Having reliable water service is vital for any home or business. If you’re an Alco Water Service customer in Salinas, CA, it’s important to understand your water bill and know all your payment options. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll explain everything you need to know about paying your Alco Water bill smoothly and avoiding any late fees.
Below I’ll cover
- An overview of Alco Water Service
- Details on what’s included on your bill
- When bills are issued and due
- Payment methods Alco offers
- Setting up auto-pay or online payments
- Programs to assist with bill payment
- Tips for monitoring and reducing your water usage
Let’s dive in!
About Alco Water Service
Alco Water Service is one of two private water companies serving Salinas residents and businesses They provide reliable water service and bill customers monthly for usage
Understanding Your Bill
Your Alco Water Service bill charges for:
- Water usage – Rate per unit used based on a tiered structure
- Service charge – Monthly fixed fee
- Taxes, fees and surcharges
Usage varies seasonally, so review charges each month to spot high use. Check for leaks which can drive up your bill.
Due Dates and Late Fees
Alco Water bills are typically due within 20-25 days of the issue date. Payments received after the due date incur late fees.
I recommend paying a few days early to ensure on-time payment and avoid penalties.
Payment Options
Alco Water offers several ways to pay your bill:
- By mail – Send check or money order to Alco’s payment center
- Online – Pay by credit/debit card or e-check via the online portal
- By phone – Call Alco’s payment line and pay with a card
- Auto-pay – Enroll to have payments deducted from your bank account
I suggest auto-pay or online pay for easy automated payments.
Setting Up Online or Auto Payments
Here’s how to enroll in online bill pay or auto payments:
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Online – Register at Alco’s online payment site with your account number.
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Auto-pay – Download the auto-pay form from Alco’s website and submit it by mail with a voided check.
Manage your account online to monitor usage and charges. I recommend paperless billing too!
Payment Assistance Programs
If you’re having trouble paying your bill, Alco offers payment plans or discounted rates based on income. Contact their customer service for details on assistance.
Controlling Your Water Usage
To reduce your water bill, I suggest:
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Checking usage every month to catch spikes.
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Monitoring for leaks and fixing any dripping faucets.
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Installing water-efficient aerators and showerheads.
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Comparing rates across usage tiers.
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Setting payment reminders to avoid late fees.
Pay By PowerPal AppIf you have a smart phone you can download the PowerPal app, enter your account information, and pay your utility bill via the app. Pay By Phone
- The utility billing phone number is 865-380-4890, Option No. 2. There may be a different option number after work hours.
- Payments made after 3 p.m. Eastern Time will not be received until 3 p.m. Eastern Time the next business day.
- Please do not use this system if you need immediate credit.
- Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted.
Mail your payment to:
City of Alcoa P.O. Box 9610 Alcoa, TN 37701
(Check or Money Orders Only)
Payment drop box is located at the following location:
Sign up for bank draft service at the City of Alcoa Municipal Building.
Some Medicare Advantage plans recently broadened the scope of benefits offered to include eligible utility payments. Depending on the program, money is loaded onto a separate card or onto your insurance card, and those funds can be used to pay utility payments. These forms of payment have limited processing options and currently cannot be processed in person.
Please be aware of the following:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield cards may only be used when paying by phone. At this time all other processing methods have not been established through Blue Cross Blue Shield. For more information please visit: https://bluecareplus.bcbst.com/publicsites/bluecareplus/our-plans/benefits
- The United Healthcare UCard cannot be used in the office, by phone, or through the online payment portal. To gain access to your United Healthcare benefit of paying utilities you must register for the UCard Hub website or mobile app. For more information please visit: https://www.uhc.com/medicare/shop/ucard.html
Payments made using UCard may take several business days to be received by the City of Alcoa. Please allow additional time for payment to be received and processed.
For additional information we encourage you to contact United Healthcare Ucard benefits directly at 1-800-607-2877.
How to Pay Your Water Bill Online – One Time Payments
FAQ
How do I pay my water bill in California?
You can pay your Cal Water bill over the phone by calling (888) 598-9824 (toll-free). You can use a bank account, a Visa (credit or debit), MasterCard (credit or debit), or Discover card.
How do I pay my DC water bill?
Credit Card: DC Water accepts credit card payments from your VISA, Mastercard, Discover Card or AMEX. You can pay online at My DC Water or call (202) 354-3600, 24 hours a day. People who pay in cash: You can pay your DC Water bill in cash at a number of Western Union locations.
How do I pay my water bill in Texas?
There is an online form to fill out that only needs your account number and PIN number. It only takes two minutes. Enjoy the convenience of paying your bill online. Available 24/7, Texas Water Utilities’ online bill pay system is safe, secure, and free. Payments typically post to customer accounts within 1 hour.