Living in Elk River, Minnesota means you receive essential electric and water services from Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU). Paying your utility bill on time each month is important to maintain uninterrupted service Thankfully, ERMU offers an easy online payment system to pay your bill anytime from your computer or mobile device.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk through everything you need to know about paying your ERMU electric and water bill online.
About Elk River Municipal Utilities
Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) is a municipally-owned utility providing electric and water services to the city of Elk River, Minnesota and surrounding townships.
Some key facts about ERMU:
- Provides electric service to around 16,000 customers
- Provides water service to around 12,500 customers
- Governed by a five-member Commission
- Has over 50 full-time employees
- Recipient of numerous industry awards for reliability and customer satisfaction
As a public municipal utility ERMU is owned by the citizens of Elk River. They are committed to providing reliable utility services at reasonable rates.
Why Pay Your Bill Online?
Paying your ERMU utility bill online has a number of benefits:
- It’s fast – Make secure payments in just minutes online 24/7
- It’s easy – No need to mail in checks or visit the office
- Pay anytime – Online system available whenever it’s convenient for you
- Paperless – Go green by reducing paper waste and clutter
- Payment tracking – Payment history is archived securely online
- Avoid late fees – Pay by the due date without worrying about mail delays
- Recurring payments – Set and forget automatic payments each month
Overall, the online bill pay system offers a quick, easy, and reliable way to pay your utility bill.
How to Pay Your ERMU Bill Online
Paying your ERMU utility bill online is a straightforward process. Follow these simple steps:
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Select “Pay Bill”
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Enter your 10-digit ERMU account number
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Enter the payment amount (or pay full balance)
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Enter your payment information including name, email, and debit/credit card details
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Verify payment details and select “Continue”
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Review the final summary then select “Submit Payment”
Once submitted, your payment will be immediately processed. You’ll receive a confirmation email with details of the transaction. Payments made before 3:30 PM on a business day will be posted to your account the same day.
Setting Up an Online Account
For quicker bill payment in the future, sign up for a free online account through ERMU’s customer portal, SmartHub.
With SmartHub you can:
- Store payment information for faster checkout
- View billing history and usage graphs
- Set up paperless billing
- Receive bill reminders and notices
- Establish automatic payments
Having an online account makes paying your monthly utility bill even more convenient.
Payment Options Overview
In addition to online payments, ERMU offers several other ways to pay your utility bill:
- By phone – Call automated payment line at 1-855-730-8706
- By mail – Mail in check or money order with payment stub
- In person – Visit ERMU office at 13069 Orono Pkwy
- Drop box – Use secure drop box at ERMU office or other locations
- Automatic payments – Set up recurring payments through SmartHub
The online payment system is completely free to use with no transaction fees. ERMU also does not charge convenience fees for payments made by phone or automatic bank draft.
Avoid Late Fees and Disconnection
To avoid late fees and potential service disconnection, make sure to pay your ERMU utility bill by the due date printed on your statement.
If you miss the due date, a late fee of 1.5% will be assessed on any overdue balance.
If your account becomes significantly past due, ERMU may issue a disconnection notice. To avoid service interruption, you would need to pay the full past due amount immediately.
So mark your calendar with each monthly due date and take advantage of the convenient online payment options. Setting up automatic payments through SmartHub is an easy way to never miss a payment.
Get Payment Assistance if Needed
If you’re struggling to pay your ERMU utility bill, don’t panic – help is available.
ERMU offers both short-term and long-term payment plans to assist customers facing financial hardship. They’ll work with you to set up a reasonable payment arrangement based on your situation.
You may also qualify for ERMU’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program which provides bill payment assistance. Eligibility is based on household income.
In dire circumstances, ERMU can make provisions to avoid disconnection of critical electric and water services. Reach out for help as soon as possible.
ERMU’s billing staff is available during business hours at 763-441-2020 to discuss bill payment assistance options and make arrangements. Don’t let an unpaid bill spiral out of control – call early to get help.
Why Choose Elk River Municipal Utilities?
When you live in Elk River, you can count on Elk River Municipal Utilities to provide:
- Reliable electric and water service
- Locally-owned public utility
- Reasonable rates
- Quality customer service
- Convenient online payment options
- Assistance programs for those in need
ERMU works hard to supply its hometown community with essential, high-quality utility services. Paying your bill promptly using the online payment system helps support their operations.
So next time you need to pay your ERMU electric or water bill, avoid the hassle of mailing checks. Instead, visit SmartHub and make a secure online payment in minutes from your computer or mobile device. It’s the quick, easy way to keep your utility service uninterrupted.
