Rates and Fees

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Polk County’s utility rates are approved by the County Commission. Residential and commercial water rates consist of a base charge and inclining usage rates on your water bill. Reclaimed water rates consist of a per 1,000 gallon inclining usage charge only. Residential sewer rates consist of a base charge plus a capped per 1,000 gallon usage charge. Commercial sewer rates include a base charge plus a per 1,000 gallon usage charge.

If you’re looking for information regarding lawn watering schedules or online bill pay, we can help. We can also help you start water service, stop water service, report a water line break or report sewage back up.

Rates Effective: 10/1/2019

Potable Water and Sewer Utilities

New Account
Description	Next Working Day Service
3/4" - 2" Meter	$55
Larger than 2" Meter	$70

Deposit - Next Working Day Service
Description	Residential	Residential Effective 10/1/2024	Commercial
Water	$75	$90	2.5 x Est. Monthly Bill
Sewer	$110	$210	2.5 x Est. Monthly Bill
Combined	$185	$300	2.5 x Est. Monthly Bill

Connection Fees

Water and Wastewater - Residential
Residence Type	Water	Wastewater
Single-family detached units on lots of 1.0 acre or less	$2,844	$4,195
Single-family detached units on lots of more than 1.0 usable acre	$2,844	$4,195
Multi-family units including apartments, condos, duplexes, triplexes, etc.	$1,564	$2,810
Mobile homes on lots of less than 6,000 square feet	$1,707	$2,810
Mobile homes on lots of 6,000 square feet or more	$2,844	$4,195
Park model RVs	$1,564	$2,307
Destination RVs*	$1,564	$2,810
All Other RVs Including Transient RVs	$1,564	$4,195

*This category of user is subject to inspection by Polk County Utilities to ensure that destination RVs are not transient RVs. Destination RV lots used by transient RVs will be subject to a 1.0 Equivalent Residential Connection (ERC) sewer connection charge.

Water – Commercial

Commercial water connection fees will be assessed on projected daily usage, in accordance with the Polk County Utilities Code, divided by 360 gallons to calculate the Equivalent Residential Connection. This ERC will be multiplied by the connection fee assessed for a single-family detached unit on lots one acre or less.

Wastewater – Commercial

Commercial wastewater connection fees will be assessed on projected daily usage, in accordance with the Polk County Utilities Code, divided by 270 gallons to calculate the Equivalent Residential Connection. This ERC will be multiplied by the connection fee assessed for a single-family detached unit on lots one acre or less.

Service Charges
Description	Amount	Amount Effective 10/1/2024
Same Day Service (During business hours before 3 p.m.)	$60	$60
Same Day Service (After hours service after 3 p.m.)	$80	$80
Premise Visit Charge	$60	$60
3/4" Temporary Absence Disconnect	$60	$60
3/4" Temporary Absence Reconnect	$60	$60
Water Audit or Disputed Meter Reading	$75	$75
Reclaimed Water Follow-up Inspection	$60	$75

Surcharge for high strength industrial wastes are calculated and applied pursuant to Section 30 (E), “Wastewater Constituent Limitations,” contained in Polk County Utilities Code Ordinance 10-081 as amended.

Non-Payment Disconnection or Reconnection
Description	Amount
* Less Than 2" Meter	$60
** 2" Meter and Above	$105

Reconnection of service will occur after payment of the delinquent balance and all applicable charges for restoration are received at the local office.

* To re-establish residential utility service the total fee cost is $120 (disconnect and reconnect fees).

** To re-establish utility service for meters greater than two inches, the total fee cost is $210 (disconnect and reconnect fees).

Late Payment Fees

Late payment fee is five percent of payment due or $6, whichever is greater.

All payments are due within 20 business days of the current billing statement date. Late fees will occur on any unpaid balance on the 21st business day. Disconnection may occur at any time after the due date of the past due notice.

