As the City of Iowa City resumes standard utility billing collections procedures for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, community members are encouraged to review utility assistance program options.

Under the City's Utility Discount Program, eligible Iowa City utility customers can receive a discount of 60 percent of the minimum water and sewer charges, 60 percent of the monthly storm water charge, and 75 percent of the refuse, recycling and organics charges each month. Learn more about the utility discount program, including how to apply, here.

Households needing help with disconnection notices, reconnections, and past due utility and water bills may also be eligible for HACAP’s Crisis & Utility Water Assistance Program.

Since March 2020, the City discontinued standard practices of charging late fees, carding fees, water shut-offs, and collections to reduce financial pressure on households due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, the City also eliminated the water shut-off carding fee and reduced the reconnection fee. 

Beginning this week, the City will reinstate standard procedures for billing and utility shutoffs. The following is the anticipated implementation timeline:

• Beginning with bills dated August 3, 2022, there will be a 10 percent late fee if unpaid by the due date.  For the August 3rd bills, this will be assessed on August 26, 2022 if the bill remains unpaid.
• The Water Division will leave notices on doors notifying the customers with unpaid bills that their water is subject to be shut off. Letters will also be mailed to impacted customers. During this time, the City will work with the customer to arrange a payment plan if the customer is unable to pay off the bill in full.
• Sept. 20: Shutoffs will begin to occur if the bill still has not been paid or a payment plan has not been arranged.

Bills issued prior to Aug. 4 that are unpaid as of Sept. 20 will be included in the shutoff process. 

Please contact the City's Revenue Division with questions or concerns at revutilityonline@iowa-city.org or call 319-356-5066.