Utility Billing & Payment

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Your monthly utility bill from Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) can be paid online, by mail, or by phone at 513.591.7700. Check, cash, and money order payments may be made in person at Mason Municipal Center or placed in a sealed envelope and dropped in the city's drop box at the exit end of the circular drive in front of the Municipal Center.

Your bill

The utility bill you receive each month from Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) reflects your use of 4 services:

• Water - fees are based on the amount of water used as indicated by your water meter. Water is provided to Mason water customers by GCWW.
• Water Reclamation (sewer) - fees are based on the amount of water used, with possible adjustments in the summer for residential customers to account for outside usage (see “Summer Usage Cap” at right ). Sewer service is provided by the City of Mason.
• Trash Collection and Recycling - fees are the same for every residential customer and are negotiated by the city, benefiting residents by lower group rates, not having to find a trash hauler on their own, and the convenience of being billed along with other utilities. The city is currently served by Rumpke.
• Stormwater - fees are based on the amount of impervious surface on the property. Impervious surfaces include rooftops, pavement, and other structures that do not allow water to drain through them. The rate is the same for all residential customers and is based on the average residential property. For non-residential uses, fees are based on the actual amount of impervious surfaces. The stormwater utility is managed by the City of Mason.

Your gas and electric bills will come separately from Duke Energy.

Fees

From time to time, one or more utility rates are adjusted to keep revenues for that utility in line with expenses. The adjustments may be by contract, cost-of-living increases, or based on comprehensive rate studies.

Based on the results of a comprehensive study of sewer and stormwater rates, City Council in May 2011 approved rate adjustments for these two utilities through 2016. Council approved the study's recommendation of a 4.5% increase in sewer fees each year, or about $2 per month for the average residential customer. This adjustment will gradually bring the city into compliance with legally required debt coverage ratios.

Mason's stormwater utility was implemented in 2001 in answer to federal regulations. It provides a funding source for projects that help control and alleviate stormwater issues in the city. The study recommended and Council adopted a 5.5% increase in stormwater fees each year from 2011 through 2016. This was the first increase since the utility was implemented and will cost most residential customers about 16 cents a month.

Beginning in 2017, a cost-of-living adjustment will be made to both utility rates on January 1 of each year.