Ballantyne households that pay their Charlotte Water bill online need to act by Thursday, Aug. 27. That's when the utility takes its customer portal offline for five days while it migrates to a new system called CLTWaterHub.

The blackout runs from Thursday, Aug. 27, through Monday, Aug. 31. The new portal goes live Tuesday, Sept. 1, at charlottewater.org.

Charlotte Water announced the transition on X on Tuesday, Aug. 25, and confirmed details through QC News.

What you can still do during the blackout

Customers aren't completely locked out.

During the five-day window, Charlotte Water said payments can still be made by phone, with a one-time online payment, or by check or cash. The existing portal and account-based payment tools are what go dark.

Autopay customers do not need to take any action. Existing payment settings will carry over automatically to the new system.

What's changing Sept. 1

Charlotte Water Director Angela Charles said the new portal responds to customer feedback.

"We heard from our customers about how we can make managing their water accounts easier, and CLTWaterHub is designed with that feedback in mind," Charles said in a statement reported by QC News.

The utility said CLTWaterHub will let customers view water usage and pay bills from mobile devices.

What to do now

Customers with a bill due between Thursday, Aug. 27, and Monday, Aug. 31, should pay before the blackout begins or use one of the alternative methods: phone, one-time online payment, check or cash. Once CLTWaterHub launches Tuesday, Sept. 1, customers can access the new portal at charlottewater.org.