Billing Cycle

The City of Chelsea currently reads meters—usually a mobile data collection device—on the last business day of each month.   The read dates are set to help ensure usage is as close to thirty days as possible to avoid swings in billing due to number of days billed.  Monthly bills reflect actual usage from the prior read date to the latest read date.  When an account is closed,  the City takes a final read of the meter and charges the account holder with a separate invoice for the usage from the last read date to the account termination date.

Payment Methods

The City accepts cash, checks, or automatic bank withdrawals for utility services rendered.  The City cannot accept payments by credit/debit card.   Payments can be made in person at the City Offices from 8am to 4pm weekdays, with extended hours until 6pm on Tuesday, or at any time using the drop box located just outside the City Office main entrance.

You can also set up an automatic payment service through the City by filling out an authorization form available here or at the City Office.  The form must be mailed or returned to the City Offices.  Using this process, the City will automatically withdraw the amount of your monthly bill from your requested bank account on the last day of the month (the due date).  Once enrolled, *Direct Payment Do not pay* will print on the utility statement.

Post-Dated Checks

The City is unable to accommodate post-dated checks submitted for payment of utilities. Checks presented for payment will be processed upon receipt. This is also the policy of our bank. We encourage residents to use our drop box or call our office to set up a payment plan if there is a concern regarding the timing of utility payments. Account holders can call the main City line 734-475-1771 and press 4 any time during the initial greeting to speak with our utility billing department or request a call back for assistance.

NSF Policy

Utility payments returned from the bank for non-sufficient funds (NSF) will result in a $25.00 to the account holder.  This City records this charge directly on the utility account.  Account holders are required to replace the check within five business days or the utility charges will be placed back on the utility account and will show as a past due balance on the next utility billing.  If an account experiences three NSF payments the City will no longer accept personal checks or automatic payments from the account holder for services rendered for the next twelve months.

Past Dues/Shut Off Procedure

Delinquent utility accounts 30 days past due are shut off during the months of May through October unless the payment is made or a payment plan is established.  Utility bills beyond six months past due automatically become a tax lien against the property.  The City encourages residents and business owners to contact the City to arrange a payment plan if they find themselves with a past due balance to avoid having utility past due balances transferred to the tax roll.  Contact the City utility billing line at 734-475-1771, option 4 with any utility questions or to set up a payment plan.  Press option 4 anytime during the initial greeting to reach the utility line.

Delinquent notices are sent to account holders that are more than fifteen days past due on their utility bills.  For accounts that remain past due one week later, a shut off notice is sent informing the account holder that their ongoing service is in jeopardy if the City does not receive immediate payment or confirmation of payment plan.  Service shut offs occur from May to October.  Once service is disconnected, there is a $25.00 reconnect fee in addition to full payment of the balance.