The Easiest Way to Pay Your Portsmouth Public Utilities Bill

Paying your utilities bill on time every month is an important responsibility. For residents of Portsmouth, VA the Portsmouth Public Utilities department handles your water, sewer, and other utility services. There are several easy and convenient ways to pay your Portsmouth Public Utilities bill so you never have to worry about late fees or service interruptions. In this comprehensive guide we’ll walk through the different payment options offered by Portsmouth Public Utilities to make bill pay as simple and stress-free as possible.

Overview of Portsmouth Public Utilities

Portsmouth Public Utilities is a city-run department that provides water, wastewater, and stormwater services to residents and businesses in Portsmouth. They serve over 47,000 water customers and 40,000 sewer customers across the city. The utility is responsible for operating and maintaining nearly 530 miles of water mains, over 400 miles of sewer mains, and 9 water storage tanks. Portsmouth Public Utilities is committed to delivering safe, reliable water and sewer services to the community.

As a municipal utility provider, Portsmouth Public Utilities is governed by the Portsmouth City Council The rates and fees for water and sewer usage are set annually by the council. Portsmouth Public Utilities generates its revenue from the collection of customer utility bills each month This money goes towards covering operational costs, infrastructure maintenance and improvements, and future development.

Keeping your Portsmouth Public Utilities bill paid on time every month is important to avoid any service disruptions. The utility offers various payment options to make it as easy as possible for customers to pay their bill conveniently.

Online Bill Pay

The fastest and most convenient way to pay your Portsmouth Public Utilities bill is online through the utility website. To get started, you’ll first need to create an online account on the Portsmouth Public Utilities website. This allows you to easily manage your account, view your monthly bills, see payment history, and make online payments.

To pay online, you can pay directly through your bank account with an electronic check or pay with a debit/credit card. Accepted credit cards include Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. To make an online payment, you’ll need your account number handy. The online payment page will walk you through entering your payment info to complete the transaction.

Online payments can be made anytime, 24/7, for convenience. As soon as you submit payment, it is immediately posted to your account. You can also opt for paperless billing by going green with e-bills through the online account system. This allows you to receive and view monthly bills electronically rather than through the mail.

The only downside to online bill pay is that a third-party service fee is charged for credit/debit card and e-check payments. This fee goes to the payment processor, not the utility. The exact fee depends on your payment method.

Pay By Phone

If you prefer to talk to a real person to make your payment, Portsmouth Public Utilities offers a pay-by-phone option. You can call the utility’s automated phone system at 757-393-5008 and make a payment conveniently over the phone.

To use the pay-by-phone system, you’ll need to have your account number and payment info ready. You can pay with a credit/debit card or electronic check over the phone. The automated system will walk you through entering your payment details. Once the payment processes, you’ll receive a confirmation number for your records.

Just like with online bill pay, a third-party service fee applies to phone payments made with a card or e-check. But the automated phone system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for maximum convenience. You can call on your schedule and make a payment whenever needed.

Bank Draft Payments

For hassle-free bill pay, Portsmouth Public Utilities offers bank draft payments as a convenient option. This allows your monthly utility bill payment to be automatically deducted from your checking or savings account. Bank draft payments save you time and give you peace of mind knowing your bill is always paid on time.

To enroll in bank draft payments, you need to complete an authorization form with your utility account details and banking info. This form needs to be submitted along with a voided check from your bank account. Once the form is processed, your monthly bill amount will be drafted from your bank account automatically each month.

The major advantage of bank draft payments is that your bill gets paid on time every month without you having to do anything after initial setup. It’s an easy way to avoid late fees and service disruptions. Just make sure to update the utility if you switch bank accounts to avoid any issues with your monthly draft.

Pay In-Person

For customers who prefer to pay their bills in person, you can pay your Portsmouth Public Utilities bill at the Portsmouth City Treasurer’s Office. They accept cash, check, money order, and credit/debit card payments. You can pay at the Treasurer’s Office located in Portsmouth City Hall during normal business hours.

When paying in-person, be sure to have your most recent utility bill with you to reference your account number and current balance due. Wait times are typically minimal, making this an easy option if you are already visiting City Hall for other matters. You’ll receive a paper receipt as proof of payment.

The major limitation with in-person payments is that the Treasurer’s Office is only open Monday-Friday during normal business hours. If you can’t make it during that time, you’ll need to utilize another payment option.

Pay by Mail

For customers who still rely on traditional mail, you can pay your Portsmouth Public Utilities bill by mailing in a check or money order. Your payment will need to be mailed to the following address:

Portsmouth Department of Public Utilities
P.O. Box 490
Portsmouth, VA 23705

Be sure to include your remittance stub along with your mailed payment to ensure it gets applied to your account properly. Allow 3-5 business days for your mailed payment to reach the utility billing office and be processed. Payments must be received (not postmarked) by your due date to avoid late fees.

The mail-in option is best for customers without online access or a need to visit City Hall. But the major downside is having to rely on postal delivery times. Make sure to mail your payment at least a week in advance of the due date to ensure on-time delivery.

Avoid Late Fees with Proper Payment Planning

To avoid paying any late fees on your utility bill, the key is planning ahead and paying on time each month. Take note of your bill due date and make sure payment is received by Portsmouth Public Utilities by that date. The utility offers a wide range of payment options, including online, phone, automatic bank drafts, mail, and in-person. Pick the method that works best for your needs.

If you cannot pay the full balance due by the due date, reach out to the utility as soon as possible. They may be able to arrange a payment plan or extension to help avoid service disruption. Keeping the lines of communication open is important.

Review your monthly household budget to ensure you can cover the cost of your utilities each month. Seek out utility bill assistance programs if needed. With proper planning and use of the available payment options, paying your Portsmouth Public Utilities bill can be quick, easy, and stress-free every month.