City of Austin Utilities: Bill Pay, Login, Phone, Outage & Service Help 2026
Austin, Texas • City utility customer guide
If you need to pay a City of Austin Utilities bill, log in to your account, use Quick Payment, report an Austin Energy outage, handle a water leak or move utility service, start with the task you actually need below.
One City of Austin utility bill can include electricity, water, wastewater, drainage, solid waste and street-service charges. Billing questions therefore go through City of Austin Utilities Customer Care, while power outages, water emergencies and trash collection have separate official routes.
City of Austin Utilities Quick Answers
The City says the new residential convenience fee took effect August 1, 2026. The commercial fee is $10.00.
A $25 reconnection service fee also applies. Drop boxes should not be used when service is disconnected for nonpayment.
Current published startup fees include $20 to start electric or water service and $15 to start solid-waste service. Several deposit-waiver routes are available.
How to Pay a City of Austin Utilities Bill
Choose the payment method by urgency. A normal monthly bill gives you more options; a disconnection notice or already-disconnected account needs a payment route that posts quickly.
Best when you want to review the account balance, usage and due date before paying.
Processed through Paymentus and posts immediately. A transaction fee applies.
Use the same no-login Quick Payment service by phone.
Useful for cash payments or accounts needing same-day proof. Authorized stores may charge a handling fee.
P.O. Box 2267, Austin, TX 78783-2267
Use a personal check, cashier’s check or money order when the bill is not time-sensitive.
After opening the official payment page
- Compare online pay, Quick Payment, in-person payment, mail, extension and arrangement options.
- If you have time, log in first so you can confirm the balance and due date.
- If payment is urgent and you cannot log in, use the official Quick Payment route.
- Keep the payment confirmation until the payment is visible on your account.
Quick Payment Without Logging In
Quick Payment is the most useful option when you need immediate posting but do not want to open the full account dashboard. It is handled by Paymentus, the City’s third-party payment processor.
Current fee effective August 1, 2026. One-time and recurring payment limits are $1,000.
One-time payment limit is $800; recurring-payment limit is $1,000.
Paymentus accepts debit cards, electronic checks, major credit cards and several digital-wallet options. The fee is collected by Paymentus; Austin Energy says it does not receive a portion of that convenience fee.
Official City of Austin Quick Payment InstructionsAfter opening Quick Payment
- Keep your City of Austin account number ready, including any leading zeroes.
- Have the ZIP code for the service address and the billing ZIP code for your payment method.
- Choose the payment method and enter the amount.
- Review the $3.90 residential or $10 commercial fee before submitting.
- Save the Paymentus confirmation number. Quick Payments are posted immediately.
Authorized Pay Stations and Drop Boxes
Authorized pay stations can be useful for cash payments. The City’s payment page says participating stores may charge a handling fee of about $0.75 to $2.95. Pay stations provide payment service only; account questions still go to Customer Care.
COA Utilities Login: What You Can Do Online
City of Austin Utilities Online Customer Care is more useful than Quick Payment when you need the full account rather than a single transaction.
- Pay the utility bill securely
- Start, stop or transfer service
- Set up Autopay
- Enroll in paperless billing
- Review utility usage
- Manage billing and payment notifications
After opening Online Customer Care
- Sign in if you already have online account access.
- If registering, use the account and service information requested by the official portal.
- Check the service address and current balance before paying or changing service.
- Use the account’s usage tools if you are investigating an unexpectedly high bill.
- If login recovery fails, call Customer Care rather than creating repeated accounts.
City of Austin Utilities Phone Numbers
Calling the right number matters in Austin because billing, electric outages, water emergencies and ordinary city-service requests are handled by different teams.
Billing, payment options, start/stop/transfer service, deposits, high bills and account help.
Toll-free Customer Care number.
No-login utility payment through Paymentus.
Austin Energy power-outage reporting.
Austin Water Dispatch for major leaks, no water and water emergencies.
Non-emergency city service requests when 3-1-1 cannot be dialed directly.
If Your City of Austin Utility Bill Is Late
City of Austin Utilities says payment must be received on or before the due date printed on the bill. A payment received after that date incurs a 5% penalty calculated using the water, wastewater and electric portions of the current bill.
If you know you cannot pay the full amount on time, act before the account becomes a disconnection problem. The City offers two different tools: a payment extension and a payment arrangement.
The full amount remains due, but the due date is moved for a short period. Eligibility restrictions apply.
The past-due amount is divided into installments. You must also continue paying current monthly charges.
Eligible customers can request an extension through Customer Care or online. The City also allows eligible customers to request a 12-month payment arrangement online; other terms may be available through Customer Care.
