- Home
- Our Government
- Departments
- Finance Department
- Utility Billing
Utility Billing
Payments can be made these ways:
ONLINE: https://fife.merchanttransact.com/Default.aspx
PHONE: 253-922-2489, press 1
MAIL: By postal mail, 5411 23rd St. E., Fife, WA 98424
CITY HALL: At the drop box, or in-person at Fife City Hall, 5411 23rd St. E., Fife, WA 98424
UTILITY bILL ASSISTANCE
If you are in need of utilities assistance, the community organization United Way may be able to connect you with programs in this area to assist in bridging the financial gap. United Way may be reached by dialing the 2-1-1 Help Line. For financial help and other resources during this time, please visit cityoffife.org/cityupdates.
LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WITH PIERCE COUNTY
The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is a new Pierce County Human Services program funded by the Washington State Department of Health and Human Services and is designed to pay off debts on water and sewer bills up to $2,500 for qualified Pierce County residents, including Fife residents. To be eligible for this program, you must meet the income guidelines below:
Family Size | Monthly Income (LIHEAP) |
|---|---|
1 | $1,610 |
2 | $2,178 |
3 | $2,745 |
4 | $3,313 |
5 | $3,880 |
6 | $4,448 |
7 | $5,015 |
TO APPLY: Call Pierce County at 253-798-4328 to make an appointment for completing an application.
MORE INFO: Visit their website here or view the program flyer here.
CHECK YOUR UTILITY PROVIDER
Fife residents may also have Tacoma Public Utilities and/or Puget Sound Energy utility bills. Both of these utility companies are offering utility assistance. Check for assistance at these agency websites:
TPU: https://www.mytpu.org/payment-billing/payment-information/payment-assistance/
PSE: https://www.pse.com/pages/bill-and-weatherization-assistance.
UTILITY BILLING INFORMATION
The City of Fife provides utility services water, sewer and storm drainage/surface water management. If you have specific questions about utility billing, discount programs available, or how to make a utility payment, here are a few answers. Click on the green menu tabs to explore each topic area.
- UTILITY BILLING OVERVIEW
- SENIOR & DISABILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM
- BILLING CYCLE OVERVIEW
- HOW TO MAKE A UTILITY PAYMENT
The City of Fife provides utility services water, sewer, and storm drainage/surface water management.
UTILITY BILLING
For new account set up, service changes or questions concerning billing, contact the Utility Billing Customer Service at 253-896-8620. To make a payment or check your balance, call our automated phone system 253-922-2489, press 1 for utility billing, then 1 to manage your Utility account.
QUALITY PROBLEMS OR LEAKS
Questions or concerns regarding water quality, water pressure, locating leaks, reporting broken hydrants or leaking water mains should be directed to the Public Works Department at 253-922-9315.
SENIOR & DISABILITY UTILITY DISCOUNT PROGRAM
You may be eligible for help with your City of Fife utility bill.
The City of Fife offers a discount on utility services to eligible customers to help them manage their water, sewer, and storm water bills. If you are low income and at least 62 or if you are low income and disabled you may qualify for a discount of up to 50%.
View the applicant information sheet and application below to determine eligibility. Or, pick one up from Fife City Hall. Submit applications to finance@cityoffife.org OR via USPS to:
Fife City Hall
5411 23rd Street E
Fife, Washington 98424
- Senior & Disability Utility Discount Program information sheet and application.
- The City of Fife is no longer running the “Water Rebate Program.” That program ended December 31, 2016.
BILLING & PAYMENT INFORMATION
The City of Fife bills utilities on a bimonthly cycle (every 2 months). Water meters are read every 2 months. This information is then downloaded by the Finance Department who generates the statements you receive for water and/or sewer and/or storm drainage every other month. On the back of these statements, the City of Fife’s Water, Sewer and Storm Drainage Municipal codes are listed pertaining to the details of when bills are due, when penalties are assessed, and the delinquent account shutoff/lien process.
HOW TO MAKE A PAYMENT
AT CITY HALL: All utility payments can be made by check/money order via USPS or by placing it in the City of Fife’s utility payment drop box anytime in the City Hall parking lot at:
5411 23rd Street E
Fife, WA 98424
BY PHONE: We accept credit/debit cards (Visa or MasterCard only) and e-checks over our automated phone service at 253-922-2489, press 1.
ONLINE BILL PAY: We also offer both one time payments and recurring auto payments on our online bill pay site
BANK BILL PAYER INFORMATION
As a reminder for those using their own “Bank Bill Payer” service to pay their utility billing, that type of payment is received by the City of Fife as a “paper” check issued in your behalf by your bank or a third party online vendor via the postal service. They are not received electronically even though you authorize the original payment “online.” You must allow a minimum of 7 business days (or whatever time period your bank outlines in their bank bill payer agreement) for your payment to be credited to your account.
UTILITY RATE INFORMATION
Have you ever wondered what our utility rates are and how the City of Fife calculates those rates? Find information below about your sewer bill, water bill and storm drainage bill calculations. You'll also find information about the new rates for 2021, as well as utility tax disclosure information. Click on the green menu tabs to explore each topic area.
- UTILITY RATE CHANGE INFORMATION 2022 and 2023
- HOW IS MY SEWER BILL CALCULATED?
- HOW IS MY WATER BILL CALCULATED?
- How is my STorm Drainage Bill Calculated?
- Utility Tax Disclosure Information
Wondering about our utility rates? Here are the city's utility rates for 2022, as well as the new rates for 2023 below. Click here for more detailed information about the rate.
You can find more information about how and why the City of Fife changes its utility rates at this page.
Below are the new 2023 utility rates for City of Fife customers, as well as customers in the Edgewood area.
Please note: Water and sewer service rates for connections outside the city limits include a 50 percent surcharge pursuant to the Fife Municipal Code.
Here is how your sewer bill is calculated. Click the image for more details.
Here is how your water bill is calculated. Click the image for details.
Here is how your storm drainage bill is calculated. Click the image for more details.
UTILITY TAX DISCLOSURE
There was a recent change in the utility tax disclosure, stemming from HB 2889, passed by the Legislature during the 2020 session. The amount billed includes the following taxes calculated on the gross revenue of each utility service:
| WATER | SEWER | STORMWATER | |
| Stormwater Public Utility Tax | 5.029 % | 3.852 % | N/A |
| City Utility Tax | 6.000 % | 6.000 % | 6.000 % |
NON-RESIDENT SEWER CUSTOMERS
In 2013, the City of Edgewood approached the City of Fife with an interlocal agreement proposal to ask for the City of Fife’s assistance in providing sewer services for residents of the City of Edgewood along the hillside in the Westridge area.
The area served under this agreement is referred to as the Edgewood Sewer Service Area.
That agreement provided sewer services for Edgewood residents using the City of Fife’s sewer infrastructure. That agreement allowed the City of Edgewood to avoid building expensive infrastructure of its own that would have been cost-prohibitive. Instead, they essentially requested to “rent” sewer capacity and sewer services through the City of Fife.
Please click here for a background document that answers questions about this sewer fee.