Understanding Your Utility Bill

To pay your utility bill online, please click here.

The following are definitions of the services commonly found on a City of Mercer Island Utility bill:

• Conservation Surcharge - A fee based on water consumption of single family residences.  The fee was designed to encourage responsible water use and to help pay for a conservation education program.
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) – A fixed charge intended to provide funding for emergency medical aid response by Mercer Island Firefighters.  For the classifications of single family residential, multi-family residential, business/commercial, public schools, and public/other classifications, the rates will be charged on a bi-monthly basis, per equivalent service unit (ESU).  New customers in the residential board and care and 24-hour nursing home classifications will be charged based on the average calls per unit for their classification until they have established their own call history.
• King County Sewage Treatment – A direct cost for the treatment and transport of sewage waste from Mercer Island to a King County Waste Water Treatment Facility.  This is a fixed charge for single family residences and a consumption based charge for multi-family and commercial accounts.
• Meter Charge - A fixed charge based on the size of the water meter.  This charge supports services such as reading the water meter, meter repair, utility billing and collection, and customer service.
• Sewer Line Maintenance – A charge based on CCF of water used to support current and future maintenance of sewer infrastructure on Mercer Island.
• Storm Drain – A fixed charge covering the cost of controlling surface water and maintaining and improving the storm drainage system.
• Water Consumption - The amount of your actual water usage, based on a bi-monthly meter reading. Consumption is billed in increments of 100 cubic feet (CCF). Every 1 CCF  is equal to 748 gallons.

Click to view the current bi-monthly utility rates.

The City has financial assistance programs for low income families as well as individuals who are both Medicaid-eligible and receiving in-home nursing care services. 

For additional information please contact Utility Billing at 206-275-7602.