Fresno Utilities: Bill Pay, First Billing Login, Phone & Service Help 2026
City of Fresno, California • Utility customer guide
Need to pay a City of Fresno utility bill, use First Billing, start water service, deal with a shutoff warning, report a leak or figure out why the bill changed? Fresno utility billing can combine water, sewer, solid waste and community sanitation, so the right next step depends on the charge or problem you are dealing with.
Utilities Billing & Collection, part of the City of Fresno Finance Department, handles customer billing and account questions. The Department of Public Utilities operates the underlying water, wastewater and solid-waste systems.
City of Fresno Utilities Quick Answers
Fresno lists a flat $0.89 E-Check/ACH fee versus a 2.3% debit/credit card service fee through First Billing.
The City warns that mailed payment may not arrive before shutoff. Its FAQ says a shutoff warning allows 48 hours from receipt for payment.
The free tool shows hourly, daily, monthly and yearly water-use data and can send possible leak alerts.
How to Pay a City of Fresno Utility Bill
Fresno accepts utility payments online, by phone, by mail and in person. If the account is current, choose the method based on cost and convenience. If you already have a shutoff warning, use an immediate payment route or contact Utilities Billing & Collection instead of mailing a check.
Register, log in or use the guest-payment option. Supports E-Check, cards, Auto Pay, E-Billing, Text to Pay and PDF statements.
The City accepts credit-card payments through its automated phone-payment system.
Cash, check, money order and card payments are accepted at the Utilities Billing & Collection counter.
Send the bottom portion of the bill with check or certified funds when there is enough mailing time.
After opening the Fresno billing page
- Find the Make A Payment section.
- Use the City’s online payment route if you want First Billing.
- Choose E-Check/ACH or debit/credit card after comparing the fee.
- If you prefer Auto Pay, set up the recurring method in the online payment system.
- Save the payment authorization; the City says an authorized payment appears as pending on the account.
Fresno Online Payment Fees and Limits
| Payment method | Current fee | Transaction limit | Useful when |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-Check / ACH | $0.89 flat service fee | Up to $10,000 | You want the lower published online-payment fee. |
| Debit / credit card | 2.3% | Up to $5,000 per transaction | You prefer card payment and accept the percentage fee. |
| Auto Pay | Depends on chosen payment method | Depends on method | You want the bill paid automatically each month. |
Fresno First Billing Login, Registration and Guest Pay
First Billing is the City’s online utility-payment system. It supports account registration, login, guest payment, E-Billing, Auto Pay, E-Check, Text to Pay and electronic statements.
Customers with more than one Fresno utility account can register one account and then add additional accounts under the same username using the account-management feature.
Open Fresno Utilities First BillingAfter opening First Billing
- Choose Log In if you already have online access.
- Choose Register if this is your first online account setup.
- Use Pay as a Guest when you only need to submit a payment without managing a full online profile.
- Keep your utility bill and account details nearby while verifying the account.
- After authorization, save the confirmation and verify that the transaction appears as pending.
Start or Stop Fresno Utility Service
For new City water service, Fresno says the application may require personal information, a deposit and/or a rental agreement. Once the request is processed, water service is scheduled for turn-on the next business day.
- Exact service address and desired start date
- Legal name and customer contact details
- Rental agreement if required for the property
- Deposit information if the City requires one
- Phone number and email for account contact
- Confirmation that faucets are off before turn-on
After opening the Utilities Billing page
- Select START SERVICE if you are opening a new account.
- Prepare the property and customer details requested in the application.
- If you rent, keep the rental agreement available in case it is required.
- Check whether the account requires a deposit before assuming service is scheduled.
- For help, call 559-621-6888; Fresno says water turn-on is normally scheduled for the next business day after processing.
Stopping Service and Refund Timing
Use the STOP SERVICE route on the same Utilities Billing & Collection page when you move out or no longer need service in your name. Fresno’s utility FAQ says customers can generally expect a refund check, when one is due after account closure, in approximately 30 days.
Fresno Water Shutoff Warning, Payment Plans and Restoration
Fresno’s residential-water policy gives customers several protections and ways to respond before a nonpayment shutoff. The City says residential water service will not be discontinued for charges that have been delinquent for fewer than 60 days.
Before discontinuation, the City must attempt to provide notice. Its policy says the named customer is contacted by telephone or written notice at least 7 business days before shutoff for nonpayment.
Call 559-621-6888 or visit the Utility Billing counter to discuss repayment options before service is discontinued.
The policy allows a written complaint or request for review. Residential water service is not discontinued while a qualifying appeal is pending.
Fresno says service shut off for nonpayment is scheduled for turn-on the next business day after required payment is processed.
Extra Protection for Qualifying Residential Customers
The City’s water-shutoff policy provides additional protection when all required conditions are met: a primary-care provider certifies that loss of water would be life-threatening or seriously threaten a resident’s health, the household demonstrates financial inability to pay within the normal cycle, and the customer is willing to enter a qualifying repayment arrangement.
Fresno treats certain public-benefit participation—including programs such as CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal and SSI/SSP—or a written declaration of household income below 200% of the federal poverty level as evidence of financial inability under the policy.
High Fresno Water Bill? Check EyeOnWater First
Water is the Fresno utility charge most directly tied to consumption. The City bills water with a fixed service charge based on meter size plus a quantity charge based on the amount of water used.
EyeOnWater is a separate free tool for Fresno water customers. It displays water-use trends by hour, day, month and year and can send leak alerts when continuous use suggests a possible leak.
After opening the EyeOnWater page
- Select the signup route or download the free mobile app.
- Enter the Fresno utility account number exactly as shown on your bill.
- Provide the ZIP code and email requested during registration.
- Review hourly, daily, monthly and annual water-use graphs.
