New Bern, NC

As a result of the Pandemic Virus COVID-19, City of New Bern Department of Public Utilities is setting up payment arrangements for customers for up to six months. To start the process, please complete the "Request for Payment Plan" form at the link below and click submit and one of our representatives will contact you to let you know the details of your arrangement. 

Want to know what it costs to run some of your day-to-day appliances?  Read on to find out.

Water, sewer, electric and trash pickup/recycling, among other services such as outside area lights, etc. are supplied to City residents and surrounding areas.  Not all locations that are served by the City are provided all of the above-mentioned services.   Contact the Customer & Payment Services (CAPS) office at (252)639-2750 to identify the services that are offered to your specific location.

Senior citizens can receive a reduced rate for trash pickup determined by Craven County Government based on income and age. Contact Public Works at (252)639-7501 for more info.  Although the City does not provide reduced rates for lower income households, it will allow customers to make reasonable short-term payment plans for past-due bills on an occasional basis.  The City works with a number of public and private organizations that help customers pay their utility bills.  Please contact a Customer Service Representative at (252)639-2750 for further information.

Payment for utility service is collected after it has been provided.  Deposits are collected as security so that all bills will be paid in full by their due date.  Although most customers pay their bills in full and on time, the requirement of deposits protects good-paying customers from the detriment of uncollectible accounts by other customers.

The requirement of a lease or sales agreement protects good-paying customers from the detriment of fraudulent accounts being established that are uncollectible. An inhabitant of the dwelling must live at the location to have their name on the account.  Landlords may have the account in their name if the residence is vacant.

Yes.   The Budget Billing/Equal Payments Plan helps residential customers eliminate billing swings due to higher usage during the heating and cooling seasons.   The plan brings your highest bills down and your lowest bills up to the same amount each month by averaging your bills over the last 12 months.   Please contact the Customer & Payment Services (CAPS) office at (252)639-2750 for more information.

There are many different variables involved in this question regarding type(s) of service, new or transfer of service, deposit required etc.  Please contact a Customer Service Representative at (252)639-2750 who can best answer this question for you.

Please contact a Customer Service Representative at (252)639-2750 who can best answer this question for you.

System Development Fees are designed to recover the future capital cost of replacing the water and/or sewer treatment and infrastructure capacity that is being consumed by new users of the system.  The fees are calculated by the City based on the projected water and sewer demand of the proposed user.  The Connection Fees are designed to recover the actual material costs for the City crews physically making the new connection.

Sewer or domestic wastewater is required to be treated or processed in strict accordance with various EPA and NCDENR rules and regulations.  After the treatment process is complete, the effluent and bio-solids must be properly disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.  The City's water production process is less complex and therefore, water is less expensive to produce because it requires less treatment.

Please click here for this information.  If you need a trash can or recycling bin, call Public Works at (252)639-7501 & allow one week for delivery.

Energy is still used to heat and cool an empty building.  The building could be poorly insulated.  Adjusting thermostats more than 3 degrees at a time can cause heat strips to run unnecessarily which can result in an unusually high bill.   Using an appliance (electric stove) to heat the building not designed for that purpose contributes to high bills and is very unsafe.

Please click here for this information.

Bills are seldom estimated unless staff can’t get to the meters.  For example, access is sometimes limited because of dogs, fences, or a car parked on a water meter lid.  You can always request that your meter be read again, free of charge. The City tries to read each meter every month.

Please click here for this information.  For additional information, please click here.

Please click here for this information.

Yes.  We have several options to pay over the phone. 
1 - You can call the CAPS office Monday - Friday form 8am to 5pm and pay by credit or debit card with no fees.  

2 - You can call Official Payments at 1-800-272-9829 to pay your bill plus a small additional fee of $4.95. 

We have many options where you can pay your electric bill:

• You can pay at any Western Union, Piggly Wiggly, Food Lion, or at any Wal-Mart location.
• You can also pay by credit/debit card by calling our office (252)639-2750 during business hours (free of charge).
• You can pay through your online banking provider, internet, after hours drop box, U.S. Postal Service, and with a bank draft.
• You can also use Pay My Bill.