Why Choose Budget Billing?
Budget Billing is designed to level out seasonal variation in your utility bill and give you a predictable bill amount every month. When you know ahead of time what your utility payment will be, it’s easier to manage your household budget.
For most customers, utility bills are highest in the summer, when electric and water usage is highest. Budget Billing averages out the seasonal highs and lows, so you pay a similar amount every month.
How Budget Billing Works
Budget Billing does not reduce your overall utility expenses. It simply lets you spread them out more evenly over a 12-month period. Some months you will pay less than your actual bill and some months you will pay more to make up that difference, so your bills will stay more consistent.
- Your initial monthly Budget Billing amount will be calculated based on an average of your previous twelve months’ utility usage.
- Your monthly utility bill will show that you are participating in Budget Billing, your account balance and the date your payment is due. It will show your actual utility consumption and whether your account has a credit or debit balance.
- A credit balance means that your Budget Billing amount totals more than your actual usage.
- A debit balance means your Budget Billing amount totals less than your actual usage.
- After you have been on Budget Billing for six months, we will review and update your monthly Budget Billing amount. Any debit or credit balance accumulated will be factored into the formula that determines your next six months’ Budget Billing amount.
- Many customers notice that their Budget Billing amount is less than their Current Monthly Charges in hotter months, and more than their Current Monthly Charges in winter months. This is to be expected, because electric and water usage typically peak during the summer months. It’s best to stay on Budget Billing for at least one year to realize the program benefits.
- It is important that you pay your bill by the due date each month. You may be removed from Budget Billing if a payment is missed or an insufficient amount paid. This could result in your accumulated balance becoming due immediately.
- There is no cost to participate, and you may cancel at any time.
Eligibility
- All City of Austin utility customers who are current on their monthly utility bill are eligible for Budget Billing.
- You may not sign up for Budget Billing if you have a Past Due amount or are on a Payment Arrangement.
- Customers with an existing utility account must have six months of service at their current address.
- Customers with less than six months of service at their current address may join the program only if they consent to the calculation of their monthly payment amount using the last twelve months of utility usage data for the service address. Please note that typical usage data for previous residents at your address may not be typical for you, as utility costs are affected by number of residents, usage habits, and many other factors.
Start or Stop Budget Billing
It's easy to sign up for Budget Billing.
- Online — Log in to City of Austin Online Customer Care. If you sign up online, a Customer Care Representative may contact you if we need more information.
- By Phone — Call Customer Care at 512-494-9400 to speak with a representative.
Budget Billing takes effect on the next bill after you sign up. You will receive a notice on your bill letting you know that Budget Billing has started. Each bill will include a reminder that you are on Budget Billing.
Cancellation of Budget Billing — A cancellation will take effect on the next bill after you cancel.
- If you have a debit amount, the amount you owe will become due on the due date of your next bill.
- If you have a credit balance, it will be applied to your next bill.
- If you move to a new address, your Budget Billing enrollment will not be transferred. Please contact Customer Care to re-enroll.
Learn More
Budget Billing
Consistent utility bill amounts month-to-month help make budgeting easier.
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