Paying your utility bill is an essential task when you’re a resident of Forest Grove Oregon. The city provides electricity, water, sewer, and surface water management services that come with a monthly bill. Fortunately Forest Grove offers a convenient online payment system that makes paying your utility bill fast and easy. In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about paying your Forest Grove utility bill online.
Overview of Utility Services in Forest Grove
The City of Forest Grove provides the following utility services to residents and charges for them on a monthly billing cycle
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Electricity: The city of Forest Grove runs its own electric utility to provide power to homes and businesses in the area. They bill for your electric usage each month.
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Water – The city provides drinking water irrigation water and fire suppression water to all properties in Forest Grove. Your monthly water usage determines your water service charges.
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Sewer – This covers wastewater treatment. There are services from both the City of Forest Grove and Clean Water Services.
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Surface Water Management – This fee helps pay for stormwater management infrastructure throughout the city. It’s billed monthly.
Understanding the services you’re being billed for is the first step to paying your utility bill properly. Now let’s look at the online payment options.
Pay Online Through Forest Grove’s Utility Billing Portal
The easiest way to pay your Forest Grove utility bill is through the city’s online payment portal. Here are the key things to know about this option:
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Website – The portal is located at https://www.municipalonlinepayments.com/forestgroveor/utilities
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Account Registration – You’ll need to register for an account if you don’t already have one. This just requires your account number, address, and email.
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Secure Payments – The portal allows secure payment by credit card, debit card, or e-check. No need to worry about your information being compromised.
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Payment Receipt – You’ll get a receipt via email after paying online so you have a record of your payment.
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Account Management – Once registered, you can manage notifications, view past bills, and monitor payment history.
Paying at the online portal is fast, simple, and secure. It’s the best option for most Forest Grove utility customers.
Other Ways to Pay Your Forest Grove Utility Bill
While the online portal is the most convenient method, the City of Forest Grove does offer other payment options if you prefer or need them:
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By mail – You can mail your utility bill stub along with a check or money order to the address printed on your bill. Do not mail cash.
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In person – Take your bill to the walk-up payment window at the Utility Billing Office located at 1924 Council St. They accept cash, check, credit/debit cards.
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Drop box – A 24/7 drop box across the street from City Hall allows you to drop off payments anytime. Don’t put cash in the drop box.
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Over the phone – Call the Utility Billing office at 503-992-3200 during business hours to pay over the phone with a credit/debit card.
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Auto pay – Set up automatic monthly payments from your bank account so you never forget. Use the auto pay form on the city website.
While convenient, these options do have more limitations than the online portal. But they provide alternatives if you prefer not to pay online.
Setting Up an Online Account Step-By-Step
If you want to start paying your utility bills online, here is a step-by-step walkthrough to get your account set up:
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Go to the payment portal website at https://www.municipalonlinepayments.com/forestgroveor/utilities.
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Click “Register” below the login fields.
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Enter your utility account number, account address, and email address. Click “Next”.
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Create a username and password. Confirm your password.
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Agree to the terms and conditions by clicking the checkbox.
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Click “Register Account” to complete the process.
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Check your email inbox for a confirmation email from the portal. Click to verify your email address.
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Your account is now active! You can log in using your username and password.
Once you complete registration, you can immediately log in and pay your bill, set up auto-pay, manage notifications, and more. The whole process only takes about 5 minutes.
Paying Your Bill Through the Online Portal
Here are the steps to pay your utility bill through the Forest Grove online portal after you’ve created an account:
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Login at https://www.municipalonlinepayments.com/forestgroveor/utilities
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The dashboard shows your account balance. Click “Pay Now”.
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Enter the payment amount (likely your total account balance).
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Select a payment method – credit card, debit card, or e-check.
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Enter your card or bank account information.
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Click “Continue” then “Process Payment”.
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The portal will display a payment confirmation screen.
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You’ll also receive a receipt via email. Your account balance updates instantly.
It’s that quick and easy! The portal is optimized for fast, simple utility bill payment.
Convenience and Security of Paying Online
Paying your utility bills online through the City of Forest Grove’s web portal has many benefits:
Convenience
- Pay anytime, 24/7
- Avoid lines at City Hall
- Get text/email reminders about due dates
- Store payment methods for easy repeat use
Security
- Secure HTTPS connection
- No need to mail checks or bring cash
- Payment card data is tokenized
-Rigorous fraud monitoring
Simplicity
- Easy registration without paperwork
- Save multiple accounts for different properties
- View bills and payment history in one place
Control
- Choose from many payment methods
- Schedule one-time or recurring payments
- Manage notifications and account settings
No other payment method matches the convenience and ease of paying online. Forest Grove utility customers can save time while ensuring their bills get paid reliably and securely every month.
Avoid Late Fees and Service Disruptions
Like any city utility, Forest Grove charges late payment fees and can disconnect services for accounts with past due balances. Avoid these issues by paying your bill through the online portal on time every month.
Here are some tips to remember:
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Utility bills are typically due within 14 days of being issued.
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If your bill is 15 days past due, the city will send a reminder notice.
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At 30 days past due, a $10 late penalty is added to your account.
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If your balance remains unpaid for 60+ days, your utilities are subject to disconnection.
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Service restoration requires paying the past due amount and a reconnection fee.
Save yourself headaches by paying on time. The online portal makes it easy with options like text and email reminders about due dates and auto-pay setup.
Keep Your Utility Service Running Smoothly
Accessing clean water, powering your home, and disposing waste safely are essentials we often take for granted. Paying your utility bill promptly is the key to keeping these services running smoothly. The City of Forest Grove offers a quick, easy utility payment portal to maintain uninterrupted service.
Electrical & Water Outages
- For power outages at all hours, call 503-992-3250.
- For water outages at all hours, call 503-992-3258.
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Forest Grove City Hall
Email City Hall Physical Address 1924 Council Street Forest Grove, OR 97116 Mailing Address P.O. Box 326 Forest Grove, OR 97116 Phone: 503-992-3200
Forest Grove, Barton
FAQ
Who provides power in Forest Grove, Oregon?
How much is the average water bill in Oregon?
How much are utilities in Klamath Falls?
How do I pay my utility bill in Forest Grove Oregon?
Debit or Credit card payments from your VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express, up to the amount billed, are accepted through online utility billing or over the counter at the Utility Billing Office, 1924 Council Street. Forest Grove, Oregon 97116 Customers typically have 14 days to pay their utility bills.
How long does it take to pay a utility bill in Forest Grove?
Forest Grove, Oregon 97116 Customers typically have 14 days to pay their utility bills. If a bill remains unpaid after 15 days of receipt, a reminder notice will be mailed. This notice serves as a reminder your bill is due and includes a service disconnection date. Enroll in online bill payment!
How do I pay my Forest Grove electric bill online?
Beginning July 1, there is no longer a $1.25 transaction fee for paying a bill online through the city’s website. To use the online service, first go to Forest Grove’s home page at www.forestgrove-or.gov. Once there, click the “I Want To” button on the right, and a drop down menu will appear.
Who owns Forest Grove Light & Power?
Forest Grove Light and Power was founded in 1895 and is the third oldest municipal electric utility in the State of Oregon. Power was first generated locally by means of a small hydroelectric plant and later by steam and diesel generators. Since 1939, Forest Grove has purchased the majority of its power from Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).