Please Note: Payments must be received and credited to your account by the statement due date listed on your utility bill by no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Previous Balance: This is an unpaid balance or an over-payment brought forward and included in the total amount due. A bill with a previous unpaid balance is subject to immediate cut-off unless arrangements have been previously made.

Disconnection for non-payment may subject your account to a deposit increase.

Dishonored Payment Fees

Return checks, drafts and rejected credit card payment fees are established by the Polk County Clerk of Courts office and are adjusted from time to time.

Meter Fees for Potable Water and Reclaimed Water

Installation, Re-installation and Exchange (size change)
Description	Amount	Amount Effective 10/1/2024
3/4" Meter	$450	$800
1" Meter	$550	$1,075
1-1/2" Meter	$900	$1,850
2" Meter	$1,415	$2,250
Larger than 2" Meter	Actual Cost	Actual Cost

Temporary Meter Installation
Description	Amount	Amount Effective 10/1/2024
2" Meter on Hydrant	$105	$250
Installation Requiring Line Tap	$195	$675

Relocate Meter
Description	Amount	Amount Effective 10/1/2024
Less than 2" Meter	$175	$250
2" Meter and Above	Actual Cost	Actual Cost

Field Meter Test
Description	Amount
Less than 2" Meter	$90
2" Meter and Above	Actual Cost

Backflow Test (Municipal Charge)
Description	Amount	Amount Effective 10/1/2024
3/4' to 2" Meter	$90	$125
Larger than 2" Meter	Actual Cost	Actual Cost

Penalty Fees
Description	Amount	Amount Effective 10/1/2024
Tampering / Theft of Service, First Infraction	$100	$250
Tampering / Theft of Service, Second Infraction	$500	$500
Tampering / Theft of Service, Third Infraction	$1,000	$1,000
Obscured Meter	$60	$60
Cross Connection	$500	$500

Unauthorized Use and/or Tampering with County Equipment Policy

Polk County Ordinance No. 10-081, Ref. Utilities Administration Manual, Section 3.4.5, prohibits tampering with county equipment. Tampering includes, but is not limited to:

Cutting locks on meters
Causing damage to the meter or meter box
Theft of service by any person on a customer’s premises or any evidence of the same

Tampering charges may be assessed in addition to reconnection charges, replacement cost of damaged parts and / or equipment, estimated cost of water and / or wastewater usage not recorded, based on current rates. Chapter 812, Section 812.14, of the Florida Statutes further provides for prosecution of any person(s) who willfully alter, tamper with, knowingly make any connection with, use or receive the benefit from a public utility service. When a meter has been removed for tampering and a new customer applies for service, the appropriate charges for installation of a meter will be assessed.

Conviction of any violation provides for penalties in the amount equal to three times the amount of service unlawfully obtained or $1,000, whichever is greater. Florida Statute 125.69 provides for prosecution which may result in fines up to $500 and 60 days in the county jail for each conviction.

Proration of Billed Services

A new customer’s initial and final bill are subject to proration based on the number of days between readings. Based charges, if applicable, as well as the range of allowable usage in each tier will be adjusted based on the number of days service, and the consumption, limited to half of what is allowed, for each applicable rate tier within the 30 day billing period. Example: If a customer’s first bill is for 15 days, the customer would only pay for half of the base charge(s), again if applicable to a service, and the consumption, limited to half of what is allowed, for each applicable rate tier within the 30 day billing period.

Residential Water Rates
Description	Amount	Amount Effective 10/1/2024
Base Charge	$10.43	$11.06
PWRI/AWS surcharge per 1,000 gallons on all usage	$0.30	$.55
0-3 usage block ranges*	$1.99	$2.11
4-10 usage block ranges	$2.63	$2.79
11-20 usage block ranges	$5.23	$5.54
21-30 usage block ranges	$7.87	$8.34
31-40 usage block ranges	$10.48	$11.11
Over 40 usage block ranges	$18.37	$19.79