Utilities - Frequently Asked Questions

No. An account can only be in one name, with the exception of married couples. Married couples may have both names listed on the account.

Yes. Services can be set up in a different roommate's name. The roommate who wants to take service out of their name should submit a stop service application, and the roommate who wants service put into their name should submit a start service application.

Yes, anyone can make a payment on anyone's bill. To view payment options, click here.

No. A deposit stays with the name of the person on the account. It can not be transferred to any other person.

Yes. Budget billing is available to all residential and commercial customers whose average electric consumption is less than three thousand kilowatt-hours per month and who have at least a year of service at the given location. To sign up for budget billing, you may contact our office at 515-239-5120.

Budget billing is a variant of a payment plan that allows you to level the amount of your monthly bills. You are still responsible for all accrued charges. Your monthly bill amount is the estimated charges on your account for the next 12 months divided by 12. The difference between your actual charges and your budget billing are settled-up (added to or subtracted from your account balance) on an annual basis, or when you terminate your account. The budget billing amount will be reviewed and adjusted on at least an annual basis.

We require at least a one business day notice to start or stop service. In instances where the power is currently off, we offer same-day reconnect for a fee of $25.

PLEASE BE AWARE: During July and August, due to high request and call volume, submissions must be received at least two business days ahead of time.

Not to apply for service, but one will be billed to your first month's bill. If you are able to provide a letter of credit from an electric, gas, or water company you've had service with (in your name), we will waive the deposit. An acceptable letter of credit will show services were in your name at the previous company for at least 9 months in the past 24 months and that you paid your bills in full and on time each month.

To request a letter of credit, you will need to reach out to your previous utility company. You may then have them send it to us by mail, fax, or email.

The deposit will be applied to your account as a credit after you have paid your bill in-full, by the due date of your bills, for 12 consecutive months. If you terminate your service, and your deposit has not been refunded, the deposit will be applied to your final bill. A refund check will be mailed to you for any remaining credit balance.

No. There are eight billing cycles in Ames and due dates are based on when your meter is read. Your bill is mailed shortly after your meter is read and the bill is due 21 days after the bill is mailed.

If you are experiencing a power outage, please visit our Electric Outage page for more information or to report the outage.

We provide electric, water, sewer, and storm water drainage services within the City of Ames. Garbage service is provided by private contractors, gas service by Alliant Energy (800-822-4238), and Internet service through private contractors.

A bill is considered late if not paid by the due date of the bill. One late bill is allowed each calendar year without a late fee being assessed. After one late payment, a late fee of 1.5% of the bill is charged to the account for each late payment.

To start new services in your name or to stop existing services out of your name, you will need to submit a request via the application at this link:

Utility Requests

Can services be in more than one name?

Services may only be in one person's name at a time, with the exception of married couples.

Can a utility service be transferred from one roommate's name to another roommate's name?

To transfer services from one roommate's name to another, have the roommate who wants to take service out of their name fill out a Stop Service Request, and the one who wants to put service in their name fill out a Start Service Request.

How soon do I need to submit my application to start or stop services?

Requests must be received by 4 pm the business day before you'd like services to start or stop.

Will I be charged a deposit?

A deposit will be assessed to all new customers on the first bill, unless an acceptable letter of credit is provided from a company you'd had service in your name with for at least 9 months in the past 24 months. An acceptable letter will show payments were made on time each month.

Returning and existing customers will be assessed a deposit based on the 12 month average of the new location, unless they've had good payment history with us over a period of at least 9 months in the past 24 months.

What services does the City of Ames provide?

The City of Ames provides Electric, Water, Sewer, and Storm Water Drainage services. All other services are through third parties.

Can anyone pay a utility bill?

Yes, anyone may make a payment on a bill. To view payment options, click here:

Payment Options

May I change the due date of my bill?

No. We cannot change the due date of the bill. There are eight billing cycles in Ames and due dates are based on when your meter is read each month. Your bill is sent to you shortly after your meter is read, and is due 21 days after being sent.

When is my utility bill considered late and a late fee assessed?

A bill is considered late if not paid by the end of business on the due date of each bill. We allow one bill each calendar year to be paid late without assessing a late fee. Each subsequent bill paid late on the same calendar year will be assess a late fee of 1.5% of the account balance.

Be aware, if bills go unpaid past the due date long enough they will be terminated for non-payment and services potentially disconnected.

Why am I being charged a deposit?

All new customers are charged a security deposit.

Additionally, all returning or existing customers will be charged a security deposit. This will be waived if the customer has at least 9 months of service with the City of Ames in the past 24 months; and if the customer has good payment history within this span.

How do you calculate security deposits?

Security deposits are calculated on a location-by-location basis. Deposits are calculated at 1.6 times the average monthly bill over the past twelve months for the location in question.

When do I get my utility deposit back?

The deposit will be applied to a your account after twelve consecutive months of on-time full payments, or whenever you terminate services with us, whichever happens first. The deposit will be applied as a credit on your account. If you terminated services with us, any remaining credit balance will be mailed to you as a check.

Can utility deposits be transferred between roommates?

No. A deposit is unique to each customer, and stays with the individual customer.

What is budget billing?

Budget billing is a variant of a payment plan that allows you to level the amount of your monthly bills. You are still responsible for all accrued charges. Your monthly bill amount is the estimated charges on your account for the next 12 months divided by 12. The difference between your actual charges and your budget billing are settled-up (added to or subtracted from your account balance) on an annual basis, or when you terminate your account. The budget billing amount will be reviewed and adjusted on at least an annual basis.

How do I sign up for budget billing?

Budget billing is available to all residential and commercial customers whose average electric consumption is less than three thousand kilowatt-hours per month and who have at least a year of service at the given location. To sign up for budget billing, you may contact our office at 515-239-5120.