Traffic on Gaines Street will be temporarily detoured today (May 6th) while city workers repair a sinkhole. The detour will still allow traffic to and from each residence.

City Hall
102 East Liberty St.
P.O. Box 9
Washington, GA 30673

 

(706) 678-3277

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Utilities

The City of Washington provides water, electricity, sewer, and garbage collection services.

How to Activate Utility Service

Please come to:

City Hall
102 E. Liberty Street
Washington, GA 30673

Please bring the following items:
  • Valid driver's license
  • Proof of ownership or lease agreement
  • Social Security card or Tax ID (businesses only)

Questions? Contact a friendly Customer Service Clerk at 706-678-3277

What is included in your utility bill?
  • Electric
  • Water
  • Garbage Collection
  • Security Light
  • Sewer
  • Yard Waste (limbs, leaves)

You can now pay online. The City of Washington does not charge an online payment fee.

Rate Information

Utility Policies

  • Monthly utility bill is provided via mail or e-bill (customer choice) at the first of each month. 
  • Accessible online at www.wga.gov to view and/or pay online. Customer can access utility bill records online 24/7.
  • Utility bill payment is due by the 15th of each month for the prior month’s usage.
  • An account is delinquent if the outstanding balance is unpaid by the 16th. Delinquent account is subject to a late fee calculated at 7% of the unpaid balance. 
  • The city provides a courtesy call to the customer 5-7 days before scheduled disconnection. The call service representative advises the customer of the scheduled date of disconnection, and the date by which the bill must be paid to avoid disconnection.
  • Last day to pay a delinquent utility bill and avoid disconnection is the 21st of each month. Customer must pay the outstanding balance including late fee.
  • Service disconnection begins on the 22nd of each month for accounts with an outstanding balance due to non-payment. If service is disconnected for nonpayment, the customer must pay the delinquent balance plus a non-refundable $150 penalty in order for service to be restored.
  • No after-hours reconnections if service is disconnected for non-payment or unauthorized use. Reconnection will occur during normal business hours Monday to Friday.
  • Disconnection for non-payment will not occur if, prior to 8:00 a.m. on the date of scheduled disconnect, a National Weather Service Heat Advisory or Excessive Heat Warning is in effect or is forecasted to be in effect locally.
  • Disconnection for non-payment will not occur if, prior to 8:00 a.m. on the date of scheduled disconnect, the local temperature is forecasted to be below 32 degrees for a 24-hour period beginning on the date of the proposed disconnection.
  • Disconnection for non-payment will not occur if the residential customer has an illness that will become life threatening by the disconnection, provided that the customer notifies the city of the condition in writing prior to the disconnection. Proper notice shall be a written statement from a physician identifying the illness, its expected duration, and certifying that the illness will be life threatening if utility disconnection occurs.
  • When service is disconnected due to non-payment, all applicable fees must be paid before service is reconnected. 
  • The city will seek criminal charges in case of meter tampering or theft of service. O.C.G.A. 16-8-5 states that, "A person commits the offense of theft of services when by deception and with the intent to avoid payment he knowingly obtains services, accommodations, entertainment, or the use of personal property which is available only for compensation."
  • Penalties up to $1,000 may be issued for meter tampering, hydrant tampering, valve tampering, or unauthorized use.
 

When Can the City Disconnect Services?

  • Utility services may be disconnected when a utility bill is not paid by the 21st day of the month, when a customer requests disconnection, when service at the location poses an immediate hazard to people or property, and when ordered by an authorized public agency.

Need Financial Assistance Paying Your Bill?

To find out if you qualify for the CSRA Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, visit http://csraeoa.itfrontdesk.com/ or call CSRA at 762-257-6351.

Residential Utility Rates

Services INSIDE the City Base/Month Usage Rate Usage Units
Water
 $22.00 $4.75 per 1,000 gallons
Sewer $22.00 $4.75 per 1,000 gallons
Garbage $20.00    
Yard Waste $5.00    
Electricity $22.00    
First 500 kWh
   $0.11448 per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
Next 500 kWh
   $0.10996 per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
Over 1,000 kWh
   $0.10093 per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
       
Services OUTSIDE the City Base/Month Usage Rate Usage Units
Water
 $31.75 $6.50 per 1,000 gallons
Sewer $31.75 $6.50 per 1,000 gallons
Electricity $22.00    
First 500 kWh
   $0.11448 per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
Next 500 kWh
   $0.10996 per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
Over 1,000 kWh
   $0.10093 per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
 

Electric Rate Reduction Calculator


The City Council LOWERED electric rates effective January 1, 2023 for residential and commercial customers. The new rates charged per-kilowatt-hour saves an average 7.2% compared to the old rate. Use this electric rate calculator to see how much you are saving under the new rate vs. the old rate. Simply enter your kWh usage in the blue shaded box. It will automatically calculate a sample bill that shows how much you save under the new rate for any given usage amount (kWh). 
 

