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Avoid Late Fees, Penalties, & Service Shut-off
In order to avoid late fees, penalties, and water service shut-off for non-payment, it's important to know the "life cycle" of your bill and the key dates used to determine when your bill is considered unpaid or past due.
If you ever have questions or concerns about your utility account, please contact the Utility Services Division at (912) 651-6460 or use our online contact form at www.savannahga.gov/customercontact.
Below is a table which shows when bills are due, when additional fees are added, and when the service shut-off period begins.
| Bill Life Cycle | Approximate Days | Fee Charged |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Mailed | 0 | |
| Bill Due | 20 | |
| Last Day to Pay Without Penalty | 30 | |
| Penalty Added/Reminder Notice Sent | 31 | $5 or 10% (whichever is greater) |
| Administrative Processing Fees Assessed | 38 | $50 |
| Service Shut-off Period Begins | 38 |
Fees & Penalty FAQs
Why is there a $50 fee on my bill?
The $50 administrative processing fee (admin fee) is added when a bill is not paid within 18 days after its due date. The fee is for the cost of managing the delinquency process for past due accounts.
Is this a cut-off fee? If so, why am I being charged the fee but my water is still on?
The admin fee applies to all bills that are subject to water service cut-off, but it is not a “cut-off fee”. The fee is for the cost of managing the entire delinquency process, not just the service cut-off phase.
Will I be charged additional fees to restore my water service after I am cut-off and have paid my balance in full?
There is no fee to reconnect water service.
Why is the City charging an administrative fee?
The admin fee is designed to defray the cost of managing delinquent accounts—which includes the staff time and resources required to monitor delinquent accounts, as well as the cost for crews to manage service cut-offs and restorations.
It would be unfair to ask customers who pay on time to also pay for the cost of managing delinquent accounts, so the City has targeted penalties and fees which only apply to past due bills.
My bill is due soon and I can’t pay the full amount. Can I avoid the admin fee?
Yes, the admin fee can be avoided by entering into a payment arrangement before the initial due date on the bill.