A new online payment portal will be available for Newport Water Division customers later this month, replacing the legacy payment system that was shut down in July for a software upgrade, according to a press release.
“After a roughly two-month pause, a new online payment portal for Newport Water Division customers will be available at the start of the next billing cycle in September,” the release states. “The new portal, a link for which will be placed at www.CityofNewport.com/Water when ready, replaces the City’s legacy payment system that was taken offline in July as part of a needed software upgrade.”
The new portal, a link to pay online, will be available at the start of the next billing cycle in September, the division said in a release on Tuesday.
A link to the new online payment portal will be placed at www.CityofNewport.com/Water when ready, the division said.
The division said it understands the confusion and inconvenience of the delay and has waived interest and late fees for all affected accounts. Customers who paid interest charges on their July or August bills will be credited that same amount in their subsequent billing cycle. Any money customers already paid will be credited toward their next bill.
The new payment system will also see some customers receiving a new charge on their August bills for a new base sewer use charge. The fee applies to customers who do not meet a minimum use threshold. The new fee is calculated based on using 4,100 gallons of water a month, the division said.
According to the division, the new base use charge aims to more evenly distribute the costs of sewer and stormwater services by spreading out the costs of maintenance across the system. Under the new billing structure, customers can expect to pay about $97 more per month for sewer charges and about $51 more for water. That equates to $3.19 more per day for sewer and stormwater service and $1.71 per day for water.
The division said the new fee was designed to spare year-round customers from a more widespread increase that could have raised sewer charges by nearly 41% regardless of usage. The city said households of one or two people who only use 2,000 gallons per month have seen a bill increase of $41.58 with the new base use charge. That increase would have been $55.74 without the new fee.
More from the City of Newport;
Newport Water Division Provides Billing Updates
New Payment Option, Minimum Sewer Use Fee
NEWPORT, R.I. (TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2024) – After a roughly two-month pause, a new online payment portal for Newport Water Division customers will be available at the start of the next billing cycle in September.
The new portal, a link for which will be placed at www.CityofNewport.com/Water when ready, replaces the City’s legacy payment system that was taken offline in July as part of a needed software upgrade.
Understanding the confusion and inconvenience caused by the delay, the Water Division has waived interest and late fees for all affected accounts. Meanwhile, customers who may have already paid interest charges on their July or August bills will be credited that same amount in their subsequent billing cycle.
Additionally, some customers in Newport may also notice a new charge appearing on their August bills with the introduction of a new Base Sewer Use Charge. The fee, which only applies to those customers including seasonal homeowners who may not meet a minimum use threshold, was included as part of this year’s budget process and took effect on July 1.
The new base use charge, which is calculated on usage of 4,100 gallons per month, is intended to more equitably distribute the cost of supporting the City’s sewer and stormwater system by more evenly spreading out the cost of maintenance across the system, rather than further burdening year-round residents with higher sewer rates and stormwater fees.
As outlined during the City’s budget process, Newport’s Sewer Rate has remained steady since 2019, with customers charged $19.80 for every 1,000 gallons used. On average, Newport Water Division’s efficient customers use roughly 4,100 gallons of water per month. Under the new billing structure, those customers can expect to pay roughly $97.18 per month in sewer charges and $51.94 per month in water fees. That equates to $3.19 per day for sewer and stormwater service, and $1.71 per day for water.
The Base Use Charge was designed to spare year-round customers from a more widespread increase that could have resulted in a nearly 41 percent price hike in sewer charges regardless of usage.
For example, customer households of one or two people who only use 2,000 gallons per month have seen their bill increase by $41.58 with the new base use charge. Without it, that increase would have been $55.74.
With over 147 miles of stormwater and sewer mains, and over 200 miles of water mains, Newport’s network of underground utilities is so expansive that it could run from Newport City Hall to New York City and back; stretch 5 times up to Boston; or be laid straight from the Newport Bridge to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
Maintaining that expanse is an arduous task. The Base Sewer Use fee is intended to be a first step toward a fairer cost of service while still maintaining the revenue needed to address the network’s urgent maintenance needs
City Councilors will be meeting in a public workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 18th at 11 a.m. in the City Council Chambers to review all of the above while discussing potential ways to accommodate fixed or lower income residents. As always, the meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
More information about the City’s water and sewer rates can also be found on the City’s website at www.CityofNewport.com/Utilities. As always, for questions about a bill, or if you’d like to speak to one of our Utilities Customer Service Representatives, please feel free to call Newport Water Division at (401) 845-5604 to speak to a representative.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
