Utilities & COVID-19

Effective March 17, 2020, the City of Benicia has implemented a moratorium on service disconnections and late fees for non-payment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the current closure of City Hall offices.

This suspension will apply to both residential and commercial water and sewer customers and will remain in effect until June 15, 2020 or the end of the pandemic whichever is later.

To further support customers who may be impacted by the pandemic, the City will offer its most flexible payment plan to customers who indicate either an impact or hardship as a result of COVID-19.

TO APPLY FOR THIS ASSISTANCE: Complete the Benicia Utilities COVID-19 Payment Arrangement Agreement and email it to utilitybilling@ci.benicia.ca.us. Upon the Finance Department's receipt of the application, you will be contacted by our staff regarding next steps.

Although the City’s offices are closed to the public, customers can make payments in many ways, including:

• Paying online at www.ci.benicia.ca.us/UtilityBilling

• Using the drop box located in front of City Hall – do not leave cash in this depository.

If you have other service questions regarding starting or stopping water services, or other service-related issues, please go to our website and fill out the appropriate form and email it to utilitybilling@ci.benicia.ca.us.

 

CHANGE COMING TO ONLINE WATER/SEWER UTILITY PAYMENT SYSTEM

If you pay your water/sewer utility bill by autopay or have called the City’s Finance Department to pay by credit card or e-check, there will be a change coming and you will need to reregister.The City of Benicia is changing to a more user-friendly billing system, which will make it much easier to review your bill and update your payment method. Changing to the new billing system requires a change in our credit card processing company. Your utility account number will change, too.

When the new system goes live on Monday, August 17, 2020, your payment information in the old system will no longer be available to the City of Benicia. To have your payment credited on time, you will need to enter your new account-customer number and online payment information in the new system.

Important Dates:

August 4 at 4 p.m. Current online water/sewer payment system (Paymentus) will deactivate.

August 5 – 16 You may pay by mail, in person at City Hall Finance Department or use the convenient secure drop-box in front of City Hall. Pay by phone will no longer be available.

August 17 Online payments resume using the new Citizen Self Service (CSS) system.

Update your online water/sewer utility payment information in the new CSS system, beginning August 17, by going to https://BeniciaCA.MunisSelfService.com. Use the new account-customer number on your bill or call the Finance Department at 707.746.4225 for the new number. Once you’ve registered you can:

✓ Make a one-time payment by credit card or set up reoccurring autopay credit card payments.

✓ Pay by electronic fund transfer (EFT) from your checking account.

✓ Easily update your credit card or EFT information anytime.

The City of Benicia Finance Department will have a dedicated Call Center waiting to help you get set up in the new system. Give them a call at 707.746.4225 on or after Monday, August 17, 2020. To view and manage your water usage, visit https://Benicia.WaterInsight.com. 

 

UTILITY BILLING SUMMARY

The City supplies municipal water and sanitary sewer service to the community. The main source of City water is the State Water Project - North Bay Aqueduct. Total system capacity is 12 million gallons per day (mgd). Peak usage during the Winter is 4 mgd and during the Summer, 8 mgd. A comprehensive report can be obtained from the Public Works Department, 746-4240. Details about City fees can be found in Section 13.12 of the Municipal Code.