If you’re having trouble dealing with the utility directly and have ruled out leaks, excessive usage, and a broken meter, you might need to seek help from a third party. You may be referred to a customer dispute mediator by your utility, but you can also seek help from your state’s public utilities commission or attorney general’s office. In severe circumstances, a consumer advocate from a local news outlet might offer to look into the matter. Keep copies of all written evidence to support your claim and as verification of what happened during the disputed time in all circumstances.
What could cause a sudden increase in your water bill?
- Most prevalent is a leaking toilet or a toilet that continues to run after being flushed.
- Check the pipes and water heater in the basement or crawlspace if you have a broken water pipe or a visible leak.
- Check for damp spots in your yard if your service line between your water meter and your home is leaking.
Water use is generally higher during the summer due to lawns, pools, and gardening. In a typical month, a household of four uses 4000-5000 gallons of water.
Do-It-Yourself Toilet Assessment
- Remove the cover from the tank behind the toilet, flush it, and wait for it to fully refill.
- Fill the tank with food coloring or a colorful dye tablet (sold at Town Hall).
An incorrectly adjusted or broken fill (ballcock) valve is the second most prevalent type of leak. Remove the lid from the toilet tank, flush, and look for water draining into the overflow tubes when the tank is full to see whether this is the case.
For various sizes of leaks, the following table indicates the amount of water that can be lost and billed to your account:
What is the average Chicago water bill?
In 2021, based on Chicago water rates, this would imply that a resident uses $0.41 worth of water each day. The monthly water cost would be $12.50 as a result. Because the sewage rate is 100 percent of the water rate, your monthly water bill at this consumption would be roughly $25.
What are the upcoming water and sewer rate increases?
Beginning June 1, 2016, and every year afterwards, the yearly water rates shall be raised upwardly, if applicable, by applying the preceding year’s rate of inflation, according to the Municipal Code of Chicago. This increase is based on the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index – Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (Chicago All Items) for the 365-day period ending on the most recent January 1. However, any such annual rise must be limited to 105 percent of the preceding year’s rate.
Water and sewer rates rise in lockstep with the rate of inflation. These hikes are required to meet the ongoing costs of delivering safe, clean drinking water as well as eliminating waste water and storm runoff from Chicago’s streets. All of this is performed through a network of purification plants, tunnels, pumping stations, water mains, sewer mains, valves, and structures that need to be maintained on a regular basis. These services are required to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s water quality criteria. Chicago’s rates for fresh, clean water will remain among the lowest in the country, at less than a cent a gallon.
How do I determine if I have a metered or non-metered account?
Your account type is indicated in the blue box next to the Bill Summary on your consolidated utility bill. It will say whether the account is non-metered, metered, or MeterSave.
How are non-metered accounts billed?
Non-metered accounts are for properties without a water meter to track usage. Non-metered accounts, unlike metered accounts, are charged a set fee depending on characteristics such as building size, lot size, and plumbing fixtures, according to the Municipal Code of Chicago. A breakdown of the computed charges particular to the property is presented on the reverse of non-metered utility bills. See Chapter 11-12-270 of the Chicago Municipal Code for more information on non-metered charges.
How are metered accounts billed?
The actual water usage measured by the water meter is used to bill metered accounts. Water usage is measured in gallons or cubic feet, depending on the type of water meter installed on your home. Metered accounts’ water charges are computed by multiplying the amount of water used by the water rate.
Depending on the property type, metered accounts are billed monthly or bi-weekly.
The Department of Water Management (DWM) is occasionally unable to obtain an accurate meter reading. You will be sent an approximate bill if this happens. When DWM is able to obtain an accurate meter reading, you will be sent a bill that accurately reflects your usage. Customers are encouraged to request the installation of an automatic meter reader to minimize estimated reads that may not accurately reflect real usage. For further information, contact the DWM at 312.747.2862.
Can I manage my utility billing account online?
For utility bills, we now have a new web gateway. The following are some of the useful online features:
You can pay your bills with automatic debits from your bank account using the AutoPay feature. You won’t have to remember to pay your bill if you use AutoPay. There are no service costs, and you will be notified via email before the automated deduction takes place.
What is the Water-Sewer Tax?
Water and sewer tax costs have been included on utility bills since March 2017. The money raised from this tax will be used to make certain pension payments that are required by law. All non-exempt Chicago companies and residents are subject to the tax, which is reported as a distinct line item on utility bills. The Water-Sewer Tax FAQ lists the specific tax rates for each year.
What is the Garbage Fee?
The garbage fee is assessed to all premises that receive waste collection from the City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation. See the Garbage Fee website for further details.
How do I dispute my utility bill?
We recommend paying online, over the phone, or in person at a City of Chicago Department of Finance Payment Center if you have received a notification of water service termination.
Payment plans are available if you are unable to pay your amount in full. More details can be found under utility bill payment plans.
How do I change the name on an account when a property has transferred or is going to be transferred?
Through the Full Payment Certificate Process, the owner’s name is changed. When real estate is transferred in the City of Chicago, the transferor must acquire a Full Payment Certificate (FPC) from the Chicago Department of Finance, as required by ordinance. The FPC application informs the Department of Finance that service should be transferred from the transferor’s name to the transferee’s name.
Please contact the Department of Finance/Utility Billing & Customer Service if you continue to receive invoices in the previous owner’s name. You can request a change by filling out the Change of Owner Name/Mailing Address Form. You may be needed to produce a copy of the deed and/or full payment certificate if Utility Billing & Customer Service does not have a record of the Full Payment Certificate from your closing.
