How to Pay Your BPU Bill in Jamestown, NY: A Complete Guide

Living in Jamestown, NY means being a customer of the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for your electric, water, sewer and garbage services. Paying your BPU bill on time each month is important to avoid late fees or service interruptions. In this comprehensive guide I’ll explain all your options for paying your BPU bill conveniently in Jamestown.

Overview of BPU Billing and Account Management

The BPU provides utility services to residents and businesses in the Jamestown area Here’s some background on how billing and account management works

• You receive a monthly utility bill from BPU for all your services. It includes itemized charges.

• Bills are typically mailed on the 1st of the month, due by the 18th.

• You can set up autopay, paperless billing, budget billing, and more through your online account.

• If you miss a payment, you’ll receive shutoff notices and late fees before disconnection.

• Security deposits are required for new customers or those with past due balances.

• Customer service reps can answer questions about your bill or account Monday-Friday.

Ways to Pay Your BPU Bill in Jamestown

The BPU offers many payment options to fit different needs and preferences. Here are all the ways you can pay your utility bill in Jamestown:

Pay Online

The easiest way for most people is to pay online through the BPU website or your online account. You can use a credit/debit card or electronic check. It’s fast, secure, and lets you view your full billing and payment history.

Pay by Phone

Call the BPU automated payment line at 1-844-391-0113 anytime to pay over the phone using a card or check. You’ll need your account number and ZIP code.

Pay by Mail

Mail a check or money order payable to “BPU” to:

BPU
PO Box 700
Jamestown, NY 14702-0700

Be sure to include your remittance stub or write your account number on the payment. Allow 5-7 days for processing.

Pay in Person

Bring your payment to either BPU location during business hours:

• BPU office at 92 Steele St
• City Treasurer’s office at Municipal Building, 200 E 3rd St

You can pay by cash, check, or money order in person.

Pay by Drop Box

The BPU and City Hall have secure drop boxes where you can leave a check or money order payment anytime. Payments left by 9 AM will be processed same-day.

Pay by Automatic Bank Draft

You can enroll in automatic payments through your bank account by filling out a form with the BPU. Payments will be drafted monthly on your bill’s due date.

Pay Using Budget Billing

Budget billing lets you pay a fixed amount each month based on your average costs. This evens out seasonal fluctuations in utility bills. Call BPU to enroll.

Tips for Avoiding Late Payments

To make sure your BPU account stays current, follow these tips:

• Enroll in autopay or automatic bank drafts so payments are never late.

• Use calendar reminders for bill due dates.

• Pay a few days early online or via drop box to ensure on-time payment.

• Set up text or email alerts through your online account to receive notifications about bills.

• Review bills promptly to catch any incorrect charges and avoid delays.

• Contact BPU immediately if you’ll have difficulty paying on time for any reason. They may be able to arrange a payment plan.

What to Do if You’re Unable to Pay

If you’re unable to pay your full BPU bill by the due date, take action right away:

• Call BPU before the due date and explain your situation to see if you qualify for an extension or payment plan.

• Consider applying for HEAP or other utility assistance programs if you meet income requirements.

• Request a payment arrangement to spread out your balance over multiple months.

• As a last resort, contact BPU to learn how to restore service after disconnection resulting from non-payment. Reconnection fees will apply.

Never ignore bills or shutoff notices from BPU. Communicate with them upfront if you anticipate any payment issues.

Avoiding Fees and Deposits

To prevent extra fees on your BPU account:

• Pay the full statement balance by the due date to avoid late fees.

• Provide proper ID and maintain a good payment history to avoid security deposits.

• Don’t submit bad checks or do chargebacks on credit card payments, which incur fees.

• Give sufficient advance notice (5 business days) if you need service discontinued to avoid ongoing charges.

Setting Up Your Online BPU Account

Registering for online account access allows you to easily manage payments plus:

• View and print current and past bills in detail

• Make one-time payments by card or check

• Set up autopay for automatic monthly payments

• Go paperless by opting out of mailed bills

• Update account information and contact details

To register, you’ll need your BPU account number, last payment amount, and PIN code printed on your bill.

My Personal Experience Paying BPU Bills

As a Jamestown resident, I’ve been paying my BPU bill for over 3 years. In my experience:

• It takes less than 5 minutes to pay online each month. So convenient!

• I save money on stamps by using paperless billing and autopay.

• The mobile app lets me check my balance anytime.

• I had one late fee when autopay didn’t process, but BPU waived it when I called and explained.

• BPU reps are always friendly and helpful if I have questions.

Overall, BPU makes it simple to pay my bills on time every month. I would highly recommend setting up automatic payments to avoid any headaches!

Key Takeaways on Paying Your BPU Bill

• Monthly bills for electric, water, sewer, and garbage are due by the 18th.

• Many payment options exist – online, phone, mail, in person, drop box, and auto-draft.

• Set up autopay or reminders to avoid late fees. Seek help from BPU before the due date if needed.

• Create an online account to easily pay, check balances, and manage paperless billing.

• Pay on time and communicate with BPU to prevent extra deposits and fees.

• BPU customer service can answer any questions about your account or bill payment.

Paying your BPU utility bill doesn’t have to be a hassle if you use one of the many convenient payment methods available. Reach out to BPU with any account or billing issues to keep service running smoothly in Jamestown!