How to download a Seattle Public Utilities bill

Paper bills or eBilling

Residential customers on paper are billed every other month, at the service address or another mailing address, with printed utility newsletters in the envelope. To switch to eBilling, first create the online account and link it with your City Light or SPU account number, typed without spaces or dashes. An email then tells you when each bill is ready to view.

Billing history lookup in the online account

The online account includes Billing History, Payment History, Manage Payment Methods, Manage Auto Payments and Budget Billing. Billing History is where you pull old statements when a lender, an accountant or a tenant asks for them.

Landlords splitting bills with tenants

SPU publishes a Landlord Billing Calculator for owners who charge tenants for utilities. Enter the total due and the days of service from the bill, plus the days the tenant was there, and it estimates the tenant's share. The city also suggests prorating from an average built from previous bill statements. In buildings with three or more units, Seattle's Third Party Billing Ordinance sets what a tenant's utility bill must show, such as current and previous meter readings when units are submetered.

Paying and automatic payments

• Online with an account: one-time or recurring payments by credit card, debit card or checking account.
• Online without an account: account number plus billing ZIP code.
• Phone: (877) 398-3531 for private automated card entry, or (206) 684-3000 to speak with an agent first.
• In person: at a payment center.

SPU says it never adds convenience fees to any of these. Recurring payments are set up under Manage Auto Payments. Every bill is still issued with automatic payments on, and that bill is the copy to keep.

SPU bills sorted by rental unit

The Landlord Billing Calculator works from past bills, which you need on hand. Connect your City of Seattle utility login and our AI agent saves each SPU bill with bill fetching. eBilling emails can also be captured with email receipt capture, giving you a full history for prorating and for tax receipts.