How do I get a refund?
A Refund Application is available for download. Fill out the application completely and thoroughly. Make sure it’s entirely filled out and that you’ve attached all of the required supporting documents. Due to a lack of paperwork, an incomplete application will be declined.
Why am I receiving an estimated bill?
Meters are typically read every 30 to 60 days. The Department of Water Management is occasionally unable to obtain an accurate meter reading. This could happen if we are unable to receive an electronic signal from your meter or if access to the meter is restricted. You will be sent an approximate bill if this happens. When the Department of Water Management is able to obtain an accurate meter reading, you will be sent a bill that accurately reflects your usage.
Customers are encouraged to request the installation of an automatic meter reader to make it easier to collect accurate meter readings and assure accurate billing. For further information, contact the DWM at 312.747.2862.
I received a letter stating that my meter is running continuously, what does this mean?
This letter is being sent to you as a courtesy to alert you about the possibility of a water leak in or on your property. A meter that keeps running is a sign of a leak. It could also be the amount of water you use on a regular basis. This is something you should look into further.
By ordinance, the Department of Finance must bill and collect for all water usage recorded on your water meter. When water has been used, squandered, or lost due to leakage after registration, no account modifications or billing cancellation can be performed.
I received an Orange Notice of Water Service Termination what does this mean?
This implies that owing to non-payment, your water will be turned off as of the date on the notice. You must make payment or enter into a payment plan by the shut-off date on the notice to avoid water service termination.
I received a Yellow Notice of Water Service Termination what does this mean?
This implies that your water will be turned off as of the date on the notice because DWM has been denied access to the building’s water meter. To avoid having your water supply terminated, call DWM at 312.747.9090 to schedule a meter reading within 10 days of the notice’s date.
What should I do if my water has been shut-off for non-payment?
You must either pay your account in full or enroll in an eligible payment plan if you qualify.
Before your water service can be restored, you must sign a Release of Liability if your water has been turned off for more than 30 days.
NOTE: A $500.00 punishment will be imposed if your water is unlawfully restored. The Department of Water Management inspects properties on a regular basis to see if the water has been unlawfully restored.
Can a tenant have the water bill put in their name?
Although a property owner may request that water bills be delivered to a tenant’s name, this does not absolve the owner of the subject property of duty for unpaid utility expenses. To include the tenant’s name in the mailing address, please fill out a Change of Owner Name/Mailing Address Form.
Does filing bankruptcy relieve me of outstanding utility charges?
Your account will be updated to reflect that the bankruptcy was filed for the stated pre-petition charges after you have been notified. All new post-petition charges must be paid in whole and on time by you. We reserve the right to pursue collection actions, including the termination of your water service, if your current costs are not paid.
How do I remove my name from an account for a property lost in foreclosure?
The titleholder of record is responsible for all utility billing account charges up to the date of foreclosure, according to the Chicago Municipal Code. The borrower may still have certain rights to the property until a Foreclosure Deed is signed. The titleholder of record remains liable for utility billing obligations if the foreclosure is only pending (Lis Pendens) and not yet executed.
In a house, what uses the most water?
The largest single use of water in a home is flushing the toilet. For each flush, most toilets utilize 4 to 6 gallons of water. On average, a dishwasher uses half as much water as hand-washing and rinsing dishes. This entry was filed in and tagged,,,,,,
Is it possible for water meters to malfunction?
If you believe your water meter is broken or malfunctioning, you should contact your water provider. If you don’t, you can end up paying too much or too little for your water.
However, before you arrange for your meter to be examined, assess whether your water habits have changed. Is your meter malfunctioning, or are you simply consuming more water than you realize?
Your supplier will be able to advise you on what tests you may perform to determine whether or not your meter is faulty or broken. If you still believe it is, your supplier will send it to an independent testing facility to be tested, and a new one will be placed in its place. Your old meter will be put through its paces on a Trading Standards-approved test rig and its performance will be compared to national standards.
Please be advised that if the test reveals that the meter is not defective, you will be responsible for the test fee, which is currently 70.00 + VAT. If it fails, however, your supplier will pay for the test and adjust your account based on the results.
Is the water in Chicago free?
Filters for Water MeterSave provides free water meters to households who are current on their water payments in single family and two-flat residences. To be clear, Chicago’s water is safe to drink, and we’re taking this precaution out of prudence.
In Illinois, how do I appeal my water bill?
You should submit a complaint with the Illinois Commerce Commission if you are unable to reach an agreement (ICC). You can file a complaint informally in the following ways:
If your service is down, the quickest way to get started is to call and make a complaint.
It may take 2 to 4 weeks for these informal complaints to be resolved. An ICC counselor will contact the utility company for more information after gathering information from you. The counselor will attempt to resolve the dispute in a way that is acceptable to all parties. The counselor has no power to decide the outcome if either side disagrees with a suggested resolution. You must continue to pay current bills and the undisputed portion of a past-due debt or enter into a DPA for its payment while your complaint is being examined.
What is non-metered water, and how does it differ from metered water?
You are an unmetered client if you do not have a water meter. The amount of water you use has no bearing on your cost.
- a set price (sometimes known as a’standing charge’) that covers costs such as billing and customer service; and
If you’re an unmetered client, switching to a water meter could save you money on your bill.
If you move to a meter, your water company can tell you if you can save money. Online calculators are available on some company websites. On its website, CCW includes a calculator.