Official Payment Extension RulesAfter opening the payment-extension page
- Read the eligibility restrictions before requesting more time.
- If eligible, request an extension through Customer Care or the online account.
- Confirm the new extension due date.
- Remember that the entire bill amount remains due by that new date.
Reconnecting City of Austin Utilities After Nonpayment
If service has already been disconnected for nonpayment, the normal monthly-payment routine no longer applies. The City says the entire past-due amount must be paid to reopen the account.
After opening the reconnection page
- Verify the past-due balance that must be cleared.
- Select online, Quick Payment or in-person payment.
- Do not use a drop box.
- Save your confirmation and account number.
- If paying at an authorized pay station, call Customer Care afterward to confirm receipt and request reconnection.
Start, Stop or Transfer City of Austin Utilities
Service can be started, stopped or transferred online, by phone or in person. The City provides utility service both inside Austin and in some surrounding areas, so first confirm which City services apply at the new address.
Current Residential Startup Fees and Deposit
The current residential fee page lists $20 to start electric or water service.
The City lists a separate $15 fee to start solid-waste service.
A $200 residential deposit is generally required unless the customer qualifies for a waiver.
Common Ways the $200 Deposit May Be Waived
- Satisfactory history on a prior City of Austin utility account
- Qualifying reference letter from another utility
- Qualifying landlord utility-payment reference
- Enrollment in both Autopay and paperless eBill
- Certain customers age 65 or older
- Returning deployed service members or other qualifying situations listed by the City
After opening the move-service page
- Choose start, stop or transfer based on your move.
- Keep the service address, move date and account-holder information ready.
- Review the linked residential fees and deposit rules if opening new service.
- Submit the request online, by phone or at a walk-in Customer Service Center.
- Keep confirmation of the requested start, stop or transfer date.
Austin Energy Power Outage: Online, Text or Phone
Utility billing is handled through City of Austin Utilities, but electric outages are handled by Austin Energy. Austin Energy gives customers three main reporting routes.
Use Austin Energy’s official outage-reporting system and outage map.
If you are not already registered, you may be asked for the phone number associated with the account or the account number.
After opening Austin Energy outage reporting
- Choose online, text or phone reporting.
- If safe, check whether your breakers are the cause before filing an outage report.
- Use the outage map to see whether a neighborhood outage is already listed.
- Keep text or online status updates until service is restored.
Austin Water Leak, No-Water and High-Usage Help
Austin Water asks customers to check its Leak Response Map first. If a large leak, broken water line or no-water problem is not already shown, call Austin Water Dispatch at 512-972-1000. Dispatch is available 24/7.
Austin Water maintains public water mains and the public-side service line up to the meter area.
Property owners are generally responsible for the service line after the meter, the private shutoff valve and internal plumbing.
For non-emergency concerns such as water taste or odor, sewer odors or some meter-area problems, use Austin 3-1-1. The City says 3-1-1 water issues are generally investigated within 1–3 business days.
Official Austin Water Leak HelpAfter opening Austin Water leak help
- Check the Leak Response Map to see whether the issue is already reported.
- If a water emergency or no-water problem is not listed, call 512-972-1000.
- Use 3-1-1 for non-emergency water concerns.
- If you live in an apartment, contact building maintenance first unless the problem appears to involve a public main.
High Water Bill? Use My ATX Water Before Guessing
My ATX Water can show when and where water use increased. Customers can also receive continuous-use alerts that may reveal a hidden leak before the next bill arrives.
Open My ATX Water Customer PortalAfter opening My ATX Water
- Use the City utility account number and service ZIP code requested by the portal.
- Review when water usage increased rather than only comparing dollar totals.
- Enable continuous-use or high-usage alerts if available for your account.
- If usage continues while all fixtures are off, inspect for a property-side leak or contact an appropriate professional.
City of Austin Utility Bill Discounts and Financial Help
Austin has several different assistance paths. They are not interchangeable: one reduces eligible monthly charges, another addresses temporary financial emergencies, and another supports households with serious medical needs.
The City says eligible customers can receive an average of about $1,092 per year in utility discounts, depending on the services on the account.
Local social-service agencies screen applicants and determine eligibility for emergency utility-bill assistance.
Eligible households may receive bill-management and emergency-planning support when serious medical conditions depend on electric or water service.
CAP discount eligibility can be based on participation in qualifying programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, CHIP, Lifeline, Travis County CEAP, MAP, VASH or SSI, or on qualifying household income. The program requires documentation that verifies current eligibility.
