Paying your monthly electric bill to Intercounty Electric Cooperative doesn’t have to be a hassle. With the co-op’s online payment options, you can pay your bill anytime, anywhere in just minutes. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain the different online payment methods Intercounty Electric offers and walk through the simple steps for paying online via the SmartHub web portal or mobile app.

Why Pay Online?

Here are some key benefits of paying your Intercounty Electric bill online:

• Convenience – Pay 24/7 without having to drive to the office or wait on hold over the phone Manage your account fully online

• Speed – Online payments process instantly, avoiding mail delays Avoid late fees by paying last minute before due dates.

• Security – SmartHub uses bank-level encryption and security measures to keep your data safe

• Accessibility – Pay on your computer, tablet or cell phone with internet access.

• Paperless – Go green with paperless billing and eliminate mailed paper statements.

• Budgeting – Setup text or email alerts to notify you when a bill is ready and avoid missing due dates.

Paying online with SmartHub is fast, easy, and secures. It gives you more flexibility and control over account management at your fingertips.

Register for SmartHub

To pay your electric bill online, the first step is to register for a free SmartHub account. Here’s how:

1. Visit SmartHub online or download the mobile app.

2. Click “New User” to create an account.

3. Enter your account number and last name or business name. Your account number can be found on your monthly statements.

4. Create a username, password, and security questions for account verification.

5. Provide an email address and mobile number to enable alerts and notifications (recommended).

6. Agree to the terms and conditions and click “Register”.

Once your registration is complete, you can immediately log in to SmartHub and access your Intercounty Electric account.

Paying Your Bill Through SmartHub

Here are step-by-step instructions for paying your electric bill through SmartHub online or on the mobile app:

On the SmartHub Website:

1. Log into your SmartHub account at intercountyenergy.net/SmartHub.

2. From the homepage, click on “Billing & Payments”.

3. On the Billing & Payments page, click the “Pay Now” button for the account you want to pay.

4. Enter the payment amount and select a stored payment method or enter a new card.

5. Review payment details and click “Continue” to process the payment.

6. Your payment will be immediately processed and you’ll see a payment confirmation page.

On the SmartHub Mobile App:

1. Open the SmartHub app and log into your account.

2. Tap the “Billing & Payments” button at the bottom.

3. Tap the “Pay Now” button for the account you want to pay.

4. Enter the payment amount and select a stored card or add a new one.

5. Review the payment details and tap “Continue” to complete the payment.

6. You’ll receive a payment confirmation message instantly once your payment is processed.

Paying through SmartHub is incredibly fast, easy and secure. In just minutes you can log in, submit payment, and be done. It’s the most convenient way to pay your Intercounty Electric bill.

Other Online Payment Options

In addition to SmartHub, Intercounty Electric offers a few other online payment options:

• Pay by Phone – Call toll-free 1-888-678-1987 anytime to make an automated payment by phone using your credit/debit card.

• Bank Bill Pay – If your bank offers bill pay services, you can set up Intercounty Electric as a payee and schedule one-time or recurring online payments through your bank’s bill pay system.

• Credit Union Bill Pay – Similarly, make payments through your credit union’s digital banking and bill pay program.

While SmartHub is Intercounty Electric’s preferred online system, you can use your bank or credit union’s bill pay as an alternative for paying your electric bill electronically.

Paperless Billing

To go fully digital, you can enroll in paperless billing and receive bills electronically through SmartHub instead of by mail. To enroll:

1. Log into SmartHub online or in the mobile app.

2. Click on “Notifications” then select “Paperless Billing Enrollment”.

3. Select paperless billing and enter your current email address.

4. Click “Save” to enroll.

You’ll receive an email notification each month when your new bill is ready to view. Logging into SmartHub allows you to view the full bill details and make a payment. It’s the fastest, greenest way to manage your electric account.

Payment Notifications and Reminders

SmartHub also allows you to set up bill notifications so you never miss a due date. To enable notices:

1. In SmartHub, click “Notifications” then “My Notifications”.

2. Click “Add Notification” and select the desired alerts like:

   • Payment received
   • Payment reminder
   • Bill ready
   • Bill past due
   • Balance below threshold

3. Assign the notification to yourself and select either email or SMS text message as the delivery method.

4. Click “Save” and you’re all set!

Now SmartHub will automatically send you reminders about bills and due dates so your account always stays current.

Account Management Tips

• If moving, update your account address in SmartHub immediately to avoid missed bills.

• Set up Autopay to have payments automatically deducted from your bank account each month.

• Report any power outages quickly using SmartHub’s outage tools.

• Monitor your daily electric usage to identify wasteful appliances or changes in behavior.

SmartHub provides a full suite of account management features – take advantage of them for easier billing and better electric service!

Avoid Late Fees

To avoid late fees with Intercounty Electric:

• Pay your bill by the due date listed on your statement, not after. Due dates do not change based on weekends/holidays.

• Pay a few days early to account for processing time if paying by mail or bank bill pay.

• Sign up for reminders to receive due date alerts by email or text.

• Contact customer service immediately if you’ll be unable to pay on time and discuss payment plan options.

• Enroll in budget or average billing to spread costs evenly over the year.

Late electric bills incur a 5% penalty so make sure your online payments are submitted by the due date to avoid extra charges.

Get Payment Assistance

If you are struggling financially and unable to pay your electric bill, Intercounty Electric offers several assistance programs:

• Budget Billing – Pay a monthly average amount based on last 12 months of usage to avoid fluctuating bills.

• LIHEAP – Federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides bill credit to qualified households.

• Operation Round Up – Members can round up bills to the next dollar to fund hardship assistance.

• Capital Credits – Retiring capital credits provide a bill credit to eligible members.

• Payment Arrangements – Set up a personalized payment plan that breaks balances into smaller installments.

Contact Intercounty Electric to learn more about these programs if you need help paying your electric bill.

In Summary