How to Pay Your Lansing Board Of Water And Light Bill: A Step-By-Step Guide

Paying your utility bill to the Lansing Board of Water and Light (BWL) is an important responsibility for residents and businesses in Lansing, Michigan. However the payment process can seem complicated if you don’t know all the options available. This article will explain the various ways to pay your Lansing Board of Water and Light bill, including online by phone, by mail, and in person.

Online Payment

The easiest and most convenient way to pay your LBWL bill is online through their Customer Self-Service Portal. To utilize this method, you must first register at the portal. You’ll need your driver’s license or social security number on file with the BWL to complete registration.

Once registered, you can view your current balance, statements, and payment history. The portal allows you to pay using AutoPay, PayPal, Venmo, Amazon Pay or PayPal Credit. With AutoPay, your bill is paid automatically two days before the due date using your selected payment method. This ensures your payment is received on time every month.

The online portal is the quickest way to pay your LBWL bill and avoid late fees Payments post to your account immediately after the transaction is completed.

Pay By Phone

The LBWL offers a pay-by-phone system that allows payments using your checking account, savings account, or credit/debit card.

To utilize the pay-by-phone method, you’ll need your 8-digit LBWL account number, the billing zip code, and your checking account and routing number or credit/debit card information.

Call (517) 702-6006 and follow the prompts to use the automated payment system, which is available 24/7. Payments made over the phone are posted to your account right away with no convenience fees.

Pay By Mail

Sending your payment by mail is a simple option offered by the LBWL. You can mail a check or money order in the envelope provided with your statement to:

Lansing Board of Water & Light
PO Box 30824
Lansing, MI 48909-8311

Be sure to allow enough time for postal delivery to avoid late fees. Payments are processed within 24 hours of receipt by the LBWL.

Pay In Person

The LBWL offers several ways to pay your bill in person. The Haco Customer Service Center located at 1232 Haco Dr in Lansing is open Monday-Friday 9am-4:30pm for in-person payments. You can also use the drive-thru payment kiosk anytime.

24/7 payment drop boxes are located at the Customer Service Center and at the corner of W. Allegan St. and Townsend St. Payment envelopes are provided in the drop boxes.

The LBWL also has fee-free payment kiosks at six Quality Dairy locations in Lansing. You can pay with cash, check, or card at these kiosks during store hours.

Understanding Your LBWL Bill

When paying your LBWL utility bill, it helps to understand what the various charges on your statement mean. Common line items include:

• Service Charge: A monthly base charge that covers costs of billing, customer service, equipment, etc. This is charged regardless of your actual usage.

• Distribution Charge: Covers the delivery of electricity or water to your home or business. Based on metered usage.

• Energy Charge: Cost of producing or purchasing the electricity or water delivered to you. Based on metered usage.

• Demand Charge: For commercial customers based on your highest electric usage in a 30-minute period during the billing cycle. Measures capacity needs.

• Municipal Infrastructure: Fee collected by the LBWL and passed to the city to support infrastructure projects.

• Taxes and Fees: Sales tax plus franchise fees charged by the city based on your usage amounts.

• Past Due Balance: Any unpaid balance from previous billing cycles.

Reviewing the details on your bill can help you understand the charges and your usage patterns over time. Check for accuracy and contact LBWL customer support with any questions.

Payment Assistance Programs

If you are having trouble paying your LBWL utility bills, payment assistance programs are available:

• Payment Arrangements: Call (517) 702-6006 to set up a payment plan that works for your financial situation.

• Levelized Billing: Pay a fixed amount each month based on your average usage. Call to enroll.

• Project Share: Provides matches with donors to assist hardship cases. Call 211 to apply.

• State Emergency Relief: Helps pay energy bills and past due balances. Call 211 to check eligibility.

• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Provides one-time annual payment to help lower income residents. Call 211 to apply.

• Shutoff Protection: Special rules protect seniors and critical care customers from shutoffs. Call LBWL for details.

The LBWL wants to help customers maintain their utility service. Contact them as soon as you realize you’ll have difficulty paying a bill to discuss options.

How to Avoid Late Payments

To avoid late fees and potential service disruptions, here are some tips:

• Enroll in autopay or budget billing to ensure on-time payments.

• Carefully review monthly statements and pay attention to due dates.

• Schedule payments to arrive 3-5 days before the due date.

• Update your contact info with LBWL to ensure you receive reminders.

• Contact LBWL immediately if you anticipate difficulty paying a bill by the due date.

• If you’re going out of town, pay early or arrange autopay so bills are paid on time.

Staying on top of your LBWL account and paying on time can help you avoid unnecessary fees and keep service running smoothly.

Switching to Time-Of-Use Billing

The LBWL offers commercial, industrial, and residential customers the option to switch to Time-Of-Use (TOU) billing for electric service. With TOU billing, your rate per kWh depends on when you use electricity throughout the day.

There are three TOU rate periods:

• On-Peak: Weekdays 11am-7pm when demand is highest. The highest rates apply.

• Mid-Peak: Weekdays 7am-11am and 7pm-11pm. Mid-level rates apply.

• Off-Peak: Weekday 11pm-7am and all day weekends and holidays. The lowest rates apply.

By shifting high usage activities like laundry and EV charging to off-peak times, you can take advantage of lower rates and potentially lower your bill. LBWL can help determine if TOU billing makes sense for your usage patterns.

Understanding TOU billing allows you to better manage when and how you use electricity to control costs. Contact LBWL customer support with any questions about switching plans.

Final Thoughts

Paying your Lansing Board of Water and Light utility bill doesn’t have to be a hassle. With multiple payment options like online, by phone, by mail or in person, flexibility exists to suit different needs. If you understand your charges and billing dates, it makes ensuring on-time payment much easier.

Difficulties paying bills periodically happen, but assistance programs through LBWL and other organizations can get you back on track. Being an informed customer sets you up for success in covering this necessary monthly expense for your home or business.