Utility Billing and Customer Service

Audit Contracts Update as of 8/28/25

The Utility Billing department is currently in the process of reviewing all city utility contracts on file. For accounts that are missing contracts or have outdated contracts on file (signed before 2020), we will be sending out new contracts for property owners to sign and return to us. Some may arrive by email, and others will be sent through the postal service. If you have concerns about this paperwork when you receive it, please give us a call at 406-727-7660 with any questions. 

Customer Service

We are located in the Civic Center in Room 104.
Office Hours:  Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Payment Window Hours:  Monday-Friday from 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Phone: (406) 727-7660   Fax: (406) 452-8048

If you have an after hours emergency for water shut off, please call (406) 727-1325. Water will not be turned on after hours.

Services Provided

• Water (Potable & Raw):  Metered monthly consumption (residential low income rate available)
• Fire Hydrant:  Flat monthly fee based on meter size or per lot or parcel
• Fire Lines:  Commercial flat monthly fee based on line size
• Irrigation:  Metered monthly consumption
• Sanitary Sewer Residential:  Flat monthly rate based on winter quarter water usage consumption average (December-March meter readings)
• Sanitary Sewer Commercial:  Based on metered monthly water consumption or winter quarter average available by application
• Storm Drain:  Flat monthly rate based on square footage of property and land use designation
• Sanitation:  Flat monthly rate (residential low income rate available)

Moving/Ownership Changes

If you have sold your property, please contact Customer Service at (406) 727-7660 immediately after your closing to arrange for a final meter reading at the service address.  If you are moving to another address in our service area, please also call to establish utility services at your new address. It is your responsibility to contact Customer Service to initiate or terminate services and to provide Customer Service with a forwarding address for billing of any final charges on the account. We cannot transfer services until both parties have signed at the title company and the sale is completely finalized.

If the utility bill at your previous address has an outstanding balance, and the previous account remains unpaid for 60 days, we will transfer the charges to your new account.

If you are moving away from the City, we will send a final bill to your forwarding address. If left unpaid for 60 days, the outstanding balance will be forwarded to a collection agency for immediate collection action.

We do not generate final bills for renters. If moving out of a rental property, please contact your landlord to arrange final payment.

NEW CUSTOMERS

If you are buying a new property, please call (406) 727-7660 or come into the Civic Center, Room 104, to establish service. New customers will be required to complete a contract and water authorization once a new account has been established.  Once you have received your new account number, please visit the Online Utility Forms page to complete the required documentation electronically.  A driver’s license or state issued ID is required for identification and to mitigate fraud and can be uploaded by taking a picture of your ID. The city assesses a $110.00 deposit for new owners with no established payment history. However, we can find to waive or reduce the deposit based on the results of a credit check. 

We do not set up accounts in renter's names. Please contact your landlord to arrange utility payments with them.

PROPERTY MANAGERS

A copy of the Property Management Agreement between the owner and the property manager is required.  The agreement must specifically reference utility services.  Property managers agree to act on behalf of the owner.  The owner of the property is ultimately responsible for all charges on the account.  Since the property manager does not occupy or own the premise, the utility account stays in the owner's name in care of the property manager.  

LIEN INFORMATION

Montana Code Annotated, 7-13-4309, gives the City of Great Falls the right to levy as a tax against the lot or parcel of real estate to which utility services were furnished and for which payment is delinquent.  After required notification, all charges, including penalties, will appear on the tax bill forwarded by Cascade County.  The City may, by suit, also collect past due assessments, interest, and penalties as a debt owing the City in any court of competent jurisdiction, including City Court.

YOUR UTILITY BILL

You will receive a City of Great Falls utility bill each month.  Payments are due 15 days from the bill date.  Several options are available to make your monthly payment:

• pay in person at the Civic Center, Room 104
• drop your payment in our 24-hour depository located in the parking lot on the south side of the Civic Center
• mail a check or money order in the self addressed return envelope
• utilize bill pay offered by your bank
• utilize the City's bank drafting program
• pay by debit card, credit card, or check by phone by calling (406) 727-7660, option 1 to make a payment then option 1 for utilities.
• pay online at https://municipalonlinepayments.com/greatfallsmt 

Please make checks payable to the City of Great Falls. Include the statement stub with your payment and write your account number on your check. If you are making payments on more than one account, please indicate the amount you wish to be credited to each account so that payments are posted correctly. A $30 non-refundable fee will be charged on all returned payments.

Checks that are torn, damaged, post-dated, stale-dated, totaled incorrectly or filled out incorrectly or incompletely may be sent back with a letter asking for payment to be re-submitted. 

BANK DRAFTING

Bank drafting debits your checking or savings account each month through a reliable and secure service. To initiate this option, a signed Bank Drafting Authorization Form and a voided check or letter from the bank on letterhead are required. Your bank account will be debited for the amount due on your utility bill on the due date.  

PAPERLESS BILLING

You may sign up to receive an "E-Bill Notification" from the City of Great Falls each month when your utility bill is ready.  You have the option to receive this e-mail notification with or without receiving a paper bill. 

DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS

All utility charges are due and payable 15 days after the bill date. After 2 months of unpaid charges, a letter will be sent to the property owner requesting immediate payment. After 3 months of unpaid charges, a red tag will be placed on the property's front door in a final attempt to collect any unpaid balances. The property is subject to termination of services if not paid by the due date on the red tag. If termination of services should occur, we will assess a reconnection fee on the account, and your balance must be paid in full in order for services to be restored. A deposit may be required for any future services with the City.

If you have any questions about a delinquent account or need to make payment arrangements, please call Utilities Customer Service at (406) 727-7660. If your account has been turned over to a collection agency for non-payment, you may contact the collection agency directly to make payment arrangements or call Utilities Customer Service at (406) 727-7660.