Simplifying Bill Payment with East Bay Municipal Utility District

Paying your utility bill can be a hassle – writing checks buying stamps mailing envelopes. Who has time for all that these days? Thankfully, East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) offers a variety of convenient payment options to make settling your water and wastewater bill quick and easy.

As a longtime EBMUD customer, I’ve tried all their different payment methods over the years. EBMUD serves over 1.4 million customers in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, so they know a thing or two about making bill payment accessible. Whether you prefer handling finances online, over the phone, by mail or in person, EBMUD has a solution.

Based on my own experience, I’ll talk about the pros and cons of each of the different ways to pay your EBMUD bill in this article. My goal is to help you pick the best way to pay that fits your needs and way of life. If you stick with me, you’ll know how to pay your EBMUD bill by the end!

Online Bill Pay with EBMUD

EBMUD’s online payment system is quick, easy and perfect for tech-savvy customers like myself

Paperless Billing

I highly recommend going paperless and signing up for EBMUD’s electronic billing. It saves space, is better for the environment, and lets you get to your bill whenever you want.

The paperless billing process is simple – just visit ebmud.com/billpay and register for an online account. You’ll get an email each month when your new bill is ready to view and pay.

Best of all, EBMUD doesn’t charge extra fees for paperless billing. Hooray for saving trees and money!

One-Time Online Payments

Even if you’d rather pay your EBMUD bill by hand every month, you can still use online payments for convenience.

Just go to ebmudcom/payments whenever your bill is due and make a one-time payment by credit card, debit card or e-check There is a small $2.99 transaction fee, but I find it worth the cost for the ease and speed of paying online versus mailing a check.

Automatic Payments

For ultimate bill payment convenience, enroll in EBMUD’s automatic payment program. This automatically debits your payment from your bank account each month, so you never have to think about it.

To get started, simply complete EBMUD’s authorization form with your account details. Automatic payments can only be made via bank account, not credit card, but avoiding late fees is worth the tradeoff in my opinion.

The one catch is that automatic payments require paper billing, so it’s not fully automated. But the convenience factor still can’t be beat!

Paying Your EBMUD Bill by Phone

If you don’t have a computer or prefer talking to a real human, paying your EBMUD bill by phone is a solid option.

Call 1-888-963-0909 anytime to make a payment via credit card, debit card or e-check. The $2.99 fee applies here as well, but at least you can take care of your bill without leaving the house.

The automated payment system is user-friendly and prompts you through each step. I haven’t experienced any long wait times, but a customer service rep is standing by if you need help completing your payment.

Paying at an EBMUD Dropbox

For customers who prefer paying by check or money order, EBMUD maintains a network of locked dropboxes throughout their service area.

Simply drop off your payment at one of the 70+ locations by the posted pickup time, and it will be processed the next business day. EBMUD posts the dropbox schedule online, so you can find one nearby with a pickup time that fits your schedule.

The dropboxes provide privacy and security for payments, while avoiding the hassle of mailing bills yourself. Just be sure to include your payment stub or account number inside the envelope.

I use the dropbox outside my local supermarket whenever I do my weekly grocery shopping. It’s way more convenient than going to the post office!

Paying in Person

If you want to hand deliver your payment and get a receipt on the spot, you can pay your EBMUD bill at one of hundreds of authorized pay stations in their service area.

These are mostly located inside grocery stores, check cashing outlets and other retailers. EBMUD provides a pay station locator tool on their website to find ones nearby.

When paying at a pay station, be aware that only cash payments are accepted. Also, it takes 3 business days for your payment to be processed, instead of the standard 2 days. But it can be worth it for the peace of mind of paying your bill in person.

Pro tip: EBMUD’s headquarters is not a pay station, so don’t try to pay your bill there!

Paying by Mail

Lastly, EBMUD still accepts bill payments the old fashioned way – by check or money order via US mail.

Simply write out your payment, include the payment stub from your bill, and mail it to:

EBMUD Payment Center
PO Box 51191
Los Angeles, CA 90051-5491

There’s no fee for paying by mail. Just be sure to factor in the extra processing time – payments are credited the day after EBMUD receives them.

I only use mail payment as a last resort if my other options aren’t available. The uncertainty around timing and potential for lost payments makes this my least preferred option. But it’s there if you need it!

Payment Assistance from EBMUD

Like many utilities, EBMUD offers financial assistance programs for customers having trouble paying their bills.

If you’re facing financial hardship, you can request a payment extension to spread out your balance over multiple months. EBMUD also has a Customer Assistance Program that provides qualifying low-income customers with bill discounts and debt relief.

Don’t hesitate to call EBMUD at 1-866-403-2683 if you need help managing payments. Their customer service reps can explain eligibility and get you signed up for an assistance program.

Choosing the Right Payment Method for You

As you can see, EBMUD offers bill payment flexibility to meet diverse customer needs. With online, phone, mail, dropbox and in-person options, you can pay your bill in the way that fits your lifestyle.

I prefer the ease of automatic and paperless payments. But your priorities may be speaking with a customer service rep, securely mailing payments, or getting same-day receipts at a pay station.

Take some time to review the pros and cons outlined for each method. Consider factors like convenience, fees, processing time, payment proof, security and your comfort level with technology. Then choose the one or two options that best suit your needs.

You may want to enroll in multiple payment channels so you have backups if needed. The ability to pivot between online, phone and mail payments helps ensure I never miss a bill, even when traveling.

No matter which option you choose, paying your EBMUD bill will be quick and painless. Say goodbye to the hassle of conventional utility payments!