FINANCIAL FAQS
What payment options are available to pay my bill?
Payment may be made in person or by drop box to City Hall at 414 High Street, or by mail to City of Seaford, PO Box 1100, Seaford, DE 19973, or online at www.seafordde.com. The City accepts the following forms of payment:
1. Cash
2. Check or Money Order
3. Automated Bank Draft - Processed on the 1st business day of the month. Forms available at the City Hall office.
4. On-line Payments (City's Website) - Credit/Debit Card or Electronic Check. Convenience fee applies. Payments scheduled by 8:00 pm on that day will be processed as of the next business day. Visit our web site at www.seafordde.com.
5. On-line Payments (Customer's Bank) - A customer may set up payments through his/her bank's on-line payment system. Even though the customer is not physically writing a check, the bank is writing and mailing a check to the City of Seaford. This form of payment requires additional processing time because it is NOT automatic or "electronic”. If the customer schedules the payment as of the 5th of the month, the City may not receive it for several days after that date because of the mail service.
6. We have a drive-thru service at City Hall. You MUST have your bill with you.
7. There is a drop box for after-hours payments located next to the drive-thru window.
We DO NOT take payments by phone.
May I receive my bill electronically?
Yes, E-Bills are available! You can sign up for E-Bills by calling our office at 302-629-9173 or emailing your request to [email protected].
When is my bill payment due?
Meter readings are obtained once a month, and then billings are calculated from the meter readings and mailed to the customer. The due date is stated on the bill. Typically, bills are due around the 25th of the month. However, a grace period exists until the 5th of the following month. The grace period is to allow the customer additional time to make payment prior to penalty being applied.
What happens if I pay my bill late?
If a utility bill is not paid by 5 pm on the 5th of the month, 1.5% penalty is assessed on the past due outstanding balance. Penalty is considered a "demand charge”, meaning due upon assessment.
When payments are received and entered into the Cash Receipt system, the system automatically applies the payment to any penalty first and principal balance second. This is a standard utility practice.
If penalty is assessed and paid prior to the next bill being generated, the customer will not see a penalty charge on that next bill. Any balances remaining will be shown as an outstanding or previous service balance.
Example #1: A customer owes a total of $191.31 and does not pay by the 5th: $21.95 Water, $44.30 Sewer, and $125.06 Electric. Penalty is assessed: $0.33 Water, $0.66 Sewer, and $1.88 Electric. The customer makes a payment of $191.31 on the 8th. The payment is applied to penalty first and then to the Water, Sewer, and Electric service balances. When the next bill is generated on the 10th, a previous balance of $0.33 Water, $0.66 Sewer, and $1.88 Electric is shown because the penalty has already been paid.
Example #2: A customer owes a total of $113.29 and does not pay by the 5th: $113.29 Electric. Penalty is assessed: $1.70 Electric. The customer does NOT make a payment. When the next bill is generated on the 10th, a previous balance of $113.29 Electric is shown and penalty of $1.70 is shown because no payment has been made.
Delinquent utility balances are subject to disconnection.
What if I cannot pay my bill?
We understand that there can be unexpected challenges. There are resources available that could give aid. Their contact information is below.
Catholic Charities 302-856-6310
State Service Center 302-628-6700
Love Inc 302-629-7050
St. Vincent De Paul 302-536-7170
Joseph House 410-749-4239
Community Resource Center 302-227-1340
First State Community Action 302-856-2599
I have been disconnected. What do I do?
In order to have your service restored, you must come to City Hall and pay the account balance and any associated fees in full. The disconnect and reconnect fees can be found in the Fees and Rates Schedule.
All requests for services will be denied until all accounts are in "Good Standing". Examples of such are: Taxes, Utilities, Licenses, Permits, Violation Enforcement Charges and Project Fees. Reconnections will not take place after 8 p.m.
Fees Associated With Disconnected Service:
$40.00 Delinquent Fee per Service (i.e. Electric or Water/Sewer)
$25.00 Additional Meter Deposit for Electric Service
Reconnection Fees:
Electric: Business Hours $25, After Hours $100
Water: Business Hours, $40, After Hours $60
NOTE: We do not receive online payments until the next day. Additional fees cannot be paid online.
I’m moving to Seaford, How do I request an account?
Residential Renters: Complete a Residential Service Agreement, return to City Hall with Lease agreement, Photo ID and $200.00 Meter Deposit.
Commercial Renters: Complete a Commercial Service Agreement, return to City Hall with Lease agreement and Photo ID. Please call our office at 302-629-9173 for the Meter Deposit amount. Amount is based on 2.5 times the average bill for the last 12 months’ usage.
New Owners: Complete a Service Agreement and return to City Hall with the Settlement Statement Document and a copy of Photo ID.
NOTE: You CANNOT pay the Meter Deposit online.
How do I receive my refund of my meter deposit after I move out?
Please call customer service at (302) 629-9173 to notify us you are moving. You will need to provide a moveout date and a forwarding address. A final bill will be calculated using a meter reading obtained on the moveout date. The deposit will be applied to this final bill. Any deposit balance remaining will be refunded to you as soon as possible.
How do I close out my account if I sell my house?
You can call our office at 302-629-9173.
Please provide the office with a forwarding address for any refunds or bills that may be due. A check for utility/tax escrow fees will come from the settlement attorney. This check will be applied to the final bill and any overpayments will be refunded to the seller as soon as possible.
Why is my bill so high?
Electric bills are calculated on kilowatt consumption. Unusually high bills in the summer or winter can normally be contributed to heating and cooling systems. Anything that produces heat or cold; heaters, air conditioners, dryers, hot water heaters, will use a lot of kilowatts. If the appliance is not working properly, it could be using more electric than normal.
Are there any rebate programs?
Although there are not any rebate programs directly from the City of Seaford, there are rebates available through Efficiency Smart with energy-saving tips. Another resource is the Delaware Help Initiative.
Are there any tax exemption programs?
There is currently one program for seniors, the Senior Tax Exemption.