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Utilities and bills
One Combined Utility Bill, every other month, covers electricity (City Light) + water + sewer + garbage + recycling + compost (SPU). Drainage isn't on this bill — it shows up on your King County property tax statement. Many middle-income households qualify for the Utility Discount Program and don't know it.
The basics
One bill, two utilities, every other month
Seattle City Light (electricity) and Seattle Public Utilities (water, sewer, garbage, recycling, and compost) share a single Combined Utility Bill that arrives every other month. Owners establish all services; apartment tenants typically have City Light only, with their landlord paying the SPU portion for the whole building. The same customer service line — (206) 684-3000 — answers questions for both utilities.
Drainage is on your property tax, not your utility bill
Seattle's drainage fee — the charge that funds storm-drain infrastructure — does not appear on the Combined Utility Bill. It shows up on your King County property tax statement as SWM (Surface Water Management) or Drainage. For a single-family home in the 2,000–9,999 sqft range, the 2026 annual drainage fee runs roughly $470 to $976 depending on parcel size. Look up your specific fee via the King County Property Tax Information System.
The numbers
Water, sewer, and what drives the bill
Water — service charge plus tiered use
- Base service charge per month varies by meter size. The most common residential meter (3/4 inch inside Seattle) is $21.35/month. Larger meters: 1" = $22.00; 1.5" = $33.95; 2" = $37.60; 3" = $139.20. Outside-Seattle 3/4" rates: $24.35 general outside, $25.90 Shoreline / Lake Forest Park, $26.45 Burien.
- Volumetric pricing is charged per CCF (1 CCF = 100 cubic feet = 748 gallons).
- Off-peak (September 16 – May 15): $5.82 per CCF flat.
- Peak (May 16 – September 15) is a three-tier structure for inside-Seattle residential:
- First 10 CCF in a 60-day period: $5.98 / CCF
- Next 26 CCF (10 to 36 total): $7.39 / CCF
- Above 36 CCF in 60 days: $11.80 / CCF
- A third-tier appeal process exists for unintended high usage — for example, an undetected leak.
Sewer — based on winter water
- Sewer rate is $20.18 per CCF. The typical single-family monthly sewer bill is $86.77, based on the typical ~4.3 CCF of wastewater generated per month.
- Important Seattle quirk: single-family sewer bills are calculated from WINTER water usage only (November 1 – April 30). Summer months (May 1 – October 31) use the average winter consumption, so summer lawn watering and pool fills do NOT inflate the sewer portion of the bill.
- Non-residential and multifamily accounts use actual usage year-round.
- 1 CCF minimum charge per premise per month.
Drainage — on property tax, not utility bill
- See “What's on your Combined Utility Bill” above for the framing. Drainage runs through King County's property tax statement, not the SPU / City Light bill.
- Single-family parcels 2,000–9,999 sqft pay annual flat rates from $469.52 (2,000–3,499 sqft) up to $976.13 (6,500–9,999 sqft), effective 2026.
- Larger residential parcels and commercial parcels use a per-square-foot fee based on percent impervious surface.
- Low-income drainage credit available via the Payment Assistance Program.
Honest take: Single-family sewer bills are calculated from your November-to-April water usage only. Summer lawn watering, pressure-washing, and pool fills do NOT inflate your sewer bill — only what you used during the winter window. The conservation effort that matters most for your wallet happens in the winter.
If money is tight
The programs Seattle offers — bigger than most newcomers expect
Seattle runs a tiered set of utility-bill assistance programs, and the income thresholds extend further up the scale than most residents assume. Several programs can stack on the same household.
Ongoing discount
UDP — Utility Discount Program
- Income at or below 70% of WA State Median Income (about $98,508/year for a family of 4; $66,984 for a couple). Full income table by household size on the UDP page.
- Discount: 60% off City Light + 50% off SPU.
- Average savings: $732/year per household.
- SNAP / Apple Health / Basic Food / WIC shortcut: just account number plus the SNAP / DSHS approval letter — no income packet needed.
- Tenants whose SPU services are paid by a landlord still qualify for the City Light portion.
- Application: online via the UDP page (~30-40 min), phone (206) 684-0268, email UDP@Seattle.gov, or paper by request from (206) 684-3000.
- Processing: 4-6 weeks.
- Renewal: SPU contacts you when the renewal is due — you do NOT need to redo the online application.
Emergency assistance
SPU Emergency Assistance Program (EAP)
- Up to $537/year ($1,074 with children under 18).
- Split into up to 4 pledges per year.
- Single-family residence only (no apartments, duplexes, or commercial).
- Income at or below 80% WA State Median Income (about $112,584/year for a family of 4).
