Salem Utilities: Pay Bill, Login & Phone 2026

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Salem Utilities: Pay Bill, Login & Phone 2026

City of Salem, Oregon • water • wastewater • stormwater • streetlights

If you are looking for the City of Salem utility account, the correct City service is Salem, Oregon’s Utility Customer Care system. Use it to pay a water and sewer bill, sign in to the customer portal, start or stop service, arrange payment help or deal with a disconnected water account.

Salem’s City utility bill is not an all-in-one energy bill. The City provides drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and streetlight services. Electricity is supplied by Portland General Electric or Salem Electric depending on the property, while natural gas is supplied by NW Natural.

Independent information: city-utilities.org is not the City of Salem and cannot access accounts, collect payments, approve assistance or restore water service. Enter account and payment details only through the official Salem customer portal or other City-published payment channels.

Salem Utility Quick Answers

Billing / account 503-588-6099
24-hour phone pay 833-735-2221
Water / sewer emergency 503-588-6311
New account fee $25
Portal changed Salem introduced a new billing system in 2025

Every utility account received a new account number when the system launched on February 3, 2025. Old automatic-payment banking information did not transfer.

One-time payment You can pay without creating an online profile

Salem’s ONE TIME PAY option requires the current utility account number and the security code printed in the upper-right area of the paper bill.

Water shut off Do not mail a restoration payment

The City specifically says not to mail payment when water has already been disconnected for nonpayment.

How to Pay a City of Salem Utility Bill

Salem offers online, phone, mail, drop-box and walk-in payment. If the account is current, choose whichever route is convenient. If water service is already off or a shutoff deadline is close, use an immediate payment method and contact Utility Customer Care.

Online account AutoPay or account payment

Sign in to review bills, payment history and water-use information, or enroll in paperless billing.

One-Time Pay No login required

Requires the utility account number and security code shown on the paper bill.

Phone 833-735-2221

The City lists Visa and Mastercard debit or credit cards for telephone payments.

Mail P.O. Box 2795, Portland, OR 97208-2795

Use check or money order. Note that Salem’s utility-payment mailing address is in Portland.

In person 440 Church St. SE, 5th Floor

Cash, check, money order and supported debit or credit cards are accepted during published business hours.

Official Salem Utility Payment Options
After opening the Salem payment page
  1. Choose Online, Telephone, Mail, Drop Box or In-Person payment.
  2. For online payment, follow the City’s utility-account link.
  3. For ONE TIME PAY, have the account number and security code from the upper-right section of the utility bill.
  4. Verify the service address and payment amount before submitting.
  5. Save the payment confirmation, especially if the account is past due or pending shutoff.

Current Online Payment Methods

Salem’s current payment page lists Visa and Mastercard debit or credit cards, Google Pay and PayPal for online payments. Available portal options can change, so use the payment choices displayed when you actually submit the transaction.

Paying through your own bank? Customers who use personal online banking should make sure the payment uses the new Salem utility account number assigned after the 2025 billing-system conversion.

Salem Utility Drop Boxes

Salem currently lists check or money-order drop boxes at these locations:

  • City of Salem Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. SE, Room 100
  • Civic Center drive-through, 500 block of Liberty Street SE
  • West Salem Public Library, 395 Glen Creek Road NW
  • Public Works Operations, 1457 23rd St. SE
Do not use a slow payment route for disconnected water service. Salem says customers whose water has been shut off for nonpayment should not mail payment. Use online, phone or in-person payment and follow the restoration instructions for the account.

Salem Utility Login and New Account Number Help

Salem replaced its more than 20-year-old billing platform in February 2025. That change matters in 2026 because every customer received a new utility account number and customers using the old automatic-payment system had to enroll again.

Official City of Salem Utility Login
After opening the Salem utility portal
  1. Choose Sign in if you already created access in the current billing system.
  2. Choose Sign up if you have not registered in the current portal.
  3. If you only know the old account number, use Salem’s account-number lookup process.
  4. After signing in, confirm the service address before making a payment or changing AutoPay.
  5. If access fails, contact Utility Customer Care at 503-588-6099 instead of creating multiple profiles.

What You Can Do After Registration

  • View current and previous utility bills
  • Review account and payment history
  • Make online payments
  • Enroll in paperless billing
  • Manage online payment information
  • Review water-usage history
Old AutoPay did not transfer automatically. When Salem changed billing systems in 2025, financial information from the former automatic-payment setup could not be moved for security reasons. If you expected automatic payment and it is not occurring, verify AutoPay enrollment in the current portal.

