Richmond Utility Bills Will Be Due in 25 Days Starting in December: What City Homeowners, Buyers and Sellers Should Check

Published October 19, 2026

Richmond utility bills are about to come due five days sooner. According to a report by Trevor Dickerson at RVAHub, the city’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is moving to a 25-day payment cycle, so payment is due 25 days after the bill date instead of 30. The billing period, which RVAHub says averages 30 days, is not changing. This is our summary of that reporting, plus what it means for people who own, buy or sell a home in the city of Richmond.

The schedule, step by step

RVAHub reports that DPU is making the change in two steps. Bills issued in October give customers 27 days to pay, so those due dates fall in November. Bills issued in November move to the full 25-day window, so those due dates fall in December. Each customer’s due date is printed on the bill. DPU told RVAHub that it compared its billing with electric, telecommunications and other utilities and that 25 days matches industry practice.

The stated reason is processing time. DPU Director Scott Morris said the new cycle gives “a clearer window for payments to be processed” before the next bill is generated. RVAHub adds that the department hopes to cut down on cases where a new bill goes out while a payment on the last one is still in process. DPU provides gas, water, wastewater, stormwater and streetlight service, according to RVAHub, and the city’s billing page lists payment options by mail, phone, in person, online and automatic draft.

What it means if you own a home in the city

Start with autopay. RVAHub says customers on automatic or scheduled payments should check their settings and upcoming due dates, and that anyone paying through a bank should allow extra time for the payment to reach DPU. If your payment draws from the same account as your mortgage, a due date that slides earlier each month can start to overlap with the first of the month. That is our observation, not DPU’s, but it is worth a look at your calendar before December.

The city’s billing page also lists an Equal Monthly Payment Plan, PromisePay payment plans and assistance programs for water and heat. If a budget change is a concern, the page gives (804) 646-0600 for payment arrangements. Nothing in the report describes a change in rates. It describes the due date only, and the city posts current rates separately.

What it means if you are buying or selling in the city

For a buyer, the practical step is to set up the account before you need water or gas. DPU’s plain-language customer guide, posted in May 2026, says you must apply for service, that applications take about one to three business days to process and that a residential deposit is $25 for water and $50 for gas. It also advises customers to establish or cancel service each time they move. Because the first bill will carry the new 25-day window once it applies, put the due date on your move-in calendar.

For a seller, the same guide says a deposit is refunded one billing cycle after an account closes if it is in good standing, and applied to any past-due balance if it is not. Close your account on the date you hand over the keys, and keep the final bill address current. We could not find DPU guidance on how it handles transfers at a home closing, so call DPU at the number on your bill. Our guides to setting up utilities by locality and prorations on a closing statement cover the rest of the move-in money, and the same questions come up in Henrico County and Chesterfield County, where you should ask your own provider about due dates.