A Guide to Paying Utility Bills for Multi-Family Properties

For properties with multiple residential units, handling utility billing can be complex. Multi-family properties often use specialized utility billing companies to allocate bill, and collect payments for water electric, gas, and other utility expenses across all units. This article will explain how multi-family utility billing and payment typically works.

Overview of Multi-Family Utility Billing

Multi-family properties like apartments, condos, townhomes, and HOAs often have shared utility services that get divided up among individual units.

Instead of each unit contracting directly with the utility provider, a third-party billing company handles:

• Metering or submetering each unit’s utility usage
• Calculating each resident’s utility costs based on consumption
• Sending monthly utility bills to residents
• Collecting and processing utility payments

This helps simplify utility management for property owners/managers and residents alike.

Multi-Family Utility Billing Companies

There are a number of billing companies that specialize in multi-family utility billing. such as

• Banyan Utility
• Multifamily Utility Company (MUC)
• Powerhouse Utility
• Conservice
• Entrata

These companies act as the utility provider on record for the property. They contract with the actual utility, then handle billing residents based on usage.

Accessing Your Multi-Family Utility Account

As a resident, you’ll receive a monthly utility bill from the billing company, not directly from the utility provider. Here’s how to access your account:

• Banyan Utility: Visit banyanutility.com/residents
• MUC: Visit mucpayments.com
• Other providers likely have similar online portals

You’ll log in to view your balance, payment history, make payments, and manage account settings.

Paying Your Multi-Family Utility Bill

You have a few options to pay your utility bill each month

• Online – Pay by credit/debit card or e-check through your online account portal.

• Mail – Send a check or money order to the billing company’s payment address printed on your bill.

• Phone – Call the billing provider’s customer service line and pay over the phone.

• Drop Box – Some properties have a drop box to submit payments on-site.

• Auto-pay – Set up recurring automatic payments from your bank account each month.

Pay attention to the due date on your bill to avoid late fees. Online or auto-pay are convenient options to pay on time every month.

What’s Included in Multi-Family Utility Bills

Your monthly utility bill will likely include charges for:

• Electricity used based on actual meter readings
• Water and sewer based on unit occupancy or measured usage
• Gas for heating, cooking, etc. if applicable
• Trash/recycling collection fees
• Miscellaneous utility fees and taxes

You may also see additional community fees assessed by the property management.

Benefits of Multi-Family Utility Billing

Having a specialized utility billing company for multi-family properties offers advantages including:

• Simple consolidated billing rather than dealing with multiple utility providers
• Professional metering/submetering of individual unit usage
• Cost allocation based on occupancy or consumption
• Easy online account access and bill pay
• Utility expenses included in rent payments for simplication

For property managers, it also streamlines utility management and back-office functions.

Questions and Issues

If you have any issues with your utility bill, reach out to your multi-family billing provider directly for help. Their customer service team can explain your charges, take payments, handle account updates, and resolve any billing disputes.

Managing utility payments is hassle-free with specialized multi-family billing services. Register your online account, learn your options for paying each month, and take advantage of the convenience.