to your payment due date. Once services have been disconnected, a payment arrangement is not available. All payment arrangements must meet eligibility requirements.

16. When payments are mailed or paid online, when is the payment applied to my account?: Once the funds are physically received in the Utility Billing office, which generally takes 1 to 3 days depending on the method used. We encourage you not to use these methods if you have received a delinquent disconnect notice.

17. When will I get my deposit back?: When the account is closed, the deposit is applied toward payment of the final billing. Any credit balance is refunded to the customer by check after the final bill has been processed.

18. Why is my bill so high?: A leak can cause higher usage also seasonal usage such as lawn watering, children’s wading pools, filling pools, additional laundry, and washing automobiles. Also, a misread or defective meter can cause a high bill. Your options in case of a leak: Perform self leak test, request a meter reread ($10.00 charge), or request a meter test ($25.00 charge). We encourage you to notify us immediately.

19. Can I look up my utility billing account on this website?: You will need to register on the Utility Service payment portal to have access to view your bill on this website.

20. Do you have a drive through window or a night deposit box?: No. The night deposit boxes are located in the front and rear of the Utility Billing Office. Payments placed in the night deposit box are posted the next business day.

21. How can they read my meter when it's full of water or has grass grown over it?: With the implementation of Automated Meter Reading (AMR), readings are obtained electronically even if the meter box is full of water or has grass grown over it. The ProRead registers are sealed and transmit through a Meter Interface Unit (MIU) located in the meter box lid which picks up the readings emitted by radio frequency.

22. How do you figure the sewer charge?: Residential sewer charges are based on the customer’s monthly water consumption with a cap of 12,000 gallons per month. Commercial sewer charges are based on the customer’s monthly water consumption with no cap.

23. How is the meter read and when?: Readings are obtained electronically with a special "drive-by" computer, which picks up the readings emitted by radio frequency through a Meter Interface Unit (MIU). Customers are billed in thousands of gallons so not all dials are used in calculating the bill. The last two digits on the right are dropped when entering the reading for billing, i.e. 547413 is read 6474. The previous reading is subtracted from the current reading to calculate the amount of water used between readings. The meter is read each month.

24. Is the water tested?: Yes. BAWA, Baytown Area Water Authority, tests for quality control 24 hours a day. They have 94 sampling points, per month, throughout the City of Baytown. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEW formerly TNRCC) also conducts tests periodically. BAWA was the fourth plant out of over 500 treatment plants in Texas to receive the Texas Optimization Program (TOP) status. BAWA goes above and beyond the minimum limits set by TCEQ.

25. Where does our water come from?: Baytown Area Water Authority (BAWA), a surface water treatment facility which receives their raw water from the City of Houston.

26. Why are the payments mailed to a post office box in Houston?: The City has a contract with Cadence Bank in Houston to process payments through our lock box.

27. How do I check for a leak?: Turn off all indoor and outdoor faucets and water operable appliances. Go to your meter and open the black lid. You may need a flashlight to wake your meter. Shine the flashlight on the meter. If a small faucet with a drip of water appears, you have a leak.

28. What are the most common causes of a leak?: Dripping faucets, leaking joints, and running toilets. Toilet leaks are the hardest to detect. Sometimes it takes months before you can hear a toilet leaking.

29. What is the mailing address for payments?

City of Baytown - Utility Billing

PO Box 4265

Houston, TX 77210-4265