How to Pay Your Albany Utility Bill Online

People who live in Albany, New York can get water, gas, electricity, sewer service, and trash collection, among other things. The City of Albany’s online payment system makes it easy and convenient to pay your monthly utility bill. This guide has everything you need to know to view and pay your bill online, learn about the different fees utilities charge, set up auto-pay, see your payment history, and more.

Create an Online Account

To start, go to the City of Albany website (www.) and make an account. albanyny. gov). This lets you safely log in to your account, see your balance and payment history, make one-time payments or set up auto-pay for future payments, and handle billing without paper.

To create an account, you will need your Albany utility account number and an email address. The account number can be found printed on your paper utility bills.

The online registration process only takes a few minutes to complete You will need to provide contact details, set up security questions, agree to the terms of use, and create a password Be sure to choose a unique password that you don’t use on other accounts.

Once registered, you can immediately log in and start managing your Albany utility account online.

Understand Your Utility Bill

When you receive your monthly statement, take some time to review the charges and make sure you understand what you are paying for across the various utility services:

Water – Covers water supply treatment transmission and distribution. Charged based on amount of water used.

Sewer – For wastewater collection and treatment Charged based on water usage

Refuse – Covers garbage, recycling and yard waste collection. Flat quarterly fee per household.

Gas – Natural gas supply and delivery. Charged based on amount of gas used.

Electric – Electricity supply, transmission and distribution. Charged based on kilowatt-hours used.

If you notice any sudden spikes or drops in usage, contact the City of Albany Utility Department to investigate potential issues with meters, billing errors, or leaks.

Payment Options

The City of Albany offers several ways to pay your utility bill conveniently:

• Online – Pay by credit card or e-check via the online payment portal. No fees for e-check payments.

• Phone – Call 518-434-5322 to pay by credit card or e-check over the phone.

• Mail – Detach payment stub from bill and mail with check or money order.

• Drop Box – Place payment (check or money order only) in a drop box at City Hall, police stations, fire houses, or other locations.

• In-Person – Pay by cash, check or money order at any Key Bank branch.

• Auto-Pay – Set up recurring monthly payments to be deducted automatically on the due date.

No matter which option you choose, be sure to pay the full statement balance by the due date to avoid any late fees.

Payment Due Date

Utility bills are issued monthly. The due date is typically 3-4 weeks from the statement date printed on your bill.

If the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, it will be extended to the following business day. Payments must be received by the due date to avoid late fees.

Allow 5-7 days for mailed payments to be received and processed. Setting up auto-pay ensures your bill is paid on time each billing cycle.

Late Fees and Disconnection

If your payment is received after the due date, a late fee of 1.5% is applied on the overdue balance. Late fees cannot exceed $5 for residential customers.

Accounts more than 28 days past due may be subject to disconnection. A $20 disconnection notice fee and $20 reconnection fee will also be charged.

Avoid expensive late fees and potential utility disconnection by paying your bill in full each month prior to the due date. Contact the City immediately if you expect difficulty with on-time payment.

Payment History and Paperless Billing

Through the online account portal, customers can:

• View 12 months of billing and payment history
• Print copies of bills and receipts
• Opt-in to paperless billing to reduce waste
• Update billing address, email, phone number
• Set up text/email reminders for due dates

Reviewing your history helps identify unusual activity and catch billing errors early. You can also download payment history to track expenses for budgeting or taxes.

Going paperless with e-bills helps reduce waste and clutter. You’ll receive bill notifications by email with PDF statements attached rather than mailed paper bills.

Security Tips

Follow these tips to keep your account information safe while paying online:

• Never use public WiFi to access your account
• Log out completely after each session
• Create a strong password that is unique from other accounts
• Avoid saving passwords in your web browser
• Periodically change your password
• Use a current anti-virus and malware software
• Contact the City immediately if you see any suspicious account activity

Get Help with Your Albany Utility Account

If you need assistance understanding your utility bill, making a payment, setting up new service, reporting outages or service issues, applying for financial aid programs, or other account needs, contact the City of Albany Utility Department:

Phone – Call 518-434-5322, Monday-Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm

Email – [email protected]

In-Person – Visit Albany City Hall, 24 Eagle Street, Albany NY 12207

For after hours emergencies, call the 24/7 emergency dispatch at 518-462-8961. Help is available in many languages.

Paying your monthly utility bill is fast and hassle-free by signing up for online account access with the City of Albany. You’ll enjoy convenient features like one-time or recurring payments, paperless billing, payment reminders, balance tracking, and much more.