- Turn on leak alerts if you want early notice of continuous water use.
Water Leaks, Low Pressure and Other Fresno Water Problems
Fresno’s Water Division serves more than 142,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers across roughly 114 square miles, including many county islands. It operates a large system of wells, treatment facilities and water mains, so a billing problem and a physical water-service problem should be routed differently.
Report hydrant leaks, valve leaks or roadway water leaks through 311, FresGO or 559-621-CITY.
The Water Division asks customers to report low pressure, unusual water appearance or taste, and similar service concerns.
Use 559-621-6888 for bill balance, payment, account and service-start questions rather than a field-service route.
After opening the Water Division page
- Review the issue types listed by the City.
- For a leak, low pressure or water-quality concern, use Fresno 311 or the FresGO route shown by the City.
- Keep the exact location and a brief description ready.
- For bill or account problems, return to Utilities Billing & Collection rather than using the Water Division field-service process.
Trash, Recycling and Missed Collection
Solid-waste charges can appear on the same Fresno utility bill, but missed pickup and cart problems are handled through Solid Waste rather than the online bill-payment processor.
For residential missed service or special-pickup questions.
Recycling questions, used motor oil information and related recycling help.
Utilities Billing & Collection handles the account side of service setup and changes.
After opening the residential solid-waste page
- Choose the topic that matches your problem: missed service, carts, recycling or special pickup.
- Use the published Solid Waste phone number for collection problems.
- For account billing or starting/stopping service, use Utilities Billing & Collection instead.
- For hazardous waste, use the separate Fresno County hazardous-waste contact shown by the City.
What the Charges on a Fresno Utility Bill Mean
Fresno’s combined utility bill can be confusing because the major services are calculated differently. Separating the line items can help you decide whether to call Billing, Water or Solid Waste.
| Bill component | How Fresno describes the charge | What to check if it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Fixed service charge by meter size plus a quantity charge based on consumption. | Usage, irrigation, household changes and leaks. Check EyeOnWater. |
| Sewer | Residential service is generally billed at a flat rate based on the number of units. | Property/unit classification and current Master Fee Schedule. |
| Solid Waste | Flat-rate billing based on container size and quantity. | Cart size, number of carts and current service configuration. |
| Community Sanitation | Flat-rate citywide charge. | Current City fee schedule and billing period. |
Fresno Utility Billing Office, Hours and Mailing Address
2600 Fresno Street
First Floor, Suite 1096
Fresno, CA 93721
Counter hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., excluding City holidays.
P.O. Box 2069
Fresno, CA 93718-2069
Use this for non-urgent mailed utility payments; do not rely on mail after receiving a shutoff warning.
Related City Utility Guides
If you are moving from Fresno or comparing municipal utility billing systems, these existing guides cover similar water, sewer, trash and city-account tasks.
Fresno Utilities FAQs
1. How do I pay my City of Fresno utility bill online?
Use the First Billing payment system linked by the City of Fresno. You can register, log in or use the guest-payment route, then choose E-Check/ACH or debit/credit card and save the payment confirmation.
2. What are the current Fresno online utility-payment fees?
The City currently lists a $0.89 flat service fee for E-Check/ACH payments up to $10,000 and a 2.3% service fee for debit or credit card transactions up to $5,000 per transaction.
3. What is the City of Fresno Utilities customer-service phone number?
Call Utilities Billing & Collection at 559-621-6888 for bill balance, payment, account, start-service, shutoff and related customer-service questions.
4. How quickly does a Fresno online payment appear on my account?
The City says that once an online payment is authorized, it appears as a pending payment on the utility account. Keep the authorization confirmation until the transaction is fully reflected.
5. How do I start City of Fresno water service?
Use the Start Service route on the Utilities Billing & Collection page or call 559-621-6888. A deposit, rental agreement and personal information may be required. Fresno says turn-on is scheduled for the next business day after processing.
6. What should I do if I receive a Fresno water shutoff warning?
Treat it as urgent. Fresno’s utility FAQ says the warning allows 48 hours from receipt for payment and advises customers not to mail the payment because it may not arrive before shutoff. Call 559-621-6888 for account-specific instructions.
7. Can Fresno shut off residential water immediately after a bill is late?
No. The City’s residential-water policy says service is not discontinued for nonpayment until charges have been delinquent for at least 60 days, and the City must attempt advance notice under the policy.
8. How can I check whether a high Fresno water bill is caused by a leak?
Use Fresno’s free EyeOnWater tool to review hourly, daily, monthly and yearly water usage and enable leak alerts. Continuous water use over a 24-hour period can help identify a possible leak.
9. Who do I call for a missed Fresno trash or recycling pickup?
Call Solid Waste customer service at 559-621-1452. Fresno says residential customers calling on their normal service day should wait until at least 6:00 p.m. to allow the collection route to finish.
10. Where can I pay a Fresno utility bill in person?
Visit the Utilities Billing & Collection counter at Fresno City Hall, 2600 Fresno Street, First Floor, Suite 1096, Fresno, CA 93721. The City lists counter hours as Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., excluding City holidays.
Official-Source and Accuracy Note
This page is an independent explanation of Fresno utility billing and customer-service procedures. It cannot replace your bill, shutoff notice, payment confirmation or an instruction given by the City of Fresno for your specific account.
Payment fees, transaction limits, utility rates, service requirements and account policies can change. For a shutoff deadline, payment arrangement, restoration request or disputed charge, confirm the current status directly with Utilities Billing & Collection.
Editorial review: September 12, 2026. Information checked against City of Fresno Utilities Billing & Collection, Billing & Payments, Department of Public Utilities, Water Division, EyeOnWater, Solid Waste and residential-water shutoff policy resources.