How to Pay Your Utility Bill

It's now easier than ever to pay your utility bill with the RDNO.  If you choose to sign up for the pre-authorized payment plan, the balance of your utility bill will be automatically withdrawn from your bank account on the due date.

IMPORTANT: Once you have signed up, continue to pay your bill until a message on your bill says "Do not pay this bill the amount shown will be withdrawn from your account"

How to sign up

1. Fill out an application
   If you are a small utilities customer, you will have received an application form in your latest utility bill. You can also fill out a Utility Pre-Authorized Payment Program Application form.  You must include a blank cheque marked VOID or a pre-authorized debit form from your bank.

2. Submit the application to the RDNO
   By email to finance@rdno.ca or mail your completed form with the required documents to the RDNO at 9848 Aberdeen Road, Coldstream, BC V1B 2K9

3. Look for confirmation on your next bill
   When you receive your next utility bill from the RDNO, look for a note on the bill that "do not pay this bill the amount shown will be withdrawn from your account"

Change or Cancel

If you wish to change or cancel your participation in the Utility Pre-Authorized Payment Program and/or if you sell your property, notification of cancellation is required at least 10 days in advance of the next withdrawal date. Download the form here.

Questions?  Check out the FAQ below, if you still can't find what you are looking for, we are here to help. Email us at finance@rdno.ca or call the RDNO Finance Department at 250.550.3700.

Utility bills can also be paid online through most banks. Use your seven-digit utility account number. (Number starts with a 7- - - - - -).

There are various truncations of the payee names listed under each financial institution. The following are a list that we have come across.

Credit card payments for utility invoices are not accepted directly by the RDNO.

Sign up by completing the Utility Pre-Authorized Payment Program Application form. It must be signed and accompanied by either a blank cheque marked VOID or a Pre-Authorized Debit form from your bank. A separate application form is required for each RDNO Utility Billing account.

The deduction amount will depend on your Utility Bill balance. This amount may change each billing period for multiple reasons, such as a change in your water consumption. The total amount will be deducted unless your Utility Account shows a credit balance.

The balance shown on your utility bill will be taken out of your bank account on the due date shown on your bill. The RDNO does not charge for this service; however, your bank or financial institution may charge for your withdrawal(s), depending on the type of account you have.

You must contact the RDNO in writing of any bank account changes at least 10 business days before the next withdrawal date, by completing the cancel or change form.  Make sure to include a VOID cheque or direct deposit form from your bank with your change request.  You can send this form to us by email at finance@rdno.ca or by mail:  9848 Aberdeen Road, Coldstream, BC  V1B 2K9.

Yes, contact our finance department at 250.550.3700 or email finance@rdno.ca to cancel payments. We must receive notice in writing at least 10 business days before the next withdrawal date noted on your bill. Once you cancel the Utility Pre-Authorized Payment Program, any balance due will be payable directly to the RDNO. 

Once your payment information has been removed, you will have to re-apply to re-join the Utility Pre-Authorized Payment Program in the future.

A service charge for any dishonoured payments will apply. The service charge is set by the Development Application Procedures and Administrative Fees Bylaw (the current fee is $25). After two consecutive dishonoured payments, or if a payment is returned due to a closed account, you will be removed from the Pre-Authorized Payment Program.

Payments do not automatically stop when you sell your property. You can cancel your Utility Pre-Authorized payments by contacting the RDNO Finance Department at least 10 business days before the next withdrawal date at 250.550.3700 or finance@rdno.ca.

Once you’ve completed filling in the Utility Pre-Authorized Payment Program Application form and have sent it to finance@rdno.ca, keep paying your utility bill until the bill has a note that says "PLEASE NOTE - DO NOT pay this bill. You are on the Utility Pre-Authorized Payment Program and the amount shown will be withdrawn from your account on the due date indicated."

The water system you are connected to will determine how often you are billed for water. The rates are defined in their respective bylaw. The five Community Water Utilities and their billing frequency is shown below:

1. Grindrod Water System – invoiced semi-annually – mid March & mid-September;
2. Gunter-Ellison Water System – Invoiced annually – by mid-June;
3. Mabel Lake Water System – Invoiced annually – by mid-June;
4. Silver Star Water System – Invoiced annually – by mid-May;
5. Whitevale Water System – Invoiced quarterly – mid-January, April, July, October

Greater Vernon Water supplies water to customers in Electoral Areas B, C and D. Customers are invoiced quarterly by the Regional District – April, July, October and January.

Vernon and Coldstream customers may have a different schedule based on the policies of their respective municipality.

Bills levied by the RDNO can be paid by debit card, cash, cheque, credit card or money order by mail or in person at the RDNO office.

Bills can also be paid online or by telephone through most banks:

Search "North Okanagan" and look for "Regional District of North Okanagan - Utilities" - there are various truncations of the name.

Use your Utility Number as your account number.

If you have any questions concerning your bill, or would like to advise us of a change in address, please contact us at finance@rdno.ca or 250-550-3700.

The RDNO receives property owner addresses from the BC Assessment Authority automatically.  Please contact BC Assessment to change your mailing address so that future utility bills, Surveyor of Taxes Tax Notices and BC Assessment Notices are mailed to your new address.

You will need your roll number, assessment area number and jurisdiction area number in order to make the address change.

If you recently purchased your property, your contact information will automatically upload to us from land titles.  Check your title for accuracy.

You may pay by:

• RDNO Pre-authorized Payment Program
• Personalized or business cheques;
• Cash
• Debit Card
• Money orders;
• Online Banking
• Pay online by credit card (fees apply)

The RDNO is registered with most financial institutions in Canada for electronic banking on-line.  To ensure payments are received by the discount deadline, payments must be processed by your financial institution by the close of business on the due date.  You will require the 7-digit account number printed on your utility bill to process the payment.  The account number will begin with a 7XXXXXX.

Each bank has a different name for us as a payee.  Following are some examples:

The RDNO does not do final billings when you sell your home.  Utility calculations are included as part of the conveyancing done by your lawyer or notary.  Ensure you check your statement of adjustments for any debits or credits as part of the conveyancing.

If you were signed up for the Pre-authorized Payment Program, payments will not automatically stop when you sell your property. You must cancel your Utility Pre-Authorized payments by completing the cancel or change form and then submit your form to the RDNO Finance Department at finance@rdno.ca at least 10 business days before the next withdrawal date.

Utility invoices follow the title of the property and will be mailed to the owner on title at the time of the invoicing.  If you sell your home, your lawyer or notary will adjust for utility invoices on your statement of adjustments..

The RDNO does not read meters (if installed) when a property changes hands. The law firm or notary for conveying the sale must contact the RDNO Finance department for an estimate amount owing and make an adjustment accordingly. Note that the charges remain with the property when it is transferred and the new owner becomes responsible for these payments. The RDNO cannot make adjustments between owners if the actual amount of the final bill is different from the estimate.

I just bought a property in the RDNO and the first utility bill I received shows arrears from before I bought the property. Who is responsible for paying these arrears?

It is the responsibility of the lawyer or notary handling the transfer of ownership to ensure that a search is done through the RDNO to determine if there are any outstanding utility charges on a property and include those charges on the statement of adjustments.