How to Pay Your Utility Bill in Forest Grove, Oregon

Paying your utility bill is an essential part of being a responsible homeowner or renter in Forest Grove. The city provides electric water, sewer and surface water management services that need to be paid for regularly to avoid service interruptions. In this comprehensive guide we’ll explain everything you need to know about paying your Forest Grove utility bill conveniently online, by mail or in person.

Overview of Utility Services in Forest Grove

The City of Forest Grove provides the following utility services that are billed monthly:

• Electric Service: The city provides electricity to residents and charges for usage.

• Water Service The city provides drinking water and charges for amount used

• Sewer This covers wastewater treatment It is a combination bill from the City of Forest Grove and Clean Water Services,

• Surface Water Management: This helps pay for stormwater infrastructure. It is included in your city utility bill.

Understanding what these charges on your utility bill are for is the first step. The next important thing is learning the various payment options available to customers in Forest Grove.

Pay Online

The easiest way to pay your Forest Grove utility bill is online through the city’s web payment portal. Setting up an account takes just a few minutes and allows you to:

• View current and past due balances
• See account history going back up to 5 years
• Receive paperless billing
• Schedule automatic payments

To get started, go to https://forestgroveor.municipalonlinepayments.com/forestgroveor/utilities and click on “Sign In/Register” in the top right. Follow the steps to create your online account.

Once your account is set up, you can log in anytime and pay your bill with just a few clicks. The online system accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover cards and electronic checks. It’s fast, easy and secure.

Pay by Mail

If you prefer to pay your utility bill via mail, that is certainly an option in Forest Grove. Simply fill out the payment stub from your paper bill and return it in the envelope provided along with a check or money order.

When paying by mail, make sure you:

• Include your payment stub to ensure proper crediting of your account
• Do not mail cash – only checks or money orders
• Mail your payment at least 3-5 business days before the due date to ensure it arrives on time

The mailing address for Forest Grove utility payments is:

City of Forest Grove
PO Box 326
Forest Grove, OR 97116

Allow enough time for your mailed payment to reach the utility billing office to avoid late fees.

Pay in Person

For those who prefer to pay bills in person, you can bring your utility payment to Forest Grove City Hall at:

1924 Council St
Forest Grove, OR 97116

In-person payments can be made by:

• Cash
• Check
• Money order
• Debit/credit card (VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express)

When paying in person, be sure to bring your entire utility bill with the payment stub. City Hall is open Monday-Thursday 8AM-5PM and Friday 8AM-4PM, excluding holidays. Payments are accepted at the front desk.

You can also use the 24-hour drop box located across the street from City Hall to leave a check or money order anytime. Do not place cash in the drop box.

Payment Timelines and Late Fees

Utility bills in Forest Grove typically have a due date about 14 days after you receive it. If your bill remains unpaid for 15 days after the bill date, a late notice will be sent indicating a service disconnection date.

To avoid late fees or service interruptions, make sure to pay your utility bill by the due date printed on your statement. Setting up automatic payments or paying early in the billing period are good ways to stay on track.

If you are unable to pay on time for any reason, contact Forest Grove Utility Billing right away at 503-992-3221. They may be able to set up a payment plan or point you to financial assistance programs. Communicating before your account becomes delinquent can help avoid costly late fees.

Stop Automatic Payments

If you want to stop automatic payments or deductions from your bank account, you must fill out the Utility Check Stop Form available on the city website. Submitting the form prevents any scheduled deductions, but any existing account balance would still need to be paid another way.

Review the status of your account after submitting a stop payment to ensure there are no remaining automatic debits. Failure to do so could result in unexpected overdraft fees from your bank.

Service Disconnections and Reconnections

The City of Forest Grove makes every effort to keep customers connected, but accounts past due are subject to service disconnection. If your utility service has been disconnected for non-payment, you must pay the amount owed in full and contact Utility Billing during business hours to schedule reconnection.

Reconnections are only done Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM, excluding holidays. Once your service is back on, be sure to pay all future bills by the due date to avoid repeat disconnections. Communication is key if you anticipate payment issues.

Assistance Programs

For customers having trouble paying their utility bills, there are assistance programs that may be able to help:

• GLOW: Helps cover heating costs in winter. Apply by calling 503-615-0771.

• SNAP: If approved for food stamps, you may get up to $20/month off lighting costs.

• LIEAP: Provides help with energy bills for low-income households. Call 503-988-6295.

• OLGA: Offers crisis payment assistance for heating/cooling bills. Call 503-988-5858.

• NW Natural GAS HELP: Call 866-844-HELP (4357) to apply for bill payment assistance if you have NW Natural for gas service.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to these programs if you are struggling to pay your utility bills. You may qualify for discounts or direct financial assistance.

Moving In or Out of Forest Grove?

If you are establishing new utility service in Forest Grove, you’ll need to contact the billing office to set up an account in your name. This is necessary when moving into a new residence. Expect to pay a deposit for new service.

When moving out, you must notify the utility billing office at least 3 business days before your move date to schedule a final meter reading. This ensures you only pay for usage while you occupied the property. Provide a forwarding address for your final bill.

Starting or stopping service in Forest Grove involves coordinating with the billing office. Take care of this early in your move-in or move-out process.

Contact Utility Billing

Forest Grove Utility Billing is available to answer questions about your account, make payment arrangements, or help with any other needs:

Phone: 503-992-3221

Hours:

• Monday-Thursday 8AM-5PM
• Friday 8AM-4PM
• Closed weekends and holidays

Email: [email protected]

In Person: 1924 Council St, Forest Grove, OR

Don’t hesitate to reach out to the billing office if any issues come up with making a payment, understanding your utility charges, or if you need help avoiding service disruption. They are there to help residents maintain uninterrupted utilities.

Key Takeaways

• Forest Grove provides electric, water, sewer and surface water management utilities that must be paid monthly

• Online payments, mail-in bills, and in-person payments are accepted

• Due dates are typically 14 days after you receive the bill to avoid late fees

• Notify Utility Billing if you anticipate issues paying on time

• Assistance programs can help qualified applicants pay bills

• Moving in or out requires contacting the billing office to start/stop service

Paying your utility bill on time is a key responsibility when living in Forest Grove. Follow this guide to make payments easily online, by mail or in person. Reach out for help if you face financial hardship. Staying current on utility bills ensures you maintain this essential service.