Bills, rates and payment fees
What wastewater service costs
A documented public wastewater rate benchmark, what Integra says about customer service and payment methods, and the missing local rates and fees required for a fair comparison.
Rate comparison
Published wastewater tariffs and documented gaps
| Provider | Monthly tariff or status |
|---|---|
| Madison Utilities (public; inside city) | $10.66 base + $7.95 per 1,000 gallons |
| Madison Utilities (public; outside city) | $10.66 base + $9.51 per 1,000 gallons |
| Integra Water Madison County | Applicable Madison County tariff not established from public records |
Comparing complete bills
What a complete sewer bill should explain
A wastewater bill should explain the base charge, any usage charge, the billing period, periodic increases and payment-method fees. Some providers use flat rates, while others base sewer charges on water-meter readings. The applicable agreement determines the method.
A fair comparison uses each sewer provider's actual rate schedule, the same customer assumptions and applicable fees. A separate drinking-water tariff is not a wastewater tariff; a public utility's bill is not a quote for buying or replacing Integra's service.
One household's charge is not an official tariff. We use published rate schedules for public comparisons and never publish residents' private bill details.
A worked example: 6,000 gallons
For an illustrative household billed 6,000 gallons in a month under the standard residential tariff:
| Reference service area | Calculation | Monthly result |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Madison city limits | $10.66 + (6 × $7.95) | $58.36 |
| Outside Madison city limits | $10.66 + (6 × $9.51) | $67.72 |
These are not Integra bills or takeover projections. Madison Utilities is a separate utility with different systems and costs. A lower public tariff elsewhere would not establish lower rates after an acquisition.
Historical public reference
How public reference rates changed: 2024–2026
These are illustrative Madison Utilities monthly wastewater calculations at 6,000 gallons for a regular residential customer with a 5/8-inch meter, not Integra historic bills.
| Tariff effective date | Inside Madison city | Outside Madison city |
|---|---|---|
| October 1, 2024 | $55.48 | $64.54 |
| October 1, 2025 | $57.04 | $66.28 |
| October 1, 2026 | $58.36 | $67.72 |
The figures include the year-specific 5/8-inch base rate plus 6 × the year-specific regular residential per-1,000-gallon sewer charge. Other customer classes and fees differ.
The entire monthly bill
Base rates are only part of the cost
A published wastewater rate does not always equal what a household pays. We are tracking payment-method charges separately from base sewer service rates, using the exact utility and service area rather than assuming every company charges the same fees.
| Fee type | Integra Madison County | Madison Utilities reference |
|---|---|---|
| Base wastewater charge | Verification pending | $10.66 / month, 5/8-inch meter |
| Volume charge | Applicable billing method unverified | $7.95 / 1,000 gallons inside city; $9.51 outside |
| Card / online convenience fee | Amount not publicly verified | Convenience fee applies to card/e-check payments; amount not verified |
| ACH / bank draft charge | Amount not publicly verified | Automatic bank draft: no processing fee per utility |
| Late payment | Applicable charge needs documentation | 10% late charge reported on published utility FAQ |
| Returned payment | Applicable charge needs documentation | $25 per returned item on published utility FAQ |
| Reconnection / new service | Contract and fee schedule needed | Customer-specific schedule; not included here |
Integra convenience fees: The company publishes several payment options, but the applicable amount for a local card or online transaction is not established by the public materials reviewed. Charges from other utilities or other Integra companies cannot substitute for the local fee notice.
Madison Utilities' official payment page discloses convenience fees for debit/credit and e-check payments, but does not show a specific amount on the public page. It also lists no processing fee for automatic bank draft. See Madison Utilities payment policy ↗
Integra's published payment methods
The company's FAQ lists an online portal, bank bill pay, ACH autodraft arranged through customer service, and mailed checks. It does not give us a verified local charge for each option. Read Integra's payment FAQ ↗
How a total bill should be compared
Monthly sewer service + any actual payment-method fee + other applicable customer-specific charges. We will only add a fee to the default calculation when we have proof that it applies to the selected customer and method.
Integra customer information
What Integra publishes about service and payment
Integra lists four payment methods: the customer portal, bank bill-pay, automatic ACH draft arranged through customer service, and mailed checks. It also says it maintains sewer main lines while lines running from a residence to the main are generally the customer's responsibility. Individual service contracts may affect these responsibilities.
These public statements help residents understand their service, but they do not establish the specific 2026 Madison County rate schedule or card convenience-fee amount.
What a complete local comparison still requires
An applicable Integra wastewater rate sheet and historical increase notices, the rules for billable gallons, convenience and late fees, and the communities each schedule covers. Different agreements must be compared separately rather than averaged into a fictional countywide price.
Public rates are shown with their effective dates. The Madison Utilities reference above took effect October 1, 2026. See the public record and corrections →