The City of Athens mails combined utility bills for water, sewer and sanitation services to its customers Monday through Friday of each week. The City is divided into four cycles.
Bills are due approximately twelve to fifteen days from the day mailed.
If the bills are not paid, there is a 10 percent penalty added to the account. The penalty is added three days after the due date, thus giving ample time for customers who choose to pay at local banks on the actual date the bill is due. Bank payments are hand delivered to the Utility Billing Office. All delinquent bills that show arrears also include a message stating that service is subject to disconnection if not paid by the due date. When late payment is made after a penalty has been added, the computer first reduces the balance by the penalty amount, thus making the outstanding amount due on the principal amount of the account.