Utility Information

The Finance Department sends out utility bills every two months, collects payments, and administers water, sewer, and surface water service. Two very easy ways to pay your utility bill are the UtilityOnline and EasyPay programs. Every May, the City reevaluates the charge for sewer service based on the average residential usage during the previous winter. The new charge takes effect in the June and July billing cycles.

For information about billing and service, call 503-635-0265.

For additional information about Lake Oswego's utilities, go to:
. Utility Rate Brochure

. EasyPay Brochure

. EasyPay Program Information and Form

. EasyPay Application Form

Know your Water Meter and Determine Gallons Used

Your water meter is read every two months for billing purposes (bi-monthly).  In most cases, the City's utility billing department will recognize and spot above-average readings for your home or business.  When these situations occur, we request one of our maintenance crew to double-check your meter for any indications of a leak.  If we discover a possible leak, we make every attempt to contact you either by phone, email, or via the internet.  However, early detection is the best prevention for loss of water.  Your water meter can tell you whether you have a leak, as well as how much water various appliances are using.  All you have to do is learn how to read them.

City of Lake Oswego water customers have meters that measure cubic feet of water used. These meters contain a display that resembles a mileage indicator on an automobile, and they are read in the same manner.  To convert cubic feet of water into gallons, multiply the cubic feet your meter measures by the conversion factor shown below:

Example of converting cubic feet measured by your meter, to gallons used:

1,250 cubic feet (cf)  x  7.48 = 9,350 gallons

Your previous meter reading, as well as the current reading, is shown on your utility bill.  The difference is then converted to cubic feet per hundred (ccf), and this converted result is also shown on your bill. You can then convert your usage to gallons by taking this ccf converted usage and multiplying it by 748 in order to determine how many gallons you used during the last billing cycle.

To understand the details on your utility bill Click Here.

 Help Detect any Water Leaks Earlier, rather than Later 

Your water meter has a needle that turns like a second hand clock.  Each time it goes around, one cubic foot of water (or 7.48 gallons) has been used.  Your water meter can also help you detect whether or not a leak may exist.  All water meters also have a small triangle-shaped-dial that has no values around it, but will detect small flows of water through the meter.

For leak detection, turn everything off so no water is being used anywhere in the house.  This includes any water features you may have in your yard.  Then head out to the water meter and note the position of the dial.  Do not use any water for 20 minutes and if the triangle-shaped-dial indicator needle has not moved, you can feel comfortable that you do not have a leak.  If this indicator needle has moved, start checking your hose connections, toilets, faucets, sprinkler systems, or any water features for drips or running water.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your water meter or leaks, please feel free to contact the City's utility billing department at (503) 635-0265.

Maintaining the Area around your Meter

Do you know where your water meter is?  Water meters are set in the ground usually near the street on either side of the driveway.  Landscaping and fences should be maintained at an adequate distance from the meter's protective box.  The City sub-contracts with an independent meter-reading company to read the water meters and report the readings to the City's utility department.  As a reminder, Lake Oswego's city code section LOC 38.115 stipulates that reasonable meter access by each property owner is a condition of obtaining water service.  Accordingly, the meter-reading company will need to push or trim shrubs or tree limbs out of the way to gain access to your water meter.  So, next time you are landscaping or doing yard work, please trim any vegetation or move other obstructions (i.e., hedges, bushes, tarps, boats, RV's, etc.) away from your water meter box.  Thank you from your utility billing department!