Having reliable electricity water and sewer services is essential for every household and business. Municipal light and water departments work hard to provide these utilities to local communities. As a customer, it’s important to pay your municipal light and water bill on time each month to avoid disruption of important services. Thankfully, most municipal providers offer quick and easy ways for customers to pay their bills.
Overview of Municipal Light and Water Billing
Municipal light and water departments are public utilities owned and operated by local governments. They provide electric, water, and sewer service for residents and businesses in their jurisdiction. Customers are billed monthly for usage based on meter readings. Bills need to be paid on time to continue receiving uninterrupted service.
Municipal billing departments offer various payment options to fit customer needs and make paying bills more convenient including
- Online payments
- Phone payments
- Auto-pay and paperless billing
- Mail-in payments
- Drop boxes
- In-person payments
- Cash payments
Keep reading to learn more about common municipal billing and payment features.
Benefits of Paying Your Bill On Time
There are many benefits to paying your municipal light and water bill by the due date:
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Avoid late fees – Late payments typically incur an extra fee.
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Prevent service disruption – Overdue bills can lead to utilities being shut off.
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Maintain good credit – On-time payment helps build positive credit history.
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Support local operations – Revenue from ratepayers funds municipal utility infrastructure and operations.
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Access billing programs – Special payment programs often require accounts to be in good standing.
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Avoid going to collections. Accounts that are severely past due are sent to collections, which is bad for your credit score.
Overall, paying municipal bills on time leads to uninterrupted service while saving money and avoiding headaches down the road.
How to Pay Your Municipal Light and Water Bill
Most municipal utilities offer various payment options to fit different needs and preferences:
Pay Online
Many municipal providers let customers pay bills online through their website portal. Payment is quick and easy by debit/credit card or e-check. Customers can also set up automatic monthly payments.
Pay by Phone
Most utilities allow phone-in payments by calling the billing department. Automated systems are available 24/7 while customer service representatives can assist during business hours.
Mail-In Payments
Customers can mail in a physical check or money order using the remittance stub and return envelope provided with the monthly bill. This traditional option doesn’t require online access.
Drop Boxes
Some municipal buildings have secure drop boxes where payment can be deposited after hours. This saves the stamp of a mailed payment.
In-Person Payments
Paying at the utility billing office is a convenient option for those who prefer face-to-face customer service. Many locations also accept cash payments.
Third-Party Payment Points
Some utilities partner with third-party retail providers like grocery stores to offer in-person payment. There is sometimes a small fee for this service.
Setting Up Automatic Payments
Enrolling in auto-pay through your municipal utility provider is a convenient way to ensure bills get paid on time without the hassle. Here’s how it works:
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Provide bank account information to authorize regular automatic withdrawals each month on the bill due date.
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Payments are always made on time, preventing late fees.
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Customers can cancel or change auto-pay terms at any time.
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Email reminders can be sent before payments are processed as an extra precaution.
Auto-pay gives customers reliable, hands-off payment without worrying about deadlines. It’s an especially helpful option for frequent travelers or those prone to forgetting due dates. Just be sure to review statements periodically and maintain sufficient account funds.
Opting for Paperless Billing
Many municipal utilities let customers sign up for paperless billing to receive statements electronically instead of by mail. This offers several advantages:
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Eco-friendly – Going paperless reduces waste and trees used for paper bills and envelopes.
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Added security – Paper bills can get lost, stolen from mailboxes, or misplaced. Electronic versions avoid this risk.
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Receive bills anywhere – Email makes bills accessible on any device wherever you have internet access.
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Faster reminders – Automated email invoices and reminders arrive earlier than mailed paper.
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Better organization – Electronic bills are easy to store and reference compared to paper copies.
Customers appreciate the security, convenience, and environmental benefits of paperless billing. Be sure to update your email and contact information if it ever changes.
Assistance Programs for Utility Bills
Some households face difficulties paying monthly light and water bills on time. Municipal providers offer assistance programs for qualifying customers:
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Payment plans – Payment installments help gradually pay off past due balances.
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Emergency assistance – Limited funds help customers restore or continue service during emergencies or hardships.
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Discounted rates – Reduced rates on monthly bills help lower-income households and seniors.
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Bill rounding programs – Customer bills get rounded up with the overage going to support assistance funds.
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Free energy audits – Evaluations help identify ways for households to use utilities more efficiently and lower costs.
Contact your local municipal billing department to learn about available assistance options if you are struggling to pay your bills.
Locating Account Information to Pay Bills
You’ll need the following information handy to pay your municipal light and water bill:
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Account number – This unique number identifies your household’s account for online login and phone payments. It’s printed on paper bills.
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Customer ID – Some municipal providers assign an ID code separate from your account number that’s also required to process payments.
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Service address – Provide the address receiving service to verify your identity and locate the proper account.
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Name on the account – Account holders or authorized users can make payments and obtain billing information.
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Current balance – Having the total amount due ensures the proper payment amount gets processed.
Referencing your most recent bill ensures you have the necessary details to pay on time, avoid confusion, and quickly take care of your transaction.
Paying monthly light, water, and electric bills on time is a responsibility for every municipal utility customer. Thankfully, most providers make the process quick, easy, and convenient through various payment methods tailored to different needs and preferences. Taking advantage of auto-pay, paperless billing, and account management portals helps customers streamline bill responsibilities. Contact your local municipal department to check available programs and customer perks so paying your bill is hassle-free.
Municipal Light & Water Department – Services
Municipal Light & Water is responsible for providing customer service for electric, water and sewer customers. The customer service personnel are available to answer questions customers have regarding their utility bills and to process orders for transfer of service for utility customers that are moving.
To provide this service, Municipal Light & Water has on staff meter readers who read the customer’s electric and water meters, a clerical staff for verifying and rendering utility bills and processing utility payments. As a convenience to our customers, utility bills sent from our office include a return self addressed envelope for customers to use if paying by mail. These envelopes require no addressing. Customers can either mail their payments to P.O. Box 490 or drop them off at the office located at 201 West 3rd Street (corner of 3rd and Vine). Our office is staffed from 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday. Customers arriving after normal business hours can use the night depository. We provide a drive-through service window for your convenience and we have online bill paying at eCare. For customers who need to reach us in case of emergency or after hours, our phones are answered 24 hours a day. We also offer a budget billing program, an automatic bank withdrawal or payment by credit card. If you would like to take advantage of either of these programs, please call our Customer service personnel at (308) 535-6740.
Peak Usage Billable Hours
By curtailing electric usage, the City of North Platte can help Nebraska Public Power District use our energy resources wisely. With curtailment we help reduce the need to buy power on the open market, postpone the building of new power plants, and do our part in keeping electric rates low.
North Platte’s peak conditions for the winter season (October through May) are during subzero temperatures with wind chills, from 8 through 10 am and 6 through 10 pm. Billable hours from Nebraska Public Power District to City of North Platte are 8 am thru 10 pm, Monday thru Saturday.
North Platte’s summer peak conditions (June through September) revolve around air conditioning, water usage and daily billable hours. Historically, peak usage hours are from 3 through 8 pm, when temperatures reach 95 degrees and higher. Summer billable hours are administered daily by Nebraska Public Power District to the City of North Platte, Sunday through Saturday.