Paying bills can feel like a chore, but it doesn’t have to be confusing or stressful, especially for City of Highland utility customers This comprehensive guide breaks down everything Highland, IL residents need to know to easily pay utility bills issued by the city
Overview of City of Highland Municipal Utilities
First let’s provide some background. The City of Highland is located in southwestern Illinois and provides municipal utility services including electric, water sewer, sanitation, and telecom to around 10,000 customers.
Highland’s Light & Power department handles electricity distribution and billing. Water treatment and distribution is managed by the Public Works department. These city-run utilities are overseen by the Highland City Council and aim to deliver reliable services at reasonable rates to the community.
Understanding Your Highland Utility Bill
When you receive your monthly statement, it contains detailed information that may seem confusing at first. Here’s what to look for in the key sections:
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Account number – This unique number identifies your household’s utility service location.
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Service address – The physical address where you are being billed for service. Verify for accuracy.
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Meter number(s) – ID numbers of the meter(s) monitoring your usage.
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Billing date – The date your statement was issued, not necessarily the due date.
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Previous balance – Any amount left unpaid from your prior billing.
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Usage – Your metered usage of each utility service during the billing period.
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Utility charges – Calculations of charges for each utility based on rates and your usage.
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Taxes – Local taxes applied to the utility services.
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Total current charges – The total amount due for the current billing period.
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Due date – The date full payment must be received by to avoid penalties.
Convenient Ways to Pay Your Highland Utility Bill
The City of Highland offers several payment options to fit any schedule or preference:
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Online – Pay via the city’s merchant payment portal after registering your account. Allows autopay setup.
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By phone – Call 618-654-9891 and select option 1 to pay over the phone using automated system or agent.
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By mail – Detach payment stub from paper bill and mail with check or money order to City of Highland.
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In person – Bring cash, check, or card payment to the Highland City Hall building during business hours.
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Drop box – Place check or money order payments in the drop box at City Hall after hours.
Avoid Late Fees and Service Disruption
Penalties like late fees and service disconnection are never pleasant surprises. Avoid them by:
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Paying your balance in full by the due date, not after. The city must receive payment by the due date.
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Allowing 7-10 days processing time for mailed payments.
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Updating your contact info if moving so bills still reach you.
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Contacting the city immediately if you anticipate difficulty paying on time to discuss payment plan options.
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Notifying the city prior to the due date if closing an account linked to automatic payments.
Assistance Programs for Qualified Residents
The City of Highland cares about the community and offers support to utility customers facing financial hardship through:
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Payment arrangements – Set up a monthly payment plan for outstanding balances.
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Low-income senior discounts – Reduced electric rates for seniors meeting income criteria.
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LIHEAP – Federally funded energy assistance grants for qualified low income households. The city can provide info on applying.
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Project SHARE – Member supported program through Illinois electric cooperatives providing bill payment assistance.
Let Highland Take the Headache Out of Paying Utilities
