DC Water customers who pay their bills online or by phone will see some changes beginning next month. DC Water is switching to a new platform to process payments. Also, due to a steep increase in merchant card fees, in February the Authority will start assessing a processing fee on all payments made by credit/debit card.

The credit card processing fee will enable DC Water to recoup the costs of providing this convenient payment option to customers. The fees that DC Water pays to card issuers have increased 26% per year, from a total of $1 million in 2018 to $2.7 million in 2023.

“DC Water has been absorbing these charges to date, but that’s not sustainable long-term. If the fees continue to rise, that will force us to raise rates and everyone will have to pay more. It is only fair that the people who use this service should be paying the fees associated with paying by credit card,” said Matthew Brown, DC Water’s Chief Financial Officer.  

The fee will be $1.95 per transaction for residential customers (2.65% for non-residential accounts). DC Water will continue to accept E-Check payments from a checking or savings account at no additional charge.

The new Paymentus payment interface will have a different look and feel, and some new features, but otherwise the switch should be relatively seamless for customers who pay online.

DC Water is also phasing out its mobile app. Instead, customers can access the My DC Water portal on the web browser of their mobile device. Visit dcwater.com/paying-your-bill for more payment options.