Budget Billing Guidelines

Eligibility

All residential City of Austin utility customers are eligible to sign up for Budget Billing.

Starting Budget Billing

Budget Billing takes effect on the next bill after you sign up. A Customer Care Representative may contact you if we need more information.

You will receive a notice on your bill letting you know that Budget Billing has started. Each bill will include a reminder that you are on Budget Billing.

Budget Billing Calculations

We calculate your monthly payment based on the average of your last 12 month's bills. After 6 months on Budget Billing, we review your monthly usage to ensure your payment is still right for you. We’ll adjust your next 6 month's payments if needed.

If you are a new customer, we calculate the monthly payment based on the history of the premises.

• Adjustments to your payments include any debits and credits accumulated in the past year.
• Credits are not refunded unless you cancel Budget Billing.

Canceling Budget Billing

You can cancel Budget Billing any time. The cancellation will take effect on the next bill after you cancel. Your next bill will include a credit or debit if needed to bring your balance up to date.

Interest on debits or credits

The City of Austin does not charge or pay interest on accumulated debits or credits while you are enrolled in Budget Billing.

Removal from Budget Billing

The City of Austin reserves the right to remove you from Budget Billing if you miss a payment or pay an incorrect amount. If removed, you must wait 6 months to reapply.