Billing
Utility bills are generated and mailed between the 23rd and 25th of each month, with payment due by the 15th of the following month. Customers are required to provide a valid U.S. Postal Service mailing address for all billing and utility-related correspondence.
Email billing is available upon request. To enroll, please contact the Utility Department at (406) 892-4392.
Final Billing
If you are selling your property, please notify the Utility Department at least 48 hours in advance to schedule a final meter reading. This ensures that the correct party is billed for final usage.
Please note: The City does not perform move-in/move-out readings for tenants. Utility billing distribution for rental properties is the responsibility of the property owner.
Deposits
The City of Columbia Falls does not collect a Water/Sewer Deposit from property owners.
Past Due Bills & Penalties
Utility bills are considered past due if not paid by the 15th of the month. If an account is delinquent by $25 or more, a past due notice will be issued in addition to the regular billing. Past due balances must be paid by the 8th of the following month to avoid further action.
If payment is not received or arrangements are not made by that date, a door notice ("Hang Notice") will be delivered to the service address. A $5.00 hang notice fee will be added to the account. If payment is still not received after the notice period, water service will be disconnected, and a $25.00 shut-off fee will apply. To restore service, the total past due balance and all associated fees must be paid in full.
To avoid service disruption and additional charges, please contact the Utility Department at (406) 892-4392 to discuss payment arrangements prior to the shut-off date.
Penalty
A late fee is applied to unpaid balances after the 15th of each month. The penalty is $2.00 or 1% of the unpaid balance, whichever is greater. Please allow adequate time for mailed payments or payments made through your financial institution to be processed by the due date.