Utilities

The Municipality has a number of options available to our customers for payment. Payment must be received at the Municipal Office by the due date to avoid penalty.

• Pre-Authorized Payment Plan: The amount due for your bill is automatically withdrawn from your bank account on the installment due date upon completion of a Pre-Authorized Payment Plan Application Form. 
• Telephone/Internet Banking: Most financial institutions offer “The Municipality of Huron East - Utilities” or “Huron East - Utilities” as one of their payees.  Payments may be made using the 8-digit utility account number listed on your utility bill.  When using telephone or internet banking, please allow for processing time to ensure your payment is received in the Municipal Office on or before the due date to avoid penalty charges.
• By Mail: Cheques can be mailed with the required payment stub to Municipality of Huron East, PO Box 610, Seaforth, ON N0K 1W0.  Allow sufficient time for the payment to reach our office on or before the due date to avoid penalty charges.
• In Person: Payments can be made at the Municipal Office located at 72 Main St. South, Seaforth, Ontario between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Payment methods accepted are cash, cheque and debit.  After hours payments can be deposited in our dropbox, located at the Municipal Office.
• Post Dated Cheques: The Municipal Office will accept post-dated cheques corresponding with the amounts and due dates printed on the payment stubs. Please ensure the payment stubs are included with your cheques.

Please ensure the Municipal Office has an up to date mailing address so you can receive your mail in a timely fashion.

To prevent misdirected utility bills, please notify the Municipal Office, in writing or by e-mail utilities@huroneast.com, of any mailing address changes. We are unable to take address changes over the phone. If you have a PO Box ensure it is on file with the municipality as this may result in your mail being returned to our office.

Failure to receive a utility bill does not exempt you from the payment of utilities, nor penalty and interest.

To have your utility bill emailed to you, please complete our E-Send Enrollment Form. If you have any questions or decide to withdraw from E-Send, please contact the Municipal Office at 519-527-0160 ext. 23.

Please note: It is the customer's responsibility to complete a new enrollment form if there is a change to the email address where the utility bill is being sent, and to notify the Municipal Office if your bill has not been received.

Customers using the Utility E-Send service are subject to standard late fees if applicable.

A penalty of 1.25% will be added on the first day of default, as well as 1.25% on the first day of each month thereafter.

Penalty is deducted first from all payments made and the balance, if any, will be applied to the oldest outstanding balance first.

If no payments have been made towards your utility balance after one (1) year, the balance will be transferred to your Property Tax bill.

Cheques not honoured by your bank will result in a charge of $35.00 being added to your tax account. Please ensure your cheques are properly completed and signed.

The Municipality of Huron East will mail a utility bill to the property owner on record when utility bills are issued.

If you have recently purchased a property, your lawyer should have advised you of any utilities owing on the property. As the new owner, you are responsible for any amounts owing on the property.

The statement of adjustments from your lawyers will have made allowances for the liabilities of the previous owner, call your lawyer for details.

If you receive a utility bill for a property you no longer own, please contact the Municipal Office at 519-527-0160 ext. 23.

If you are moving, you must request a Final Meter Reading for the last day of possession. This will ensure that the utility account is transferred into the new property owners name and that water usage is billed to the correct owner.

The final bill from your last regular reading date to the final reading date will be mailed to you at the forwarding address provided. 

Please contact the Municipal Office to request a Final Meter Read by email or phone 519-527-0160 ext. 31.

To have your water shut off while you are travelling for an extended period, please complete a Water Shut Off Request Form.  There is a $25.00 charge for the water to be shut off for an extended period of time. 

If you are doing work inside your home and need the water to be shut off, please contact the Municipal Office. For after-hours emergencies, please call 519-527-0160 and follow the directions for emergency calls. 

Your water bill is likely higher due to an increase in water usage. Your water usage may increase for many reasons:

• More people in your household
• Running or leaking toilet
• Running or dripping tap
• Seasonal usage
• Water cooled air conditioning
• Leaky plumbing
• Water softeners
• Leaky lawn sprinkler system