Utility Billing and Customer Service
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 senior citizen rate available for 65 or older)
NEW CUSTOMERS
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. A credit check will be performed to assess credit risk, and a utility deposit may be charged to customers who pose a credit risk to the City.
MOVING/OWNERSHIP CHANGES
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. 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.
OWNER / TENANT INFORMATION
The owner of a property may request that the City of Great Falls bill a tenant. When a request to add or change tenants on a property has been made, the owner of the property will be required to submit a Request to Bill Tenant Form, which is available through Customer Service. This is a contract between the owner of the property and the City which states the requirements and policies for tenants to receive utility services in their name. The property owner is ultimately responsible for all utility charges on rental properties, including delinquent amounts and penalties. A credit check will be performed to assess the credit risk posed to the City by the tenant(s) and a utility deposit may be required. Tenants will have 15 days to pay any deposit assessed on the account or the water service to the property will be terminated for non-payment of the deposit. The owner and both the outgoing and incoming tenants must not have any delinquent charges or any prior unpaid balances for services with the City of Great Falls. The City will furnish copies of all monthly utility statements and any delinquency notices to the owner. It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that tenants remain current. If water is shut off for non-payment, the account will revert to the owner, and the owner will be responsible for payment in full in order to reinstate services.
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.
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. If you choose to pay online, you can access the online payment system by going to the Utilities Customer Portal.
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. You also have the option to view and pay your bill online. Customer Service can assist you with setting up these services.
DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS
All utility charges are due and payable 15 days after the bill date. A penalty of 1.5% per month will be assessed on any charges 30 days past due. A red tag will be placed on your front door in a final attempt to collect any unpaid balances. The property is subject to termination of services if left unpaid for 90 days. If termination of services should occur, all outstanding fees, a reconnection fee, and a deposit will be charged and are due in full before services are restored. 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. In order for services to be restored, your balance must be paid in full. A deposit may be required for any future services with the City.
UTILITY SHARE PROGRAM
The City of Great Falls offers an assistance program for those customers who find themselves faced with termination of services for non-payment and have no means to pay. This program is administered by Opportunities, Inc. If you need assistance, please contact the Community Resource Center directly at (406) 216-2300. If you would like to make a donation to this program, please direct contributions to Opportunities, Inc., PO Box 2288, Great Falls, MT 59403, and specify that your contribution is for the Utility Share Program.
