Osceola Water Works is proud to be able to offer customers many convenient options for paying utility bills. With the community growing and new families and individuals taking up residence, the water works department felt it would be beneficial to run through the billing and penalty regulations and ensure all customers are aware of the options available to them.
For the convenience of all of our customers, let us outline the utility bill payment process and all the payment options and regulations.
Osceola Water Works offers different options for you to make your payment to us. You can always stop into the Water Works office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to make your payment in person, drop your payment in one of the two drop boxes in our parking area (Please make certain your payment is received before 8:30 a.m. for same day processing.), automatic withdrawal from your checking or savings account on the utility bill due date (15th), through the U.S. Postal Service (Please allow time for processing.) or by online payment.
The online payment processing is set up for your convenience. Please make certain you allow 2-3 business days for your payment to process. To better serve you, Osceola Water Board of Trustees has decided to absorb all costs associated with the online payment processing service.
Osceola Water Works contracted with Forte Payment Systems for the online payment processing. When you make your payment online, you need your utility account number. This can be found on your utility bill or you may contact the Water Works office to obtain this information. Once you process your payment online, the payment goes to a holding processing bank with Forte Payment Systems and then goes through the clearing process of the U.S. Treasury before it is passed onto Osceola Water Works who applies the payment to your utility account. The above information is why the processing must be completed 2-3 business days before your payment is applied. If paying online, Osceola Water Works recommends paying no later than the 13th of the month to avoid any late penalties.
Osceola Water Works continues to read your water meter the third week of each month. Once the water meters are read, Osceola Water Works calculates the consumption and prints the utility bills on the last working day of each month. These bills are then delivered to the U.S. Post Office for delivery to you. In 2014, Osceola Water Works issued the option to customers to have their utility bill e-mailed instead of mailed. This option is still available today.
The utility bills are due when they are issued and have a grace period until the 15th of each month. To be consistent with past practices, Osceola Water Works retained putting the due date as of the 15th of the month on the utility bill postcard. If the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, the Osceola Water Board of Trustees has allowed for the due date to be extended to the end of the next business day. At completion of this days processing, a 10% penalty is applied to any unpaid balance and a disconnect notice is printed and mailed issuing twelve (12) days for the customer to make payment.
The disconnection of service for non-payment process starts promptly the day of scheduled disconnection. If the bill is not paid and your services are disconnected, the customer is required to make payment in the form of cash or check to the Water Works office for the delinquent amount plus applicable reconnection fee before services are restored. The reconnection fee payment is $65.00 if reconnected during regular business hours, $85.00 if reconnected after regular business hours and $130.00 if reconnected during holiday hours.
If you are unable to make your payment in full, Osceola Water Works does offer a payment arrangement to you. For your convenience, you may pick up a form in the Water Works office or on our website. Please provide your completed payment arrangement form with half of the unpaid balance to Osceola Water Works prior to being disconnected. If your services are disconnected due to non-payment, you will not be offered a payment arrangement form.
Please click HERE to download the official Rules regarding billing and penalties. If you have any questions regarding your utility bill or payments and penalties, please call the Water Works Office at 641-342-1435, email Carrie Benda, Utility Office Manager, at osceolawater3@windstream.
