Cullman County to bring water and sanitation billing in-house after CEC discontinues service

The county will transition to a new software-based system to handle billing operations.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Cullman County, Alabama will bring its water and sanitation billing operations in-house after Cullman Electric Cooperative (CEC) informed the county it would discontinue billing services later this year. The county has selected CNI Solutions, a Cullman-based software company, to provide a new cloud-based billing system that will integrate with Paymentus for online payments. The transition is expected to be completed by June 1, 2026 and is projected to result in significant annual cost savings for the county.

Why it matters

The move to an in-house billing system gives Cullman County more direct operational control over its water and sanitation services, while also reducing long-term costs. The previous arrangement with CEC had the county paying a per-customer rate that included standard postage but not credit card processing fees. The new system is expected to provide greater transparency and flexibility in billing and payment processing.

The details

In July 2025, CEC notified Cullman County that it would be discontinuing its longstanding role in billing water and sanitation services for the county. This prompted the county to evaluate alternative software providers and cost structures. After reviewing proposals, the county selected CNI Solutions, a Cullman-based company that specializes in municipal and utility billing systems. Under the new agreement, the county will pay a monthly recurring fee of $4,910 plus 12 cents per active account per month, which is estimated to result in over $500,000 in annual savings compared to the previous CEC arrangement.

  • In July 2025, Cullman Electric Cooperative notified Cullman County that it would be discontinuing billing services for water and sanitation.
  • In late 2025, Cullman County began the vendor search process to find a replacement for the billing services.
  • In early 2026, Cullman County selected CNI Solutions as the new provider.
  • The target implementation date for the new in-house billing system is June 1, 2026.

The players

Cullman County

The county government of Cullman County, Alabama that oversees water and sanitation services.

Cullman Electric Cooperative

The electric utility cooperative that previously provided billing services for Cullman County's water and sanitation customers.

CNI Solutions

A Cullman-based software company that specializes in municipal and utility billing systems and was selected by Cullman County to provide a new cloud-based billing system.

Paymentus

The payment processing company that will integrate with CNI Solutions' billing system to provide online payment options for Cullman County's water and sanitation customers.

John Bullard

The Cullman County Administrator who oversaw the transition to the new in-house billing system.

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What they’re saying

“Around July of 2025, the Cullman Electric Cooperative approached us to discuss discontinuing billing for Cullman County Water and Sanitation services. This began a search for software providers to bring the billing in-house, and CNI Solutions in Cullman quickly rose to the top.”

— John Bullard, Cullman County Administrator (The Cullman Tribune)

“In July of 2025, Cullman Electric Cooperative notified Cullman County that we would be discontinuing billing services for water and sanitation. This decision was made after evaluating our long-term operational priorities.”

— Brian Lacy, Vice President of Member Engagement & Communications, Cullman Electric Cooperative (The Cullman Tribune)

What’s next

The county is still finalizing its payment processing agreement with Paymentus, which will determine the exact per-customer billing cost once complete. Final cost comparisons will be updated once the Paymentus agreement is executed.

The takeaway

Cullman County's transition to an in-house billing system for its water and sanitation services demonstrates how local governments can take more direct control over critical infrastructure while also achieving significant long-term cost savings by leveraging modern software and payment processing solutions.