Click Here to Open the Electric Rate Reduction Calculator
 

Overview of Monthly Billing Cycle

  • 15th - utility bill payment is due for prior month.
  • 16th to 21st - delinquent period. Late fee of 7% late is added. Courtesy call is placed to customers with an outstanding balance.
  • 21st - last day to pay a delinquent bill and avoid disconnection. Customer must pay outstanding balance including late fee.
  • 22nd - service disconnection begins for accounts with outstanding balance due to non-payment. If service is disconnected due to nonpayment, the customer must pay a $150 non-refundable penalty to reconnect service. 

Privacy Policy

Protecting your privacy is important to us. To assure you of our commitment to protecting your privacy, the following statement discloses the information gathering and dissemination practices for wga.gov.

All information acquired through orders are kept confidential and will not be disclosed to third parties except as may be required by law. If you communicate with City of Washington via email, your email address, and any information you provide voluntarily, will be kept confidential and not shared with third parties.

Personal information that can identify you, such as name and address, is collected only when voluntarily offered and solely for purposes that are clearly identified. Personal information is used to contact you when necessary, and you may opt-out of receiving future mailings.

You may be requested to provide demographic and profile data during your visit to a City of Washington site. Your compliance with this type of request is strictly voluntary. If you choose to provide this information, it will be used to tailor your experience at the sites, showing you content that you might be interested in, and displaying the content according to your preferences.

City of Washington has technological and operational security functions in place to protect personally identifiable information from loss, misuses, alteration, or destruction. Only authorized employees have access to the data you provide, and that access is limited by need.

This site contains links to other sites. City of Washington is not responsible for privacy practices or content of such websites.

This Privacy Policy may be updated or modified at any time without notice, so you are urged to revisit this policy periodically.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • CHAMBER CAREER OPPORTUNITY 

  • ATTENTION: TREE REMOVAL 11.16.24

    On Saturday morning 11/16, The City will be removing a problematic tree at in front of 1 East Square (Aunt Polly’s Antiques).

    They plan to begin the removal process at first light and have it done soon thereafter. 

    They do not intend to block off Robert Toombs or East Square in the process.

  • FEMA INDIVIDUAL RELIEF

    Thanks to the tireless efforts of County officials, FEMA has approved Wilkes County for Individual Assistance. Start your application now at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

  • Community & Economic Development Department Updates

  • GEMA UPDATE AS OF 10/24/24

    Did you lose wages due to Hurricane Helene? The Georgia Emergency Management Agency(GEMA) may be able to help.
    Georgians Who Lost Income Due to Storms May Be Eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance 

    Employees or self-employed Georgians who became unemployed as a direct consequence of Hurricane Helene may be eligible to receive Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Receiving this assistance does not affect your ability to apply for or receive other FEMA assistance.

    Disaster Unemployment Assistance is a FEMA-funded, state managed federal program that helps workers whose primary income is lost or interrupted as a direct result of a disaster declared by the President. Unlike regular state unemployment insurance, it provides benefits to people who are self-employed, farmers, diversified farming operators, loggers, commission-paid employees, and others who are not eligible under the state's program.

    In Georgia, the deadlines to apply depend on the disaster declaration dates.

    For Hurricane Helene:
    • Dec. 2 for residents in Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Lowndes, McDuffie, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Washington and Wheeler counties.
    • Dec. 3 for residents in Effingham, Elbert, Rabun and Tift counties.
    • Dec. 6 for residents in Brantley Bryan, Butts, Camden, Charlton, Dodge, Fulton, Glynn, Hancock, Long, McIntosh, Newton, Thomas, Warren and Wayne counties.
    Additional counties may be added at a later date. 

    lease visit the Georgia Department of Labor Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance page to learn what you need to file an application and see a list of disaster-related benefit facts.

    To apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Georgians must first apply for regular unemployment insurance on the Georgia Department of Labor website at dol.georgia.gov or in person at any GDOL career center. Only those who are ineligible for regular unemployment insurance can be considered eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits.

    The Georgia Department of Labor will notify you if you are eligible to file for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Income verification may be required when applying for these benefits. People should be prepared to provide proof of earnings for the most recently completed tax year. Acceptable proof of earnings includes copies of the most recently completed income tax returns, quarterly estimated income tax payment records, or similar documents.

    For additional information on Disaster Unemployment Assistance, visit dol.georgia.gov or call the Georgia Department of Labor toll-free customer service line at 1-877-709-8185.
    For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4821 and fema.gov/disaster/4830. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.

  • DISASTER SURVIVORS FEMA RELIEF AS OF 10/24/24



    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has arrived in Thomson to help you. They have set up in the Annex of the Depot on Railroad Street. The historic Depot's address is 111 Railroad St. Thomson 30824. Parallel to the railroad tracks, you will see the Depot, the breezeway with red tables and chairs and then the Annex. Use the double doors next to the guitar and mural to go inside.

