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Utility Billing

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1. What utilities are provided by the City of Sequim?

Water and sewer services are provided by the City of Sequim. Depending on the location of your service address, sewer-only services are available.

Garbage services, which are required for all city residents, are provided by DM Disposal. Contact DM Disposal at (360) 452-7278 for service.

Electricity is provided by the Clallam County PUD. For more details, contact the Clallam County PUD at (360) 452-9771.

2. Is there a recycling program in the City of Sequim?

Yes. Recycling is picked up every two weeks by DM Disposal. You can pick up recycling schedules at 152 W. Cedar Street. For more details, contact DM Disposal at (360) 452-7278.

Also, glass recycling bins are available to citizens, free of charge, at 2nd & Hemlock (near the City Shop) and 701 E Washington (in the parking lot).

3. Where do I get recycling containers?

If recycling containers are not currently on the premises, please contact DM Disposal at (360) 452-7278. There are also some recycling bins located throughout the city, and DM Disposal can help you find them.

4. How do I make a Utility payment?

• Pay online from our Home Page at: www.sequimwa.gov • Mail the payment stub from your bill with a check payable to the City of Sequim to PO Box 1087, Sequim, WA 98382. • Pay in person with a check, cash, debit or credit card at the Finance Dept. (152 W Cedar St). • Pay online thru our secure website at www.sequimwa.gov. • Leave a payment in the drop box behind the public restrooms at 144 N Sequim Ave. • Sign-up for In-house Auto-Pay. Complete the Authorization for Automatic Payment of Utility Bills form and attach a voided check. In-house Automatic Payments are deducted from checking accounts the 10th, 20th or 25th of every month, you choose which one works best for you. In-house Automatic Payment customers still receive a bill through the mail.

Authorization for Automatic Payment

5. How do I sign up for Water and Sewer Utility Services?

• In the Search box at the top type "Move" and choose the best form to complete on line.
• Come to the Finance Department at 152 W Cedar St, Sequim, WA. 
• Complete the required paperwork, including providing proper identification. 
• If you are renting, a deposit is required. The deposit varies depending on the service location. 
• If you are the owner, you can either pay the City a deposit or obtain a Credit Reference/Letter of Credit from a prior utility provider that shows on-time payments for the previous 12 months. 

6. When is my deposit refunded?

Renters deposits are applied to their account after they move out, then any credit balance is refunded. Upon request, owners deposits may be refunded when there have been no late payments for the prior 12 months. Additionally, a deposit may be refunded in whole or in part upon close out of services.

7. How much is the deposit for Utility Services?

The deposit ranges from approximately $130 to $280, depending upon the location and the services provided. All persons requesting services shall make a deposit with the City if they are not the property owner. If they are the owner, they may either make a deposit or present a copy of verifiable prior utility credit deemed suitable to assure with certainty that the account will not become delinquent. A recent credit report showing a credit score of good or better is also acceptable. Call the Finance Department for more information at (360) 683-4139.

8. How often does the City bill for Water and Utility services?

Every month the City bills for the prior month’s usage. Bills are typically mailed out around the 1st of every month and due by the 25th of every month. For example, if you receive a bill dated May 1st, it is for April usage and it will be due by May 25th, to avoid late charges. Due dates are clearly marked on each bill/statement.

9. When is my meter read?

Sequim Public Works personnel read all meters near the 20th of the month.

10. How are Utility rates determined?

Utility rate studies are conducted regularly by an independent party to ensure rates adequately cover the costs of providing the utility service. Rates need to ensure adequate long term funding of operations, including maintenance and improvements in infrastructure.

Utility rate studies utilize the “customer class” to determine the adequacy of the rates charged. Your customer class is typically a factor of where you live and the ability of the city to deliver services to that area. There are three different customer classes. The “sewer-only” customer class represents those customers that receive sewer services from the City but are provided water by another entity or their own well. The “water-only” class receives only water services from the city and the “water & sewer” class logically receive both services from the City.

11. What does the City charge for Water services?

For a Single Family Residence:
Effective January 1, 2017, rates for residents within the city limits are as follows:

Water:
Base Fee: $24.28
Water Use: $.00844 per cubic foot for first 600 cubic feet
$.02497 per cubic foot for 601 to 1600 cubic feet
$.03121 per cubic foot over 1600 cubic feet

Example:
Total Water Consumed = 700 cubic feet:
Base Fee: $24.28
Water Used: $7.56 (600 x $.00844) + (100 x .02497)

Water Bill = $31.84

For a Business (note: rates differ for hotel/motels and RV sites)

Effective January 1, 2017, rates for businesses within the city limits are as follows:

Water:
Meter-size Base Fee:
¾” pipe $24.28
1” pipe $40.55
1½” pipe $80.85
2” pipe $129.41
3” pipe $242.76

Water Use: $.00844 per cubic foot for first 600 cubic feet
$.02497 per cubic foot for excess of 600 cubic feet

Example:
Total Water Consumed = 700 cubic feet:
Base Fee: $40.55 ( for a 1" size)
Water Used: $7.56 (600 x $.00844) + (100 x .02497)

Water Bill = $48.11

All rates are subject to change and are set by resolution /ordinance.

