Paying your Orange County Utilities bill online is the most convenient and secure way to make sure your payment is received on time each month. The county offers several easy online payment options to choose from. In this article, I’ll walk you through how to pay your Orange County Utilities bill online, explain the different online payment methods available, and answer some frequently asked questions about paying online.
Overview of Online Payment Options
Orange County Utilities offers three main ways for customers to pay their utility bills online:
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Online Bill Pay Site This option allows you to securely login and manage your account You can view billing history, make one-time payments, set up recurring payments, enroll in paperless billing, and more
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Auto Pay Program You can enroll to have your bill automatically drafted from your bank account or charged to your credit card each month This ensures your payment is always on time
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Guest Online Payments: If you don’t want to create an online account, you can make one-time guest payments without logging in.
Below I’ll go into more details on how each of these options work.
How to Pay at the Online Bill Pay Site
The online bill pay site is the most full-featured way to pay your bill online Here are step-by-step instructions on how to use it
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If it’s your first time, click “Register” to create your online account profile. Provide your account number, email, phone, and create a password.
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If you already have a profile, simply login with your credentials.
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Once logged in, you’ll see your account dashboard. Click “Make Payment” to process a one-time payment.
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Enter your payment details including payment method and amount. You can store payment methods like bank accounts, credit cards, and e-checks in your virtual wallet for future use.
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Review the payment details and submit. You’ll receive a confirmation email with your payment receipt.
In addition to one-time payments, the online bill pay site allows you to:
- View up to 12 months of billing history
- Enroll in paperless billing
- Set up recurring automatic payments
- Update your contact information
- And more!
How to Enroll in Auto Pay
The Auto Pay program is an easy way to go on autopilot with your utility bill payments. Here’s how to get started:
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Login to your account at the online bill pay site.
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Under “My Profile”, click on “Auto Pay Accounts”.
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Click “Enroll Account” and follow the prompts to set up Auto Pay from your bank account or credit card.
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Confirm the recurring payment details. Your bill will now be paid automatically each month on the due date.
The convenience of Auto Pay means you don’t have to remember to log in and submit payments manually. Your bill is simply paid on time, every time.
How to Make One-Time Guest Payments
Don’t want the hassle of creating an online account? You can make one-time guest payments without logging in.
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Go to the online bill pay site.
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Click “Pay As Guest” on the top menu.
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Enter your account number, last name, and zip code. Select if you want to receive text/email receipts.
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Fill in your payment details and submit.
While guest payments don’t have all the account management features, they allow you to quickly pay your bill without logging in.
Payment Methods Accepted Online
Orange County Utilities accepts the following payment methods for online bill payment:
- Credit/Debit Cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
- E-Checks: Also called ACH payments from your checking account
- Bank Account Drafts: For Auto Pay enrollments
Usage limits apply to credit card payments over $2,500 per month. There are no fees for paying by e-check.
Online Payment Tips and Suggestions
Here are some tips to make paying online easy:
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Check your account number – Make sure you have your correct account number handy before starting payment. This will speed up creating/accessing your account.
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Call from your account phone number – When using the automated phone payment system, call from the phone number linked to your account so it can easily pull up your info.
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Save payment methods – Store preferred credit cards, bank accounts, etc in your virtual wallet for quicker future payments.
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Go paperless – Enroll in e-billing to get notifications when new bills are ready and avoid mail delays.
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Set up Auto Pay – Sign up for recurring automatic payments from your bank account or credit card so you never miss a payment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Payments
Here are answers to some common questions about paying your Orange County Utilities bill online:
Can I still pay by mail, over the phone, or in person?
Yes, Orange County still accepts bill payments by mail, automated phone system, drive-thru, lobby drop-off, and in-person tellers. However, online payments are the easiest and most secure.
What if I didn’t get my bill in the mail?
You can view or download your latest bill from your online account. Or call customer service and they can email you a copy. Sign up for e-billing to prevent issues with delayed or missing mail.
What do I do if I lost my account number?
If paying online, call from the phone number on your account and the automated system will identify you. If paying by other methods, call customer service and they can provide your account number.
Can I pay a partial amount online?
You can pay any amount online, however if your account is past due you may have to pay in full. Partial payments for special circumstances are accepted in person.
How can I get a receipt for online payments?
You’ll automatically receive a confirmation email with receipt after any online payment. You can also access up to 12 months of statements in your online account.
How long does it take for online payments to process?
Online payments via e-check or credit/debit card are processed instantly. Auto Pay and guest payments process on the scheduled date. Allow 3-5 days for 3rd party processor payments.
Will my auto-payments transfer over to the new online system?
Yes, your current auto-pay enrollment will continue uninterrupted. You simply need to create a new password the next time you login.
Who can I contact for help with online payments?
You can call Orange County Utilities customer service for assistance with online billing and payments. They’re available weekdays from 8am – 6:30pm at 407-836-5515.
Paying your utilities bill online is the most convenient way to avoid late fees, keep your services active, and manage payments on your own schedule. Now that you know the different online payment options Orange County offers, you can choose the method that works best for you!
Bill Pay Site Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, there is a new guest payment option available! However, creating a profile will allow you to take advantage of the other site features.
Can a customer service representative take my payment over the phone?
For your protection, our customer service representatives no longer have the ability to take private payment information over the phone. However, payments can be made using our enhanced automated phone system at 407-836-5515.