Utility Bills & Rates | Payment Plans - Charlestown Maryland

Utility Bills & Rates | Payment Plans

 

In-Town Residents:

  • Water: $73.05 for the first 13,500 gallons (minimum charge), plus $6.25 for each additional 1,000 gallons, billed quarterly.
  • Sewer: $122.85 for the first 9,000 gallons (minimum charge), plus $13.65 for each additional 1,000 gallons, billed quarterly. Rates are determined by Cecil County.
  • State Bay Restoration Fee: $15.00 flat rate, billed quarterly, as determined by the State of Maryland.

Out-Of-Town Residents:

  • $116.35 for the first 13,500 gallons (minimum charge), plus $6.90 for each additional 1,000 gallons, billed quarterly.

Important Notes:

Other Fees:

Administrative Fee: $2.00 (billed quarterly to residents who choose to receive their bills via mail; covers cost of postage, stationary, and extra staff time)
Meter Reading Fee: $25.00 (for settlements, etc.)
Shut-Off Fee: $50.00
NSF (Returned Check) Fee: $35.00
Payment Plan Late Fee: $25.00
Meter Lock Replacement Fee: $50.00
Online Payments:  2.95% convenience fee for credit and debit cards; free for e-checks (draft from bank account)

Options for Receiving Your Bills:

  • Mail. This is the default option unless you specify otherwise. Residents with a 21914 address must have a PO Box on file for us to send a bill via mail. Please note that there is a $2.00 Administrative Fee associated with this option to help cover postage, stationary, and staff time.
  • Email. If we have your email address on file and you give us permission, we can send your bill to you on the day that it is finalized. Emails will be sent from staff@charlestownmd.org. To ensure our emails don’t end up in your spam or trash folders, please add us to your contacts.
  • Online Payment Portal. If you’re having trouble receiving your bills via email or prefer not to wait for a mailed copy, you can access your bill through our Online Payment Portal. Simply enter your Account Number/ID and PIN in the Utility Account Information section, and click “View Current Bill.” You’ll have the option to print or download the bill for your records. This portal will also provide you with a history of your usage and payments.

Options for Paying Your Bills:

  • Online Payment Portal. You can pay using your credit or debit card with a 2.95% convenience fee or through a bank account free of charge. Consider setting up auto-pay to automatically settle your bill on the due date. Please note that the last date to set up auto-pay for 4th Quarter billing is January 31st.
  • In-Person at Town Hall. You can pay at Town Hall during office hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm) using cash, check, or money order. Make checks payable to “Town of Charlestown.”
  • Bank Payments. If you’re paying through your bank, please update your account number to ensure proper processing. Include the new account number in the memo section of your check. Please refrain from writing your PIN on any payment checks (whether personal, money order, or via a bill pay service), as it should remain confidential for online access. If your PIN is found on a check, it will be changed for security purposes.
  • After-Hours Drop Box. You can also utilize our After-Hours Drop Box located at the front door of Town Hall.

Billing and Shut-Off Procedures:

Residents typically receive a bill for both water and sewer services from the Town. However, if you live in Trinity Woods or Charlestown Manor, you will get a bill from the Town for water and from Cecil County for sewer.

Utility bills are sent out quarterly within the first 7-10 days of January, April, July, and October, and are due 30 days from the billing date (not the receipt date). If you haven’t received your bill by the 15th of the billing month, please contact Town Hall for assistance.

Late Payments: If you miss the due date, a 5% penalty is applied to the total balance. If payment is not made within two weeks, water service may be shut off. A $50 shut-off fee will apply, and the full balance must be paid to restore service.

Go Paperless! Opt to receive your bill via email to avoid a $2.00 administrative fee and to get it as soon as it’s finalized. Contact us at (410) 287-6173 or staff@charlestownmd.org to switch your account preference.

In Need of Assistance?

Payment Plans:

If you are experiencing a hardship in paying your utility bill, consider our payment plan option. Plans are available for balances of $300 or more and terms between 3-12 months. By adhering to your monthly payment schedule, no additional late fees will be incurred. Since plans are setup for a fixed outstanding balance, charges for future utility bills are still required to be paid by the due date or the payment plan will be considered in default.

Setting Up a Plan:

To establish a payment plan, a minimum deposit of $210.90 is required (this covers the minimum quarterly rate). A higher deposit will lower your monthly payment, as it directly reduces your outstanding balance. An agreement is also necessary, and the following guidelines must be followed:

  1. Payment Plans exempt you from additional penalties as long as payments are made on time.
  2. All current charges for future bills must be paid by their due date; otherwise, the payment plan will go into default.
  3. Plans in default will incur a $25 late fee and may be voided if payments are overdue by more than 30 days.
  4. If the property is sold before the plan concludes, the remaining balance is due at transfer.

*Please note that guidelines are subject to change at any time; residents with active payment plans will be notified by mail of any updates.

For more information, please contact Mary Culver at (410) 287-6173, ext 4, or via email at mculver@charlestownmd.org. Don’t wait, call today!