Utility Bill Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Customer Service by phone at (410)222-1144. From the D.C. area, Customer Service can be reached on (301) 970-8250 Ext. 1144. Calls are answered from 8:00 am to 4:15 pm weekdays. 

Or send an Email to custserv@aacounty.org. 

By mail:

Pay online:

Contact Customer Service at (410) 222-1144 or view your bill the online self service portal.

Please contact Customer Service at (410) 222-1144 to discuss the actions needed to have your service restored. Customer Service can be reached between 8:00 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. After business hours, on weekends or holidays, please contact the Department of Public Works, Emergency Services at (410) 222-8400, from South County, call (410) 451-4118.

If payment is not received by the due date and the account is scheduled to be turned off, a $50 fee to cover administrative costs is charged. Once the account is scheduled for turn off, ALL payments must be made in cash, certified check, money order, or paid on-line. Meter Services personnel and Emergency Services crews cannot accept payments or grant extensions.

Occasionally, it is impossible to read a meter at the scheduled time – usually due to inclement weather conditions. In such cases, an estimated bill is rendered based on the average consumption for the same period in the prior year. An estimated bill may be a little higher or lower if actual usage was abnormal, however, the next actual reading will automatically adjust for any variation in the estimate.

If you have public water and wastewater service, your bill is determined by the amount of water passing through your meter since the last quarterly meter reading. Wastewater usage is also based on the amount of water delivered to your meter. Public wastewater-only customers are charged a flat rate based on an average use of 14,000 gallons per quarter.

Consumption Rate:

Water - $3.23 per thousand gallons

Wastewater - $5.67 per thousand gallons

Your bill may also include the following fees:

Environmental Protection Fee:

The Environmental Protection Fee is added to all usage charges for water and wastewater service to recover costs associated with construction, expansion, or improvement to facilities serving existing connected customers. 

35% of all wastewater charges 

Charge Description on usage bill: EPF

35% of all water charges 

Charge Description on usage bill: EPF WATER

Penalty for Late Payment:

A penalty charge of 10% is assessed on all water and wastewater service charges that are not paid within 30 days of the billed date.

Charge Description on usage bill: PNLTY

Account Maintenance Charge

The Account Maintenance Charge is to cover the cost of meter reading and usage billing. For each usage bill based on metered service, the charge is $6.00. 

Charge Description on usage bill: ACCT MNT M

For each usage bill based on unmetered service, the charge is $72.94

Charge Description on usage bill: ACCT MNT U

Bay Restoration Fee

The County collects the State of Maryland-legislated Bay Restoration Fund Fee from improved properties served by on-site septic systems and wells. The funds are used by the State for programs to improve the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay. Bay Restoration Program information can be obtained by calling the Maryland Department of the Environment at (410) 537-3119 or by accessing the State’s website at: www.mde.state.md.us/.

For a residential property with an individual usage account, the charge is $15.00 per quarter. 

Charge Description on usage bill: *BRF

The last utility rate increase was July 2023.

Call the Customer Service Section at (410) 222-1144 and inquire about payment plans. In addition, there are outside sources to contact for financial assistance. See partial list below:

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Contact Customer Service at (410) 222-1144 or send an email to custserv@aacounty.org. Specially trained Customer Service Representatives will be glad to offer their assistance

Credit for water used to fill pools may be available. Please contact the DPW Customer Relations Office at (410) 222-7582..

The Capital Facility Connection Recoupment charge is part of the County Council approved Bill #37-11 and targets residents that use more capacity than the capital facility connection charge rate limit of 250 gallons per day. Effective July 1, 2023, Anne Arundel County residential utility customers will pay an additional $3.81 per 1,000 gallons of water usage exceeding 30,000 gallons in any given quarterly billing period.

If you are connected to the public wastewater system but not to public water, and wondering if there is a way to save money on your bill, the Department's Metered Wastewater Account Program may be just what you're looking for. Anne Arundel County has established this program to allow flat rate customers to convert their bills to metered accounts.

The current flat rate charge is based on the average use of 14,000 gallons per quarter for a family of three. If you have less than three people living in your home year-round, or live on your property periodically, or use less than 14,000 gallons of water per quarter, it may be cost-effective for you to convert to a metered account.
 
A licensed plumber must install a county approved water meter on your private well system. It is their responsibility to contact the Bureau of Utility Operations Meter Services section before proceeding with installation. Call (410) 222-8455 for detailed instructions on proper installation of the water meter and a remote register.

Note: The remote register must be installed 5' above ground level. Your plumber is also required to acquire a connection permit from the Department of Inspections and Permits. This permit is valid for 6 months from the date it was issued and another must be re-issued if time expires. A county inspector must inspect the connection.

In some areas, the County provides wastewater service, but a private company provides water. In those cases, the County wastewater charge is based on the water consumption as reported to by the private company.