One-Time Lifetime Adjustment

The City of Panama City understands that unexpected spikes in water usage can happen, and when they do, they can cause an unusually high utility bill that’s difficult for customers to manage. To help provide relief, the City now offers a one-time adjustment for one extremely high utility bill per meter over the course of an account holder’s tenure at a property.

This adjustment is designed specifically for unexplained and extraordinary increases in water usage and is not intended to replace other existing remedies, such as those related to leaks, theft, pool fills, or temporary forgiveness policies.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the adjustment, all of the following conditions must be met:

  • The request must be submitted within 90 days of the bill’s due date.
  • The subject bill must be at least six times higher than the past year’s average water usage.
  • The customer must have a minimum of twelve months of billing history on the meter at the property in question.
  • The account must be active and in good standing, with no interruptions of service due to nonpayment or placement in collections within the previous twelve months.
  • An original, completed, and notarized affidavit must be submitted to the City’s Customer Service Department.
  • All prior billed balances must be paid in full.
  • A payment equal to the past year’s average water and sewer charges must be made toward the high bill before the request is reviewed.

Once the request and affidavit have been reviewed and approved by the City Clerk-Treasurer, the customer will receive a one-time lifetime adjustment as follows:

  • A credit of 50% on the water portion of the bill that exceeds the past year’s average consumption.
  • A credit of 100% on the sewer portion of the bill that exceeds the past year’s average consumption.

If a request is denied, the customer will receive a written explanation detailing the reason for the denial.

Customers who believe they qualify for this adjustment should contact the City of Panama City Customer Service Department at 850-872-3166 for more information and to obtain the necessary affidavit form.