Simplifying Bill Pay With The Energy Coop

It can be time-consuming to pay your utility bills because you have to log in to websites, find your way around confusing portals, and type in account numbers. It often feels unnecessarily complicated. But it doesn’t have to be. The Energy Coop has a streamlined bill pay process that makes this routine task easy and quick.

As an Energy Coop member myself I appreciate how easy they’ve made the bill pay process. In this article I’ll walk through the various ways you can pay your Energy Coop bill and highlight the features that save time and hassle. Whether you prefer paying online, by phone, or by mail, The Energy Coop has a solution designed for convenience.

Paying Online

Paying online through The Energy Coop’s web portal is my personal favorite way to pay. It’s fast, secure, and gives me more control and visibility over my account.

To begin, go to The Energy Coop’s website and click on “My Account” in the upper right corner. This will log you into The Energy Coop’s SmartHub web portal.

Once logged in, you’ll see your current account balance front and center. And paying is as easy as clicking “Pay Now” and entering your payment details.

I love that the SmartHub portal shows more than just my current bill. I can also view my electricity usage over time see my billing history, and set up recurring payments. It makes managing my full account a breeze.

Some key advantages of paying online through SmartHub:

• Fast payments – Payments post to your account almost instantly
• Payment history – You can view your past bills and payment dates
• Usage tracking – See your monthly and historical electricity usage
• Auto-pay – Set up recurring payments so you never miss a bill
• Mobile access – Pay on your phone via the SmartHub app
• Paperless billing – Go green by opting out of mailed paper bills

I highly recommend setting up an online account, even if you don’t pay every bill online. Just being able to monitor your usage and see past bills is extremely useful.

Paying by Phone

If you prefer talking to a live person, The Energy Coop also allows you to pay by phone. Just call 1-740-348-2102 and select option 2.

One of their friendly customer service reps will assist you in making a payment over the phone. They accept credit cards, debit cards, and electronic checks.

I suggest having your Energy Coop account number handy when you call to make the payment process quicker. But even if you don’t have it, they can look up your account by name, address, or phone number.

Some reasons you may enjoy paying by phone:

• Personal touch – Speak directly with a customer service rep
• Multiple payment options – Use credit/debit cards or electronic checks
• No remembering account numbers – They look up your account for you

The Energy Coop has a local team of customer service agents ready to take your call. I’ve always had great experiences when I’ve paid over the phone. The representatives are friendly and knowledgeable.

Paying by Mail

If you prefer the old school bill pay method of writing checks and mailing in payments, The Energy Coop has you covered there too.

For electric and natural gas accounts, you can mail your payment to:

The Energy Cooperative
PO BOX 182137
Columbus, OH 43218-2137

For propane accounts, mail your payment to:

The Energy Cooperative
PO BOX 182138
Columbus, OH 43218-2138

To ensure on-time delivery and avoid late fees, I recommend mailing your payment at least 5 business days before the due date listed on your bill.

Some reasons you may enjoy mailing in payments:

• You can use checks or money orders – Good if you don’t like electronic payments
• Gain points/miles on your credit card – By mailing in the physical card
• Have payment receipt – Your cancelled check provides a receipt

Just be sure to include your payment stub or write your Energy Coop account number on the check either way.

In-Person Payments

For members who live locally, The Energy Coop also allows you to drop off payments in person at their office.

You can visit their office at 1500 Granville Road, Newark, OH 43055 during business hours, Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 4:30pm.

When dropping off a payment, be sure to include your bill stub or write your Energy Coop account number prominently on the payment. This ensures the payment gets credited properly.

Reasons you may want to pay in person:

• Address other issues – Staff can help with any other account needs
• After hours access – Use the drop box if arriving after closing

I recommend calling ahead if visiting the office during business hours to avoid waiting if they are busy assisting other members.

The Energy Coop also has two drop boxes available 24/7:

• Newark office – Inside member services entrance
• Utica Service Center – 11339 Mt. Vernon Rd

Simply drop off your payment after hours and it will be collected and processed the next business day.

Setting Up Recurring Payments

My personal favorite bill pay method is setting up recurring automatic payments through The Energy Coop’s online SmartHub portal.

With automatic payments, the amount due is simply withdrawn from my bank account each month. This ensures I never miss a payment or incur late fees.

Setting up automated bill pay is easy and can be done in a few quick steps:

1. Login to SmartHub
2. Click on the “Billing & Payments” tab
3. Select “AutoPay Program”
4. Enter your bank account information
5. Confirm your monthly withdrawal date

And that’s it! The system will now withdraw your monthly payment on the date specified each billing cycle.

The convenience of auto-pay is hard to beat. I have one less bill to worry about as it’s handled automatically each month.

Some key benefits of automated payments:

• Never miss a payment – Payments happen on time without you needing to remember
• Avoid late fees – Automatic payments means you meet every due date
• Fewer headaches – Simplify your finances with one less bill to manually handle

I highly recommend setting up recurring payments if you have a record of on-time payments. It provides peace of mind knowing your bill is always paid on schedule.

Multiple Ways to Pay = Convenience For You

As you can see, The Energy Coop goes above and beyond to make paying your utility bill as easy and convenient as possible. With options to pay online, by phone, by mail, in person, or automatically – they have a solution for everyone’s needs and preferences.

I think that’s really what sets them apart from a traditional utility company. They recognize people want choices and flexibility. The Energy Coop caters to what works best for each individual member.

So if you’re an Energy Coop member, I encourage you to take advantage of these convenient payment options. Paying your bill doesn’t have to be a dreaded chore each month. With The Energy Coop’s streamlined payment process, it takes just minutes via your preferred method.

It’s just one of the many reasons I’m thankful to have The Energy Coop as my local utility provider. Their customer-centric focus makes all the difference.