What is a utility bill called in Spanish?
Spanish speakers name the bill after the service, and the word for the bill itself changes by country.
- Utility bill
- Recibo de servicios, factura de servicios públicos
- Electric bill, light bill
- Recibo de luz, factura de la luz in Spain, recibo de CFE in Mexico
- Water bill
- Recibo de agua, factura del agua
- Gas bill
- Recibo de gas, factura del gas
- Phone or internet bill
- Recibo de teléfono, factura de internet
- Proof of address
- Comprobante de domicilio in Mexico, justificante de domicilio in Spain
Recibo is the everyday word in Mexico and the US. Factura is what a company in Spain prints at the top. In Mexico, a recent light, water or phone bill is the usual comprobante de domicilio, which is why so many people need one in English.
Every line of a US utility bill in Spanish
This glossary follows a typical US electric, gas or water bill from the account box to the payment slip.
| On the bill | In Spanish |
|---|---|
| Account number | Número de cuenta |
| Service address | Dirección del servicio |
| Billing period, statement date | Periodo de facturación, fecha de emisión |
| Amount due, due date | Monto a pagar, fecha de vencimiento |
| Previous balance, payment received | Saldo anterior, pago recibido |
| Meter reading, previous and current | Lectura del medidor, anterior y actual |
| Usage, kWh, gallons, therms | Consumo, kWh, galones, termias |
| Customer charge, delivery charge | Cargo fijo, cargo por distribución |
| Late fee | Recargo por pago atrasado |
| Autopay, budget billing | Pago automático, plan de pagos nivelados |
| Disconnection notice | Aviso de corte o suspensión del servicio |
Keep the account number, the meter number and the service address exactly as printed. A translated bill is only useful as proof of address if the reader can match it to the original.
A Mexican or Spanish bill in English
Bills from Mexico and Spain have items with no single US equivalent. These are the usual English renderings.
| On the bill | In English |
|---|---|
| Titular, nombre del usuario | Account holder |
| Domicilio, dirección de suministro | Address, supply address |
| Número de servicio, RPU (CFE) | Service number, kept as written |
| CUPS (Spain) | Supply point code, kept as written |
| Periodo facturado, bimestre | Billing period, two-month period |
| Lectura actual, lectura anterior | Current reading, previous reading |
| Consumo en kWh, en m³ | Usage in kWh, in cubic meters |
| Potencia contratada | Contracted power |
| Subsidio, apoyo gubernamental | Government subsidy |
| IVA, impuesto eléctrico | VAT, electricity tax |
| Total a pagar, pagar antes de | Total due, pay by |
Utility bills as proof of address in the US
A REAL ID application needs two proofs of address of principal residence, and a state can ask for more[2]. California's DMV, for example, names a home utility or cell phone bill among its examples, next to a mortgage bill, a vehicle registration card and a bank statement[1]. Banks, schools and landlords ask for the same thing when you open an account, enroll a child or rent.
A bill from Mexico or Spain may also come up as evidence in an immigration case, for example to show where a couple lived together. Any document in Spanish sent to USCIS needs a full English translation and the translator's certification that it is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate[3]. The USCIS translation guide covers who may sign.
How to translate a utility bill with LoreAI
- Download the bill as a PDF or photograph it. A PDF from the utility's website, a scan or a phone photo of the paper bill all work, including the back.
- Upload it and choose the target language. English for a recibo de luz or a factura, Spanish for a US bill. LoreAI detects the source language.
- Download the Word file. The account box, the charges table and the usage history come back in the bill's order, with every amount, date and account number as written.
Several months of bills fit in one upload. Free covers 3 pages, Basic up to 30 pages per document and Pro up to 100 pages. LoreAI is not a certified translation service, so when an office wants a signed translation, a bilingual person checks the Word file and signs it.
Questions people ask
How do you say utility bill in Spanish?
Recibo de servicios or factura de servicios públicos. For one service, recibo de luz, recibo de agua or recibo de gas.
How do you say electric bill in Spanish?
Recibo de luz in Mexico and the US, factura de la luz in Spain.
How do you say water bill in Spanish?
Recibo de agua, or factura del agua in Spain.
Is a utility bill proof of address for a REAL ID?
In California, yes. The DMV lists a home utility bill among its examples of documents proving residency[1]. Check your own state's list.
Does USCIS accept a utility bill in Spanish?
Only with a full English translation and the translator's signed certification of accuracy and competence[3].
Sources
- California DMV: What Is REAL ID?, accessed November 10, 2026
- TSA: REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions, accessed November 10, 2026
- 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), Translations, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, accessed November 10, 2026
By Matt Mountain ·