12. What does the City charge for Sewer services?

For a Single Family Residence:
Effective January 1, 2017, customers on City water, (the water-&-sewer class) are charged a base rate of $60.59 or $70.31 per unit, depending on winter water usage.

For customer’s who receive only sewer services (sewer-only class) the base rate is $63.97 for residents within the city limits. Residents outside the city limits are charged 2 times the in-city rate or as set by contract.

For a Business (note: rates differ for hotel/motels and RV sites):
Effective January 1, 2017, business customers on City water & sewer are charged a base rate based on their water meter size. Customers that use more than 600 cubic feet of water are charged a sewer usage fee of $.06335, per cubic foot for each cubic foot over 600.

All rates are subject to change and are set by resolution/ordinance.

13. How is the two-tiered single family residential Sewer charge calculated?

For customers in the water-&-sewer class with an average monthly use of water during the preceding months of November through April of less than 601 cubic feet, the sewer charge is $60.59 (rate effective January 1, 2017). If the average exceeds 600 cubic feet, the sewer charge is $70.31, per month.

The City winter water use is evaluated yearly, with the change in rate, if any, appearing on the bill for May usage.

All NEW customers will be charged at the higher sewer rate of $70.31 until they have established a winter water usage history with us (November thru April, all-inclusive).

14. If I go south for the winter, am I charged for Water and Sewer?

Yes, unless you request City personnel to shut off the Water meter. When the Water meter is shut off by City personnel, usage charges discontinue, however stand-by fees are still charged for both Water and Sewer.

A stand-by fee means a fee charged by the City for Water and Sewer availability when City Water is shut-off, but not disconnected. Availability means the City currently has capacity to serve the connected unit.

It takes approximately three months of services to offset the water meter shut off fee. If you will be gone less than three months, you still may want to have your water shut off to prevent damage from a potential leak.

The City is unable to "shut-off" Sewer-only customers.

To request your Water to be shut off, complete and bring the Standby Request form to the Finance Department at 152 W Cedar St.

Standby Request Form

15. Why am I charged a stand-by fee if I’m not using City services?

The City charges a monthly stand-by fee, as long as the service address is connected to City utility infrastructure. Stand-by fees allow the City to identify any unexpected activity, such as a leak, as well as maintain the infrastructure that delivers services to your property and allows you to continue to reserve capacity in our system.

16. How much are the stand-by fees?

The standby fees for Water and Sewer are each $26.26 totaling $52.52, per unit, for City Water users. Standby is available for Water-&-Sewer and Water-only customers. Standby is not available to the Sewer-only class.

Standby Request Form

17. Does the City charge a fee for turning Water on and off?

Yes. There is a one time charge of approximately $45.00 to shut water off and turn it back on. Only City Public Works personnel are permitted to turn city water meters on and off.

18. If I think I have a leak, how do I get it checked?

Call your plumber or the City at 683-4139. If it is necessary, we will send personnel from the Public Works Department to check for a possible leak.

19. If I have a leak, how do I get an adjustment from the City?

Provide the City a picture of the damaged portion of equipment before repair. It is important that the repair not be buried before it is observed by City staff and the repair is determined to meet City standards. Next, fill out the City Leak Adjustment Request form. Once the leak is repaired, the form is signed and copies of receipts for the repair are attached to the form, the City will submit the form for review and possible approval.

If approved, the Utility Billing Clerk will adjust your water bill accordingly.

Application for Leak Adjustment

20. Who is ultimately responsible for the utility bill?

The owner of the property is responsible for the bill. Even if the owner of the property leases out the service address to a tenant and the bill is changed into the tenant’s name, the property owner is responsible for any unpaid balances.

21. What are the charges for late payments?

A one percent charge against the balance due, plus a $5.00 Late Fee.

22. Why did my garbage rates go up in 2016?

The City of Sequim contracts for garbage services with Waste Connections, locally known as DM Disposal. Garbage rates are determined by DM Disposal. The increases in rates are due to an increase in their general operating costs adjusted by an inflation factor.