How to Pay Your City of Battle Creek Utility Bill Online

Due to the online payment portal, it is now much easier to pay your City of Battle Creek utility bill. Residents can now easily pay their garbage, sewer, and water bills online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can pay your utility bill online with the city of Battle Creek. I’m happy to tell you everything you need to know as someone who has lived here for years.

Creating an Online Account

Making an account on the City of Battle Creek’s website is the first thing that needs to be done. Before you can start paying your bill online, both new and old customers must do this.

Here are step-by-step instructions for setting up your account

1. Go to the online payment page and click on “Create User Profile”.
2. Enter your account number, last name, and full name exactly as it appears on your printed utility bill.
3. Create a unique username you’ll remember.
4. Create a secure password and confirm it.
5. Provide your email address and confirm it.
6. Click register to complete setting up your account profile.

It’s easy and only takes a few minutes to get your account established. The city just updated their software, so as of March 1, 2019, even people who already have an account will need to make a new username and password. Setting up your account on a mobile device can sometimes make it impossible to finish, so I suggest using a computer instead.

Payment Options

Once your account is created, you have the flexibility to pay your utility bill online using either:

• Credit/Debit Card – Visa, MasterCard, or Discover
• eCheck – Pay directly from your bank account

The City of Battle Creek recently changed payment processors, so there are now fees associated with online payments:

• Credit/Debit Cards have a fee of $2.65 per $100 increment
• eCheck has a $1.50 flat fee per transaction

Paying by cash or check directly through the utility billing office is still free of charge. However, the convenience of paying online 24/7 makes the small processing fees worthwhile in my opinion

Payment Deadlines

It’s important to be aware of payment deadlines to avoid late fees or service interruptions:

• If your water is scheduled for shut off, you can pay online until 5pm the Monday before the shut off date.
• If your water has already been turned off, you must pay a turn on fee in person before service is restored. The turn on fee cannot be paid online.
• Online payments can be made anytime except on the day of shut off.

I like to pay my bill as soon as I receive it to get it out of the way. The online portal allows you to set up automatic payments as well so you never miss a bill.

Viewing Your Balance

A great perk of creating an online account is being able to view your current balance anytime. You no longer have to wait for your printed bill to arrive in the mail. After logging into your account, your current balance due will be displayed right on the home screen.

This lets you quickly see if you have an outstanding balance or if your last payment has been applied. Monitoring your balance regularly helps avoid any unexpected fees for late payments.

Update Account Information

Within the online portal you can update your contact information, email address, password, and stored payment methods. It provides a secure dashboard to manage all aspects of your city utility account.

For example, if your credit card on file is expiring soon or has been lost/stolen, you can easily update your payment method right online. There’s no need to call the utility billing office or visit in person for routine account updates.

Enrolling in AutoPay

For maximum convenience, I highly recommend enrolling in auto pay. This authorizes the city to automatically charge your credit card or eCheck each month for the amount due on your utility bill.

No more manually having to go in and pay the bill every single month. Auto pay is secure, reliable, and ensures your bill is paid on time every time.

To enroll, check the auto pay box when making an online payment. Your payment method used will then be saved for future automated payments. You can cancel or change the payment method for auto pay anytime through your online account.

Receiving Email Notifications

Paperless billing is eco-friendly and fast. Within the online payment portal, you can opt to receive your utility bill and payment confirmations electronically rather than via postal mail.

Make sure your account email is up-to-date to take advantage of paperless billing. Emails also provide handy reminders when your bill is ready to view online or a scheduled payment is approaching.

Going paperless saves trees, filing, and clutter. The city also provides the option to easily print out an electronic bill if needed.

Avoid Late Fees

By paying online, you don’t have to worry about the mail delaying your payment. The instant transfer of funds when paying online means you can wait until the actual due date rather than posting your check weeks in advance.

This gives you extra time to have the funds available in your account and avoid costly late fees. Online payments post to your account immediately after being made so your balance is always up-to-date.

Pay on Multiple Accounts

If you have more than one utility account with the city, no problem, you can pay them all conveniently in one place. After logging into your profile, you can switch between accounts tied to your name and make payments on each one.

For renters who have utilities included, this allows you to review the landlord’s account and pay the tenant’s portion online by the due date. No more paying late because you had to wait for the mail.

Review Payment History

The online portal also stores your payment history so you can look back at past bills and payments made. It’s an easy way to monitor your usage over time and refer back to previous statements without digging through paperwork.

Being able to access and print old statements from your account is very helpful. Plus you can run payment reports and see total amounts paid to the city for budgeting purposes.

Make a One-Time Payment

If you prefer not to store your payment information in an account, the city does provide a one-time guest payment option. This allows you to pay immediately without registration using a credit/debit card or eCheck.

However, you won’t be able to see balance details or utilize other account features. One-time payments are best for rare situations when you need to cover someone else’s bill or missed signing up for an account initially.

No Checks or Stamps Needed

Paying your utility bills online means you never have to write another check, find a stamp, or make a trip to the post office. It’s all done digitally right from your phone, tablet, or computer in just minutes.

This reason alone is why most Battle Creek residents opt for the convenience of online payments through the city’s user-friendly portal. It modernizes bill pay and saves you time and money each month.

Easy to Set Up & Use

I think you’ll find the City of Battle Creek’s online payment system very intuitive and easy to use. Setting up your account is quick and payments can be made in just a few clicks once logged in.

Everything is laid out in a clean, efficient way that even those who don’t use technology much can successfully navigate. The days of hassling with paper bills and checks are over!

Great Customer Service

On the rare occasion you have an issue or question about your online account or bill, the city’s Utility Billing office provides excellent customer service. They are available by phone and in-person Monday-Friday to assist residents.

The convenience of online payments combined with helpful staff makes paying your Battle Creek utility bill a breeze. I’m grateful for the city modernizing its payment system and highly recommend all residents sign up.