Why can't I pay my Newport Water bill online? What's this new fee? What to know

Newport Water Division customers who have faced issues with making online payments should soon get some relief.

The City of Newport announced Tuesday that after a roughly two-month pause, a new online payment portal for Newport Water Division customers will be available at the start of the next billing cycle in September.

The new portal, a link for which will be placed at www.CityofNewport.com/Water when ready, replaces the City’s legacy payment system that was taken offline in July as part of a needed software upgrade.

Here's a look at what else you need to know about the delay and your water bill.

Will late fees be waived?

The city said Water Division has waived interest and late fees for all affected accounts. Customers who may have already paid interest charges on their July or August bills will be credited that same amount in their subsequent billing cycle.

Why is a new fee appearing on my water bill?

Some customers in Newport may also notice a new charge appearing on their August bills with the introduction of a new Base Sewer Use Charge. The fee, which only applies to those customers including seasonal homeowners who may not meet a minimum use threshold, was included as part of this year’s budget process and took effect on July 1.

The new base use charge, which is calculated on usage of 4,100 gallons per month, is intended to more equitably distribute the cost of supporting the city’s sewer and stormwater system by more evenly spreading out the cost of maintenance across the system, rather than further burdening year-round residents with higher sewer rates and stormwater fees.

As outlined during the City’s budget process, Newport’s Sewer Rate has remained steady since 2019, with customers charged $19.80 for every 1,000 gallons used. On average, Newport Water Division’s efficient customers use roughly 4,100 gallons of water per month. Under the new billing structure, those customers can expect to pay roughly $97.18 per month in sewer charges and $51.94 per month in water fees. That equates to $3.19 per day for sewer and stormwater service, and $1.71 per day for water.

The Base Use Charge was designed to spare year-round customers from a more widespread increase that could have resulted in a nearly 41 percent price hike in sewer charges regardless of usage.

For example, customer households of one or two people who only use 2,000 gallons per month have seen their bill increase by $41.58 with the new base use charge. Without it, that increase would have been $55.74.

What is the purpose of the Base Sewer Fee?

With over 147 miles of stormwater and sewer mains, and over 200 miles of water mains, Newport’s network of underground utilities is so expansive that it could run from Newport City Hall to New York City and back; stretch 5 times up to Boston; or be laid straight from the Newport Bridge to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

Maintaining that expanse is an arduous task. The Base Sewer Use fee is intended to be a first step toward a fairer cost of service while still maintaining the revenue needed to address the network’s urgent maintenance needs.

Will there be an opportunity to learn more about Water Division costs?

City Councilors will be meeting in a public workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. in the City Council Chambers to review all of the above while discussing potential ways to accommodate fixed or lower-income residents. As always, the meeting is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.

Where can I find more information?

More information about the city’s water and sewer rates can also be found at www.CityofNewport.com/Utilities. For questions about a bill, or if you’d like to speak to one of our Utilities Customer Service Representatives, call Newport Water Division at (401) 845-5604 to speak to a representative.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Newport Water Division online payments returning, new fee established