Start, Move or Stop City of Salem Utility Service

Salem handles new accounts and move requests through its Utility Customer Care Team rather than asking customers to guess which online form applies.

Starting a New Salem Utility Account

Call 503-588-6099 and be ready to provide:

  • Your name and any additional names for the account
  • Your phone number
  • The service address
  • The date you took possession of the property
  • The address where bills should be mailed
  • Any property-specific information requested by Customer Care
New account fee $25 activation fee

Salem charges the fee for each new utility account, including when an existing customer moves and opens a new account at another address.

Water currently off Next-business-day restoration

If water is already shut off at the address when new service is established, Salem says it will be reinstated the next business day.

Never-connected property? If the property has never previously been connected to City utility service, owners or developers may need utility-service permits before an account can be established.
Official Salem Start, Move & Stop Service Instructions
After opening the Salem account-management page
  1. Choose the instructions for starting, changing or stopping service.
  2. Review the information you need before calling Utility Customer Care.
  3. For a move, prepare both the old and new service addresses and the applicable dates.
  4. Expect the $25 new-account activation fee when opening the new account.
  5. For closing service, provide a forwarding address so Salem can send the final bill.

Stopping Service

To close an account, Salem asks for your name, phone number, service address, move-out or stop date and a forwarding address for the final bill.

Past-Due Salem Utility Bill and Water Shutoff Timeline

Salem’s current rules provide a sequence of notices rather than treating the first missed due date as an immediate shutoff.

Utility bill is issued. The regular payment due date is 25 days after the billed date.
The bill becomes past due. If payment is not received by day 25, Salem says a past-due reminder is mailed on day 26 or the next business day.
An additional seven-day payment period follows. The reminder provides seven more days to pay the past-due amount.
A shutoff / collections notice may follow. If the balance remains unpaid, Salem mails another notice with a specific deadline and warning of water shutoff and/or collections referral.
Restoration requires the outstanding amount and applicable fees. If water has already been shut off, Salem requires the past-due balance and associated fees to be paid before restoration.
Official Salem Past-Due & Shutoff Information
After opening the past-due service page
  1. Check the due-date and notice timeline against your actual bill.
  2. If you need more time, call Utility Customer Care before water is disconnected.
  3. If service is already off, do not mail payment.
  4. Pay through an eligible online, phone or in-person method.
  5. Keep your payment confirmation and call Customer Care if restoration needs to be confirmed.
Same-day restoration: Salem’s current shutoff page says payment must be received by 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday for same-day water-service restoration. Payments received later are processed the next business day, depending on the account and meter status.
Salem’s current fee schedule lists a $25 service-disconnection fee for nonpayment and a $25 suspended-account activation fee when applicable. Other fees can apply in situations involving meter removal, tampering or damage.

Salem Utility Payment Plans and 2026 Bill Assistance

Salem has three distinct kinds of help: short-term payment plans, emergency financial assistance and ongoing rate relief for qualifying older or disabled households.

Need extra time Payment plan

Call Utility Customer Care. Eligibility includes being the named account holder, having no missed payment plans in the previous three months and having water service still connected.

Short-term hardship Up to $350 in 2026

Salem’s Emergency Utility Assistance Program can provide eligible single-family residential customers up to $350 during calendar year 2026.

Older / disabled household Utility Rate Relief

Qualifying households may receive a monthly utility discount when a household member is age 60 or older or disabled and income requirements are met.

Emergency Utility Assistance

The program is for qualifying single-family residential accounts and can apply to current or past-due utility charges. Salem says customers must requalify each year.

Utility Customer Care can check whether you may already be prequalified through programs such as LIHEAP, Salem Housing Authority assistance or previous qualifying assistance.

Utility Rate Relief for Elderly and Disabled Customers

Salem says the account must be a single-family residential City utility account with sewer service. A household member must be age 60 or older or disabled, and household income must be at or below 60% of State Median Income.

Applications are handled through Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency at 503-588-9016.

Official Salem Utility Assistance Programs
After opening Salem’s assistance page
  1. Choose between Payment Plans, Emergency Utility Assistance or Utility Rate Relief.
  2. Review the eligibility rules for the specific program.
  3. For emergency assistance, contact Utility Customer Care to check prequalification or obtain the correct partner-agency route.
  4. For elderly/disabled rate relief, use the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency contact listed by the City.
  5. Do not assume approval until the qualifying agency confirms eligibility.

