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This page explains how single-family residential customers can read and understand their bill.
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Who should use this page
This page applies only to single-family residential bills. If you're a commercial, sewer only, multifamily, or other type of customer, contact customer service or visit our rates and charges page.
Parts of the bill
1. Account number
You'll need to know your account number when you call us or register for online account access. (You can register online after you've received your first bill.)
2. Amount due and due date
Amount due and due date show the amount you owe and when payment is due.
3. Days of service
Days of service shows how many days this bill covers. We read most customers' water meters once every three months and send bills every three months too. If you'd like to pay monthly, sign up for our monthly statements billing option.
4. Usage in CCF
Water meters measure water use in CCF, or hundred cubic feet. One CCF = 748 gallons. A typical Portland household uses 15 CCF of water every three months. Check the water use graph on your bill to track your water use over the last year.
5. Service charges
Water volume is the amount of water your household used during the time covered by this bill. This charge pays for Portland's drinking water system.
Sewer volume charges pay for Portland's sewer system. Residential sewer charges are based on winter average water use or actual water use, whichever is lower. Commercial sewer charges are based on actual water use. Learn more about how we calculate sewer charges.
Stormwater billable area is the property's developed area and includes rooftops, pavers, patios, and driveways. Single-family residential properties are placed into small, standard, or large categories based on the property's amount of stormwater billable area. This charge helps pay for managing stormwater runoff from individual properties.
The stormwater service unit charge is based on the number of dwelling units and helps pay for the shared stormwater system we all rely on. A single-family customer's bill will read "single," as the method used to calculate the charge, followed by the number of units charged for the property. For multifamily, commercial, industrial, or nonresidential properties, please see our stormwater charges page.
Clean River Rewards is a discount program for customers who are safely managing the rain on their property. Learn more at our Clean River Rewards page.
The Portland Harbor Superfund charge pays for the City's participation in the Portland Harbor Superfund cleanup.
The Flood Safety Benefit Fee funds the City's required payments to the Urban Flood Safety and Water Quality District. For residential accounts, the fee is a per-day charge. For nonresidential customers, the fee is a percentage of the total cost of the rest of the bill. Learn more about the Flood Safety Benefit Fee.
The base charge is a per-day charge for account services, such as meter reading, billing, collection, and customer service. This is a charge all customers pay.
Most rates and charges increase each July 1. View current sewer, stormwater, water, and other utility rates.
6. Back of the bill
The back of your bill includes customer service's hours of operation, payment mailing address, and Walk-in Center location. You'll also find information about late fees and how to avoid them by setting up payment arrangements.
The back also includes information about financial assistance.
At the bottom of the page, you'll find an option to check a box to donate to GreenBucks. You can also register for GreenBucks online. GreenBucks is a program that helps public schools in Portland maintain stormwater management facilities on school properties.