Sample Water Bill Explained

The City of Tampa billing system is set up in such a way that the majority of our customer's receive an "average" bill one month then the next month an "actual" read bill. Below is an example of an "average" bill. Tampa is transitioning to monthly meter reading. All customers are expected to be on a monthly meter reading schedule by October 2012.

 Mouse over the colored portions to read explanations.

Water Bill Explained 

Billing Units: 1 billing unit = 100 cubic feet (ccf) of water (748 gallons of water)

Averaged vs. Actual Meter Reading Bill: Most meters are read bimonthly (every two months), but billing occurs monthly. One is a water usage AVERAGE, which is an estimate based on the past year of consumption.  One is the ACTUAL METER READING for the previous two months of water usage. The month's payment is a credit toward the total bimonthly water usage charge. You can tell whether your bill is an averaged bill or a actual meter reading bill by looking in the Meter Reading field (yellow box above) if there is a number in there than you have a Meter Reading bill. If the Meter Reading field is blank and you have an "A" next to units used number than you have an AVERAGED bill.

Note: Tampa is transitioning to monthly meter reading. All customers are expected to be on a monthly meter reading schedule by October 2012.

Usage Threshold: Are based on the average bi-monthly water usage throughout our service area, and are expressed in ccf units. Thresholds are averaged according to customer class. 

Water Rates