Salem Utility Rates for 2026: What a Residential Bill Includes

Salem utility bills are not based on water consumption alone. For an inside-city residential account, the total can include water, wastewater, stormwater, streetlight, a franchise fee and other applicable City charges.

One ccf of metered water equals 748 gallons.

Water — 5/8″ to 3/4″ meter $14.09 monthly base

$3.30 per ccf for single-family residential water use in 2026.

Wastewater — single-family $20.07 monthly base

$4.47 per ccf of established wastewater volume in 2026.

Stormwater $14.44 monthly base

Single-family impervious-area charge is added by property tier: $7.15, $8.18 or $9.19 in 2026.

Streetlight — single-family $3.00 per month

Current single-family streetlight charge effective July 1, 2026.

Why sewer use may not match this month’s water use: Salem does not separately meter wastewater for most customers. The City establishes wastewater volume using an annual average of measurable water readings during the cooler-season period beginning on or after November 1, when outdoor irrigation is generally lower.
New single-family account? If no usable wastewater history exists, Salem’s 2026 inside-city rate table uses 6 ccf as the initial wastewater volume, producing a published base-plus-volume amount of $46.89 until applicable history is established.
Stormwater is property-based. The residential impervious-area fee depends on hard-surface area such as rooftops and pavement rather than water consumption.
Official Salem 2026 Utility Rates & Fees
After opening Salem’s rates page
  1. Confirm whether the property is inside or outside Salem city limits because the rate schedules differ.
  2. For a typical inside-city home, review Water, Wastewater, Stormwater and Streetlight charges.
  3. Match your water meter size and customer classification to the correct line.
  4. Remember that wastewater volume can differ from current-month water use.
  5. Use Salem’s Bill Estimator if you want to combine several rate components into an estimate.

Streetlight Fee Is Not Based on Having a Light Outside Your House

Salem explains that developed properties inside city limits can receive a streetlight charge even if they do not receive City water or wastewater service and even if there is not currently a streetlight directly beside the property.

Franchise Fee

Salem currently applies a 5% franchise fee to applicable utility charges for utilities using City right-of-way. The City’s rate page says the calculation excludes the backflow-prevention fee, streetlight fee and City Operations Fee.

Salem Utility Bill Higher Than Expected?

A high Salem bill can come from more than a water leak. Start by identifying which part of the bill changed.

Water increased Check ccf usage

Compare the current meter-based water volume with prior bills and check toilets, irrigation and household use.

Wastewater looks high Check established sewer volume

Wastewater volume is based on Salem’s annual winter-use calculation rather than simply copying current water consumption.

Stormwater changed Check impervious-area tier

The stormwater portion depends partly on the property’s hard-surface area rather than gallons used.

Total still unclear Use the City estimator

Salem provides an official estimator for residential, multifamily, commercial, public and irrigation accounts.

Official Salem Utility Bill Estimator
After opening the bill estimator
  1. Select the customer class matching your account.
  2. Use the usage-summary information printed on your utility bill.
  3. Enter the requested consumption details.
  4. Compare the estimate with the current statement.
  5. Treat the result as a planning estimate, not a guaranteed future bill.

Salem Water, Sewer or Street Emergency

Utility billing and Public Works emergency dispatch are separate functions. For an active water, sewer or street-system problem, call Salem Public Works Dispatch.

24/7 Public Works Dispatch 503-588-6311

Use for urgent City water, sewer or street-system problems. Dispatch is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Life-threatening emergency Call 911

Use 911 when there is an immediate threat to life or safety rather than relying on a normal utility-service request.

When reporting a Public Works problem, be ready with:

  • Street address or hundred block
  • Nearest cross street
  • Description of the problem or damage
  • A photo if you safely have one
  • Your name and phone number
  • Your email address if available
Official Salem Water & Sewer Emergency Guidance
After opening the emergency page
  1. Determine whether the issue involves City water, sewer or street infrastructure.
  2. Gather the exact location and a short description.
  3. Call Public Works Dispatch at 503-588-6311 for urgent service.
  4. Follow any safety instructions from dispatch.
  5. Use 911 instead if the situation is immediately life-threatening.

Does the City of Salem Utility Bill Include Electricity, Gas or Garbage?

Not in the same way as City water and sewer services. Salem has several separate utility providers, which is important when you move to a new address.

City of Salem Water, wastewater, stormwater and streetlights

These are the principal City-operated utility services covered by Salem’s municipal utility system.

Electricity PGE or Salem Electric

Electric provider depends on location. Portland General Electric and Salem Electric both serve addresses in the Salem area.

