Paying your electric bill is a necessary evil that comes around each month. While writing a check or going to the local Richmond Power and Light office to pay in person may have been the only options in the past, technology has made paying your power bill easier than ever. Richmond Power and Light now offers multiple ways to pay your bill online in just a few quick clicks.
In this comprehensive guide we will walk through everything you need to know about paying your Richmond Power and Light bill online. We will cover the benefits of paying online the different online payment options available, instructions for setting up an online account, tips for avoiding late fees, and answers to frequently asked questions about Richmond Power and Light online bill pay.
Benefits of Paying Your Richmond Power and Light Bill Online
Payment of your Richmond Power and Light power bill online is better than paying in person or by mail in a number of ways:
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Convenience: You can pay in your pajamas at home rather than driving to an office or finding a stamp. Online payments can be made 24/7.
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Efficiency: Online payments post to your account immediately, whereas mailed payments take days to arrive and require manual processing.
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Security Payment info is encrypted to protect your data No checks that can be lost or stolen
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Flexibility: Make one-time payments or set up recurring auto-pay on your terms.
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Budgeting: Some options allow you to pay a fixed amount monthly.
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Accessibility View payment history and billing statements digitally in one place
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Rewards: Some payment services provide points, cashback, or other rewards.
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No Fees: Richmond Power and Light does not charge convenience fees for online or credit card payments.
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Avoid Late Fees: Online payments can be made up until the due date and time to avoid late fees.
As you can see, paying your power bill online is the most convenient, efficient, and secure option. Let’s look at the specific online payment methods Richmond Power and Light offers its customers.
Richmond Power and Light Online Payment Options
Richmond Power and Light offers two main options for customers to pay their electric bill online:
1. Richmond Power and Light SmartHub
SmartHub is Richmond Power and Light’s own online account management and payment portal. With SmartHub you can:
- View current and past billing statements
- Make one-time credit/debit card or e-check payments
- Set up recurring auto-pay
- Report outages and contact customer service
- Receive billing notifications and reminders
- Monitor energy usage
To utilize SmartHub, you’ll first need to create an online account linked to your Richmond Power and Light account. We’ll cover how to sign up for SmartHub in more detail shortly.
2. Third Party Online Bill Pay Services
Many banks and other financial institutions offer online bill pay services that allow you to pay your Richmond Power and Light bill through their website or mobile app. This lets you manage multiple bills from different providers in one place.
For example, you may be able to pay your power bill through your bank’s online banking bill pay, through apps like Venmo, or through aggregator sites like Plastiq. The process varies by provider but generally entails linking your Richmond Power and Light account.
The benefit of using a third party bill pay service is convenience – however some charge service fees. Be sure to check the terms and fees before setting anything up.
Now let’s go over how to sign up for a SmartHub account to pay online directly with Richmond Power and Light.
How to Set Up a Richmond Power and Light SmartHub Account
Setting up a Richmond Power and Light SmartHub online account is quick and easy with just a few steps:
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Go to the SmartHub website – On your computer or mobile device, visit https://rpl.smarthub.coop/ to reach the SmartHub login page.
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Select “New User”. – Choose whether you are a residential or commercial customer.
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Enter your account information. – You will need your Richmond Power and Light account number and an email address. Choose a password. Hit continue when finished.
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Verify your identity. – Select how you want a verification code sent – via email or text. Enter the code and hit submit.
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Registration complete! – You will get a confirmation message that your SmartHub registration was successful.
Once registered, you can log in any time at https://rpl.smarthub.coop/ using your email and password. From your SmartHub dashboard you can view your billing data, make payments, update settings, and more.
We recommend bookmarking the SmartHub site on your browser and/or downloading the mobile app for easy access on the go.
Tips for Avoiding Late Fees When Paying Online
The convenience of paying online means you have no excuse for paying your power bill late and incurring late fees ever again! However, you should be aware of some key details:
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Know the due date – Your bill’s due date and time is shown prominently on your statement. Note when payment must be RECEIVED by, not just sent by.
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Allow 3-5 business days for mailed payments – Any payments sent by mail need extra time to be received and avoid late fees.
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Pay early in the day – Online payments made earlier in the day are less likely to run into technical issues that could cause a late payment.
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Watch out for holidays and weekends – Due dates that fall on holidays/weekends may have special instructions. Make sure to pay early!
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Setup reminders – Use SmartHub’s notifications or your calendar to alert you ahead of time about an upcoming due date.
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Setup auto-pay – With auto-pay enabled, your bill gets paid automatically each month so you never miss a payment.
Follow these tips and with online bill pay you’ll never incur a late fee again!
Frequently Asked Questions About Richmond Power and Light Online Bill Pay
Q: Is there a fee to pay my power bill online?
A: No, Richmond Power and Light does not charge any fees for online or credit card payments.
Q: When will my online payment be applied to my account?
A: Online payments made through SmartHub or a linked third party provider will typically post to your Richmond Power and Light account immediately.
Q: Is paying online secure?
A: Yes, all payment information you provide is encrypted. SmartHub and legitimate third party services use industry standard encryption to protect your data.
Q: What do I do if my online payment won’t go through?
A: First double check that your payment information is correct. Then contact Richmond Power and Light customer support for further troubleshooting. Temporary technical issues can sometimes interfere with online payments.
Q: Can I set up recurring automatic payments?
A: Yes, through SmartHub you can enable AutoPay to have your bill paid automatically each month using your default payment method. Third party bill pay providers may also offer scheduled recurring payments.
Q: What if I’m having trouble registering for SmartHub?
A: Contact Richmond Power and Light customer support for 1-on-1 assistance in registering and activating your SmartHub account.
Q: How can I view previous bills and payment history?
A: Once logged into SmartHub, you can access up to 24 months of billing history and download past statements.
Easily Access Your Account with the SmartHub App
SmartHub is our mobile app that allows you to pay your bill from your mobile device, review account information, and more.
Net metering customers have a meter that measures both what the customer uses (consumption or delivered energy) and what the customer puts back onto the electric grid with their solar system (generation or received energy). The customer is only billed for their “net” energy use, the difference between what they consumed and the excess they generated in that billing period.