- Apply via SPU customer service at (206) 684-3000.
Emergency assistance
City Light Emergency Bill Assistance (EBA)
- Up to $710/year ($1,420 with children under 18).
- Trigger: past-due balance of at least $250 OR final shutoff notice received.
- Same 80% SMI income threshold as SPU EAP.
One-time credit
Project Share (City Light)
- One-time $250 bill credit per household per calendar year.
- Donor-funded (customer donations).
- Trigger: past-due balance of at least $250.
- Higher income threshold than UDP / EAP — about $131,520/year for a family of 4 ($92,160 for 1 person).
Federal + state
LIHEAP / SHEAP
- Much lower income thresholds than UDP / EAP (about $1,956/month for 1 person; $4,018/month for 4).
- Apply via local agencies, not directly through SPU or City Light:
- Byrd Barr Place — for Seattle city limits
- Hopelink — for north of Seattle
- Multi-Service Center — for south of Seattle
- SHEAP (the newer State Home Energy Assistance Program) specifics: see the City Light Bill Assistance page for the latest.
Honest take: Many middle-income Seattle households qualify for UDP and don't know it. The 70% State Median Income threshold is about $98,508/year for a family of 4 — much higher than the “low-income” threshold most residents picture. Combined City Light + SPU discount averages $732/year. If you're enrolled in SNAP, Apple Health, Basic Food, or WIC, the application is just your account number plus the SNAP / DSHS approval letter — no income packet needed.
Honest take: Two separate emergency-assistance programs run in parallel. SPU Emergency Assistance gives $537/year ($1,074 with kids under 18) toward water / sewer / garbage. City Light Emergency Bill Assistance gives $710/year ($1,420 with kids) toward electric. A single eligible household can apply for BOTH — up to $1,247/year or $2,494/year with kids. Most readers don't realize they're separate programs.
Payment plans and shutoff
What to do before the bill goes past-due
≤60 days
Short-term payment plan
- Available for all active SPU accounts (residential, business, property owners).
- 25% down payment required at setup.
- Set up online at the Utility Services Website or call (206) 684-3000.
>60 days
Long-term plan via PromisePay
- For residential customers with a past-due balance of at least $100.
- Self-serve 24/7 via the PromisePay portal; includes text reminders.
- Late fees and missed-installment consequences vary — ask when setting up and don't miss installments.
If shutoff is coming
The disconnect sequence
- City Light sends two notices before disconnection: Urgent Notice, then Final Shutoff Notice. Failure to receive notification does NOT prevent disconnection.
- SPU water disconnection: act on the first urgent notice; call (206) 684-3000.
- No broad winter cold-weather moratorium is documented for Seattle's municipal utilities — treat shutoff notices seriously regardless of season.
- To prevent shutoff: pay the past-due balance in full, set up a payment plan, or apply for emergency bill assistance. UDP enrollment also helps.
If you don't own the building
How the bill works when you rent
Apartment tenants typically only have a City Light account for electricity. The building owner pays the SPU portion (water, sewer, garbage, recycling, and compost) for the whole property. Some pre-2012 tenant SPU accounts may continue from prior arrangements.
If you qualify for the Utility Discount Program, you can still apply for the City Light portion of the discount even though your landlord pays SPU. The UDP application asks about your SPU billing situation and applies the appropriate portion.
Common-area services — building lighting, landscape water — are on the building's account, not yours.
For SPU disputes in an apartment, contact your landlord or property manager first — they're the SPU billpayer. City Light disputes go directly to City Light on your own account.
Direct lines
The numbers and portals you'll use most
| Purpose | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| City Light + SPU customer service | (206) 684-3000 | M–F 7:30 AM–6 PM |
| Out-of-area utility line | (800) 862-1181 | Toll-free |
| 24-hour emergency (water / sewer / drainage) | (206) 386-1800 | 24/7 |
| Pay by phone | (877) 398-3531 | 24/7 automated |
| Credit and collections | (206) 684-5800 | M–F 8 AM–5 PM |
| Utility Discount Program | (206) 684-0268 | UDP@Seattle.gov |
| Walk-in service | Seattle Municipal Tower 4th-floor lobby | M–F 8:30 AM–4 PM |
| Online portal | myutilities.seattle.gov | Pay, manage account, set up plans |
| Pay by mail | City of Seattle, PO Box 35178, Seattle WA 98124-5178 | Check payable to City of Seattle |
| LIHEAP — Seattle city limits | Byrd Barr Place | Local agency for federal energy assistance |
| LIHEAP — north of Seattle | Hopelink | Local agency for federal energy assistance |
| LIHEAP — south of Seattle | Multi-Service Center | Local agency for federal energy assistance |