Natural gas NW Natural

The City’s provider directory identifies Northwest Natural Gas as the natural-gas provider.

Garbage is also location-specific. Salem regulates solid-waste collection through multiple franchised haulers serving exclusive areas. Use the City’s provider directory to identify the company assigned to a particular address.
Official Salem Utility Provider Directory
After opening Salem’s provider directory
  1. Choose the service you need: garbage, electricity, gas, water/sewer or another utility.
  2. Use the City’s provider information for the property location.
  3. For electricity, determine whether the address is served by PGE or Salem Electric.
  4. For garbage, use the City’s assigned-hauler information rather than choosing a company at random.
  5. Contact that provider directly for account setup or service questions.

Salem Utility Billing Office, Mailing Address and Map

In-person utility payment City of Salem Customer Service
440 Church St. SE, 5th Floor
Salem, OR 97301

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Mail utility payments City of Salem Utility Billing
P.O. Box 2795
Portland, OR 97208-2795

Use check or money order and allow mailing time before the due date.

The walk-in location and mailing address are different. Do not mail a utility payment to the Church Street walk-in address unless the City specifically instructs you to do so.

Salem’s municipal bill combines water, wastewater and stormwater, so readers comparing other Pacific Northwest systems may also find the Spokane Utilities eBill and payment guide useful for a similar water/wastewater/stormwater billing structure.

If you are moving north within the region, the Seattle Utilities SPU/SCL account guide explains why Seattle splits municipal utility responsibilities differently between water/waste services and electricity.

For another West Coast municipal system combining water, wastewater and stormwater charges, see the Sacramento Utilities payment and assistance guide.

The Fort Wayne City Utilities water, sewer and stormwater guide is also useful for comparing how another city handles MyWater access, utility rates and high-bill questions.

Salem Utilities FAQs

1. What is the City of Salem Utility Customer Care phone number?

Call 503-588-6099 for Salem utility billing, account setup, payment plans, account changes and shutoff-related help. Published hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

2. Can I pay a Salem utility bill online without creating an account?

Yes. Salem provides a ONE TIME PAY option. You need the current utility account number and the security code printed in the upper-right area of the paper bill.

3. Why does my old Salem utility account number no longer work?

Salem launched a new utility billing system on February 3, 2025 and assigned new account numbers. The City’s signup process includes help for customers who only have the old account number.

4. What is the Salem utility pay-by-phone number?

The City lists 833-735-2221 for utility payments by phone. The current payment page lists Visa and Mastercard debit or credit cards for telephone payment.

5. How much does it cost to open a new Salem utility account?

Salem charges a $25 New Account Activation fee. The fee also applies when an existing customer moves and a new utility account is opened for the new address.

6. How long do I have to pay a Salem utility bill before it becomes past due?

The regular utility bill is due 25 days after the billed date. If payment is not received, Salem mails a past-due reminder on day 26 or the next business day and provides an additional seven days before the next shutoff or collections notice.

7. How do I restore Salem water service after nonpayment?

The past-due balance and applicable fees must be paid. Salem says not to mail a restoration payment. For same-day restoration, payment must be received by 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, subject to the account and meter status.

8. How much emergency utility assistance is available in Salem in 2026?

Eligible single-family residential customers may qualify for up to $350 through Salem’s Emergency Utility Assistance Program during calendar year 2026. Income and account eligibility rules apply.

9. Does the City of Salem utility account include electricity and natural gas?

No. The City provides water, wastewater, stormwater and streetlight services. Electricity is provided by Portland General Electric or Salem Electric depending on the address, and natural gas is provided by NW Natural.

10. What number do I call for a Salem water or sewer emergency?

Call Salem Public Works Dispatch at 503-588-6311. Dispatch is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for City water, sewer and street-system emergencies. Call 911 for an immediate life-threatening emergency.

Accuracy and Official-Source Note

This is an independent customer-help article. It does not accept City of Salem payments, access utility accounts, approve assistance, create service requests or restore water.

Current information was checked against the City of Salem Utility Billing payment pages, current customer portal and signup instructions, account-management rules, past-due and shutoff guidance, 2026 assistance programs, 2026 utility rates and fees, Public Works emergency guidance and Salem utility-provider directory.

Rates, assistance limits, account fees, payment methods and procedures can change. For a shutoff deadline, payment confirmation or account-specific decision, use the latest instruction displayed by the City of Salem.

Editorial verification date: September 12, 2026.

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