Utility Information & Payments

General Information and Services

The City of Ashland Utilities bills customers for water and sewer services, as well as public fire protection fees. In addition, residential customers, including multifamily dwellings under 4 units, are also charged for carted garbage and recycling collection services (commercial and industrial customers must contract for garbage and recycling services independently). 

Water and Sewer services include volume charges and fixed fees. Volume charges are based on metered usage and are charged on CCF: 1 Unit = 100 Cubic Feet OR 748 gallons. Fixed fees are flat rates based on the size of the meter. Public Fire Protection is charged to all metered accounts as well as vacant parcels within the City limits. This charge helps to ensure our water system is capable of supporting our Fire Department. 

The City of Ashland processes its Utility bills every two months. Customers should expect to receive an invoice on/around the 20th of the EVEN numbered months (February, April, June, August, October, December) for services rendered in the prior two months. These bills are due on/around the 10th of the ODD numbered months (January, March, May, July, September, November). Any balance not paid in full by the invoice due date will be charged a 1% penalty; between April 15th-November 1st, any unpaid balance will be issued a disconnection notice. 

Annual Delinquent Balances-Tax Roll Process

Wisconsin State Statute 66.0809 requires municipalities to place delinquent utility charges on the tax roll as a special charge. (See 66.0809). Prior to placement on the tax roll, the Utility must notify property owners and landlords of any unpaid balance subject to the tax roll-regardless if they owned or inhabited the property at the time of service or not. 

• On/about October 1st, the Utility will begin to review accounts for tax roll eligibility:
  • Balance was incurred between August 21st of the prior year through August 20th of the current year for all active accounts
  • Account was closed between September 11th of the prior year through September 10th of the current year  
• On/about October 15th, notices will be sent to advise of balance and process. 
  • Notices are sent to Property Owners, Landlords, and Tenants and will advise of the service address and specific balance due to avoid further penalties and inclusion on tax roll.
• On/about November 1st: Any unpaid tax roll eligible balance is charged a 10% penalty. 
• On/about  November 16th: Any unpaid tax roll eligible balance is transferred to the tax roll and no longer collectible by the Utility.
• By December 17th: A list of tenants against whom the municipality has a lien is filed with the clerk of courts

Additional Questions? 

If you still have questions, feel free to give us a call (715-682-7056) or send us an email (utilitycollections@coawi.org) and we'd be happy to help answer any additional questions you might have. Our office hours are Monday-Friday from 7:00am-4:00pm.