    Hours of operation:
    Monday-Saturday 8:00am - 7:00pm
    Sunday 1:00pm - 6:00 pm.


    FEMA Offers Equal Access to Assistance for All Georgia Disaster Survivors 

    FEMA is committed to providing equal access to federal assistance for Georgians who were affected by Tropical Storm Debby, damage Aug. 4-20, and/or Hurricane Helene. Anyone with an accessibility need who is applying for FEMA assistance should let FEMA know.
    If you or anyone in your household has a disability or language need---as well as a need to interact with FEMA or have disability-related losses due to the storms, it is important to answer “yes” to the appropriate questions when completing the application for FEMA disaster assistance. You will be asked to identify what you need to help you throughout your recovery process. Questions will also help identify other services for which you may be eligible to receive reimbursement.

    Examples of the type of questions you can expect include:
    - Do you have a disability or language need that requires an accommodation to interact with FEMA staff and/or access FEMA programs?
    - Do you or anyone in your household have a disability that affects your ability to perform activities of daily living or requires an assistive device?
    - Did you have any disability-related assistive devices or medically required equipment/supplies/support services damaged, destroyed, lost, or disrupted because of the disaster?
    A disaster can take away the key components that enable people with disabilities and people with other access and functional needs to live independently or to communicate with others. These may include a wheelchair, scooter, walker, CPAP machine, hearing aids, eyeglasses, or screen reader. You may be eligible to receive FEMA funds to replace these items.

    The First Step is to Apply
    Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov , visit a Disaster Recovery Center, use the FEMA App or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to apply. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service such as Video Relay Service, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
    To view an accessible video on how to apply, visit
    Three Ways to Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance - YouTube.

    When you apply for assistance, have the following information readily available:
    - Address of your disaster damaged home with zip code
    - A description of your disaster caused losses, which may include the condition of your damaged home
    - Insurance information, if available
    - Social Security number
    - Phone number where you can be contacted
    - Address where you can receive mail or email address to receive electronic notifications

    If you need an accommodation or assistance due to a disability or language need, ask FEMA at the time of applying or anytime throughout the assistance process.

    For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4821 or fema.gov/disaster/4830 . Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency.

  • Request for Proposal for Services - SALARY CLASSIFICATION AND PAY STUDY

    Link to RFP for Salary Classification and Pay Study 

     
     

  • Request for Proposal for Services - PUBLIC DEFENDER 

    The City of Washington, Georgia, is requesting proposals from attorneys interested in serving as a city Public Defender. The appointed Public Defender will be the city’s chief Public Defender in all traffic and non-traffic-related violations of municipal ordinances. Anticipated minimum qualifications include a juris doctor degree, qualifications to practice law in the state of Georgia, and membership in the Georgia Bar Association. The city Public Defender will be appointed by the city manager after consultation with the city attorney. The initial appointment will be for two years, renewable.

    The city will pay the solicitor $500 per session held on the third Tuesday of each month. Interested parties should send their resumes to the city clerk, Yoshe Jenkins, at yjenkins@wga.gov.     The deadline to apply is November 29, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.

     
     

  • Candlelight Shopping

  • Washington Wonderland 

  • Small Business Breakfast Series (November Event)

  • Holiday Writing Competition


    “There'll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago...”

    Did you know that telling ghost stories around the Christmas tree was a popular tradition during the Victorian era? Even today, who doesn't love Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol"? This year, the Robert Toombs House challenges you to write your own Christmas ghost story. It can be a chilling tale about a haunted ornament or a more lighthearted story about a ghostly great uncle who keeps eating all the sugar cookies. A panel of judges will select four stories to be read at our Ghosts of Christmases Past event. All entries will be compiled in a booklet that will be given to each person who enters and to those who attend the event on December 20th or 21st.

    Entry Rules:
    - The contest is open to Wilkes County residents aged 13 years or older.
    - All entries must be submitted by midnight on November 30th to events@roberttoombshouse.org.
    - Each story must be between 1,500 to 3,000 words.
    - It should be set during Christmas time in the 19th Century (1800-1899). Time travel is an option.
    - While it’s preferable for the story to be set in Wilkes County, this is not required.
    - All stories must be appropriate for ages 13 and up. If you have specific questions about this, please contact us.

    Please visit the event page on Facebook for additional information regarding the contest and the Ghosts of Christmases Past event. You may also reach us at 706-678-2226. Tickets for the event will go on sale in early November.
     

  • WW Parade of Lights 2024

  • Little Theatre's Holiday Production 

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City Hall 102 East Liberty St.
P.O. Box 9
Washington, GA 30673

(706) 678-3277

cityofwashingtongeorgia

© 2024 City of Washington.. All Rights Reserved.