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City News

Public Utilities

Richmond DPU Implementing Measures to Improve Bill Payment Processing

Richmond, Va. — The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is continuing efforts to improve billing and payment processes to enhance the customer experience. As part of these improvements, DPU is transitioning to a 25-day payment due date cycle.   

Under the new payment due date cycle, customer payments will be due 25 days after the bill date, rather than a 30-day timeframe. Customers will still be billed monthly, with the typical billing frequency (averaging 30 days) remaining unchanged. 

DPU benchmarked with electric, telecommunication and other utilities and the updated payment cycle aligns with industry practices. This change creates a more effective window for payments to be received and processed by financial institutions before the next bill is generated. It will also help reduce instances in which a new bill is issued while a payment on the previous bill is still being processed, providing customers with clearer and more current account information.

I’m thankful for the continued march along the path of improvement in utility service delivery,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II. “This change is a key step in making the customer experience reliable, responsive, and easy to navigate with the needs of Richmonders top of mind.”

“We have the opportunity to take a fresh look at how our billing and payment processes work from beginning to end as we focus on the needs of our customers,” said DPU  Director Scott Morris. “Moving to a 25-day payment cycle will provide a clearer window for payments to be processed and applied before the next bill is generated. It is one of the ways we are continuing to refine our processes and provide customers with more accurate, timely account information.”

Customers who use automatic payments or other scheduled payment methods are encouraged to review their payment settings and upcoming bill due dates to ensure funds are available. Customers who make payments through their financial institution should also allow sufficient time for their payment to be transmitted to and received by DPU.

Payment due dates will transition to a 25‑day cycle over multiple billing periods. In October the payment window will shift to 27 days for November due dates. The final transition to the 25‑day payment timeframe will occur in November for December due dates. This phased approach will allow customers time to gradually adjust. Customers will see their specific payment due date on their DPU bill.

 

For additional information about DPU billing and payment options, visit www.rva.gov/public-utilities/billing

Repair Process for Water Main Break

Infographic details water main break repair steps: crew investigation, road closure, utility marking, pipe repair, and road restoration, with estimated times for each stage. This process can take 6-8 hours AFTER crews have dug up and uncovered the damaged pipe. Repair times can vary based on pipe size, buried depth, and other factors. We appreciate your patience. 30-60 Minutes for surveying crew investigates and verifies the reported water main break. After the investigation is completed, the repair crew is dispatched. 30-60 Minutes for Repair crew arrives to cut off water and close the road/lane if needed. 3 hours for Miss Utility is called to mark underground utility lines for safe digging. This process takes at least 3 hours. Winter wait times may be longer due to increased call volume. 3-5 Hours for team to complete work needed to repair water main break. Time varies for The temporary road patch is complete; DPW work order submitted.

Why does one water main repair take a few hours while another takes much longer? Every break is different. This graphic shows the steps involved in a typical repair—and some of the factors that can affect how long it takes.

DPU Street Work Activity Reports

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities publishes weekly Street Work Activity Reports to provide visibility into active infrastructure work occurring across the city. These reports offer a snapshot of current projects and street impacts, organized by Council District, to support coordination, planning and public awareness.

 

Reports are updated weekly and reflect active work at the time of publication.

September 2026 Reports

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of September 28, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of September 21, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of September 14, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of September 8, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of September 1, 2026

August 2026 Reports

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of August 24, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of August 17, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of August 10, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of August 3, 2026

July 2026 Reports

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of July 27, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of July 20, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of July 13, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of July 6, 2026

June 2026 Reports

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of June 29, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of June 22, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of June 15, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of June 8, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of June 1, 2026

May 2026 Reports 
DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of May 26, 2026   

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of May 18, 2026   

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of May 11, 2026   

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of May 4, 2026   

April 2026 Reports 

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of April 27, 2026   

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of April 20, 2026   

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of April 13, 2026   

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of April 6, 2026   

March 2026 Reports 

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of March 30, 2026   

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of March 23, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of March 16, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of March 10, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of March 1, 2026

February 2026 Reports

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of February 23, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of February 16, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of February 9, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of February 2, 2026

January 2026 Reports

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of January 26, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of January 20, 2026

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of January 12, 2026

December 2025 Reports 

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of December 29, 2025

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of December 22, 2025

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of December 15, 2025

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of December 8, 2025

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of December 1, 2025

November 2025 Reports

DPU Street Work Activity Report - Week of November 24, 2025

 

Richmond CAO to Host September 8 Billing and Customer Service Working Session with DPU

Limited availability for customer service staff  

The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is committed to continually improving the quality, accuracy, and responsiveness of its billing and customer service operations. As part of this ongoing effort, on Tuesday, September 8, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., a limited number of DPU billing and customer service staff will be available while team members participate in a working session with Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II. This session will focus on strengthening internal processes and enhancing the overall customer experience.

During this two-hour period, customers may experience minimally longer-than-usual wait times when contacting DPU for billing or customer service support. Normal staffing levels will resume immediately following the meeting at 2:00 p.m., ensuring full-service availability for the remainder of the day.

DPU appreciates the community’s ongoing patience and understanding as we take deliberate steps to improve service delivery and better meet the needs of our customers. These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to deliver the modern, dependable utility experience customers expect and deserve.

DPU Announces Fall 2026 Citizens Academy

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is now accepting applications for the Fall 2026 Citizens Academy. This is an interactive series that gives residents a behind-the-scenes look at the essential services that help keep Richmond running every day.  

The four-week program invites participants to meet the teams who deliver water, wastewater, stormwater and natural gas services across the city. Through facility tours, hands-on demonstrations and presentations from industry professionals, residents will gain a deeper understanding of how DPU provides essential services, protects public health, supports growth and responds to community needs.  

Citizens Academy is designed to be informative, engaging and accessible for residents who want to learn more about their utilities.   

Sessions will be held weekly on Tuesdays throughout October: 

Date Time
Tuesday, October 6 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Tuesday, October 13 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Tuesday, October 20 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Tuesday, October 27 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Locations and detailed session information will be shared with registered participants.  

Because the Academy builds week-to-week, participants are requested to attend all sessions to get the full experience. Applications will be reviewed and selected to ensure representation from across Richmond’s City Council districts. Residents from all areas of the city are encouraged to apply.   

Ready to learn how your utilities work?  
Apply for the Fall 2026 Citizens Academy using the link below.  

2026 Fall Citizens Academy Application 

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