After opening the CAP discount page
- Review the current qualifying benefit programs and income route.
- Identify which household member meets a qualifying condition.
- Gather the specific enrollment or award document requested by the City; benefit cards alone may not be enough.
- Use the official application route linked on the City page.
- For eligibility questions, use the program contact information shown on the official page.
Austin Trash, Recycling and Composting Schedule
Solid-waste charges may appear on a City of Austin utility bill, but collection schedules are handled through Austin Resource Recovery. The official My Schedule tool shows trash, recycling, composting and eligible on-demand collection dates for a service address.
The schedule can be added to Google Calendar, iCal or Outlook, printed, or paired with text, email or phone reminders.
After opening the Austin collection schedule
- Search for the address receiving City curbside service.
- For eligible multifamily properties, search without the unit designator if the full unit address does not work.
- Review trash, recycling, composting and available on-demand collection dates separately.
- Set a reminder or add the schedule to your calendar if useful.
- Use Austin 3-1-1 when a collection problem needs a service request.
City of Austin Utility Customer Service Centers
The City currently lists two walk-in Utility Customer Service Centers. Both publish weekday hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Austin, TX 78758
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Austin, TX 78745
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Related Utility Guides
If you are moving within Texas or also manage utility accounts elsewhere, these previously published guides cover similar city-operated electric, water, sewer and customer-account systems.
City of Austin Utilities FAQs
1. How do I pay my City of Austin Utilities bill online?
Use City of Austin Utilities Online Customer Care when you want to log in, review the balance and pay through your account. If you only need to make a payment without logging in, use the official Quick Payment service through Paymentus.
2. How much is the City of Austin Utilities Quick Payment fee in 2026?
Effective August 1, 2026, the City lists a $3.90 convenience fee for residential Quick Payments and $10.00 for commercial Quick Payments. The residential one-time and recurring limits are $1,000.
3. What is the City of Austin Utilities Customer Care phone number and hours?
Call 512-494-9400 in Austin or 888-340-6465 toll-free from outside Austin. Published Customer Care hours are Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. VRS calls are accepted.
4. What happens if I pay my City of Austin utility bill after the due date?
City of Austin Utilities says late payments incur a 5% penalty calculated using the water, wastewater and electric portions of the current bill. Eligible customers may be able to request a payment extension or arrangement before the account becomes a disconnection issue.
5. How do I reconnect City of Austin Utilities after a nonpayment disconnection?
The City says you must pay the entire past-due amount and a $25 reconnection service fee. Use online payment, Quick Payment or an approved in-person route; do not use a drop box. After paying at an authorized pay station, call 512-494-9400 to confirm posting and request reconnection.
6. How much is the deposit to start residential City of Austin utility service?
The City currently lists a $200 residential security deposit, plus a $20 startup fee for electric or water service and $15 for solid-waste service. Several deposit-waiver options are available, including qualifying payment history, utility references and enrollment in both Autopay and paperless eBill.
7. How do I report an Austin Energy power outage?
Report an outage online through Austin Energy, text OUT to 287846, or call 512-322-9100. Austin Energy also recommends checking the outage map and checking your breakers first only if it is safe to do so.
8. Who do I call for an Austin water leak or no-water emergency?
Check the Austin Water Leak Response Map first. If a major leak, broken water line or no-water problem is not already reported, call Austin Water Dispatch at 512-972-1000, available 24/7. Use 3-1-1 for non-emergency water concerns.
9. How do I check my Austin trash, recycling and composting schedule?
Use the official Austin Resource Recovery My Schedule tool and search the service address. It shows curbside trash, recycling, composting and eligible on-demand collection dates and can provide calendar or reminder options.
10. What help is available if I cannot afford my City of Austin utility bill?
Options include payment extensions, payment arrangements, CAP Utility Bill Discounts, Financial Support Plus 1 and services for medically vulnerable customers. Contact Customer Care early so the available options can be reviewed before the account becomes a disconnection problem.
Official Source and Accuracy Note
This independent article was refreshed using current City of Austin Utilities, Austin Energy, Austin Water and AustinTexas.gov information available in September 2026.
The refresh specifically rechecked the August 1, 2026 Quick Payment fee change, payment limits, Customer Care hours, late-payment rules, reconnection fees, residential startup fees and deposits, outage reporting, Austin Water leak procedures, customer-assistance options, collection schedules and walk-in office information.
Utility portals, fees, program eligibility, office hours and payment rules can change. For an account-specific deadline, pending disconnection or payment transaction, follow the current information shown by the official City resource when you open it.
Editorial verification date: September 12, 2026.