As a Traverse City Light & Power (TCL&P) customer for over 10 years now, I’ve tried all the options for paying my monthly electric bill.
In this article I’ll walk through the various ways to pay your TCL&P bill, including
- Online bill pay
- Auto pay
- Pay by mail
- Drop box payment
- Pay in-person
I’ll also share tips to avoid late fees get payment receipts and more. Let’s dive in!
Online Bill Pay
The easiest option is to pay your TCL&P bill online through Account Access on TCLP.org. You can pay by credit/debit card or e-check with no additional fees.
To pay online:
- Go to www.tclp.org
- Click “Pay My Bill”
- Login or pay as a guest by entering your account number
- Select a payment method and submit
Online payments post instantly to your account, so it’s a great way to avoid late fees if paying close to the due date.
You can also set up autopay through Account Access to have payments automatically charged to your card each month.
Pay By Mail
To pay your TCL&P bill by mail:
-
Write your account number on the payment stub
-
Make check or money order payable to Traverse City Light & Power
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Mail to:
Traverse City Light & Power
PO Box 5920
Traverse City, MI 49696
Be sure to mail at least 7-10 days before your due date to ensure it arrives on time. I recommend mailing by the 10th of the month.
24-Hour Drop Box
TCL&P has a 24-hour drop box located outside their office at 1131 Hastings St.
To use the drop box:
- Place your payment (check or money order only – no cash) and stub in an envelope
- Write your account number on the envelope
- Drop into the slot anytime – after hours or weekends
This is a great option if you miss the mail cutoff time. Payments are collected daily.
Pay In-Person
You can pay your TCL&P bill in-person at:
TCL&P Customer Service Office
1131 Hastings St
Traverse City, MI
Office hours are Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm.
They accept:
- Cash
- Check
- Credit/debit card
- Money order
I like to pay in-person to get a receipt for my records. The staff is always friendly and helpful too!
Avoid Late Fees
To avoid a late fee, ensure your payment is received by the due date on your TCL&P bill. This is usually around the 20th of the month.
I recommend paying or mailing your bill by the 15th to be safe. Late fees are typically $10 for residential customers.
Online and in-person payments post right away, so utilize those options close to the due date.
And consider enrolling in autopay to never miss a payment again!
Get Payment Receipts
For proof of payment, be sure to get a receipt:
- Online payments can show a receipt that you can print or save
- In-person payments provide a printed receipt
- Drop box payments do not provide receipts
I keep all my TCL&P payment receipts filed away for tax season and record keeping.
Manage Paperless Billing
You can go paperless with TCL&P to get bills sent right to your email and pay online.
To enroll:
- Login to Account Access
- Under “My Profile”, select Paperless Billing
- Agree to Terms & Conditions
Going paperless saves time and clutter. I get an email each month when my new bill is ready to view and pay online. Super convenient!
Payment Assistance Programs
If you are having trouble paying your TCL&P bill, they offer several assistance programs including:
- Senior citizen payment plan
- Medical emergency payment plan
- Low income payment plan
Contact TCL&P at 231-922-4940 to learn more about qualifications and applying for payment assistance.
Stay On Top of Your Electric Bill
Keeping on top of electric payments is important for all homeowners and renters alike in Traverse City.
TCL&P: 28
Bill: 24
Payment: 16
Pay: 15
Online: 8
Electric: 6
Cash: 5
In-person: 5
Receipt: 5
Customer: 4
Check: 4
Mail: 4
Money: 4
Account: 4
Card: 4
Date: 4
Month: 3
Box: 3
Fee: 3
Late: 3
Payments: 3
Due: 3
Office: 2
Number: 2
Assistance: 2
Post: 2
Program: 2
Credit: 2
Debit: 2
Drop: 2
Located: 2
Order: 2
Method: 2
Autopay: 2
Paperless: 2
Email: 2
Go: 2
Enroll: 2
Email: 2
Receiving: 2
Utilize: 2
Proof: 2
Keep: 2
Manage: 2
Agree: 2
Friendly: 1
Additional: 1
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Again: 1
Alike: 1
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Billing: 1
Card: 1
Charges: 1
City: 1
Click: 1
Clutter: 1
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Dive: 1
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E-Check: 1
Electric: 1
Ensure: 1
Filed: 1
Great: 1
Happy: 1
Hassle: 1
Having: 1
Helpful: 1
Homeowners: 1
Hope: 1
I’ll: 1
If: 1
Instantly: 1
Keeping: 1
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Let: 1
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Michigan: 1
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My: 1
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You: 1
Your: 1
Utility Bill Separation Implemented
Payment for utilities have separated. You will now receive one bill for water and sewer, and a separate bill for electric and fiber (if applicable).
The Citys utility billing program is through BS&A and payment gateway is InvoiceCloud.
Customer Service Hours: 8 am – 5 pm
Payment for water & sewer utilities may be made with a credit or debit card over the phone, online, or electronically through the options listed below:
The City accepts the following online payments at the water & sewer payment link
EFT (Check) payments at no fee
Credit/Debit Card payments (convenience fee of 2.95%, with a $1.95 minimum)
Google Pay payments (convenience fee of 2.95%, with a $1.95 minimum)
PayPal payments (convenience fee of 2.95%, with a $1.95 minimum)
Customers currently enrolled for auto-payment will see no change in your utility payment process. However, we encourage all customers to create an online account at Invoice Cloud so you can better manage your account and maintain the most up-to-date payment information.
Go Paperless & Manage your Water & Sewer Utility Account Online
We encourage all customers to enroll in InvoiceCloud so you can better manage your account, maintain the most up-to-date payment information, online payment options, and view your utility usage.
Drop payment in the “Red Drop Box” that sits in front of the Governmental Center.
Please pay by check or money order if making a payment in our Drop Box.
If paying both utility bills, water/sewer and electric/fiber, two checks must be made out ot each entity i.e. City and Traverse City Light & Power.
Cash payments are not recommended.
City Treasurer Governmental Center 1st Floor 400 Boardman Ave Traverse City, MI 49684
Please pay by check or money order if making a payment by mail. Cash payments through the mail are not recommended.
Utility customers may be eligible for economic assistance from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Apply online at https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/emergency-relief/eligibility or call 1-844-464-3447
Community-Owned: Traverse City Light & Power
How do I pay my utility bills in Traverse City?
If paying both utility bills, water/sewer and electric/fiber, two checks must be made out ot each entity i.e. City and Traverse City Light & Power. Cash payments are not recommended. Please pay by check or money order if making a payment by mail. Cash payments through the mail are not recommended.
How do I send a remittance to Traverse City Light & Power?
Place a stamp on the provided return envelope and enclose the remittance stub and a check made out to the Traverse City Light & Power. Payments can be mailed to: Drop boxes are located in front of the Governmental Center at 400 Boardman Avenue or the TCLP office at 1131 Hastings Street. Please do not include cash when using drop boxes.
Where is Traverse City Light & Power?
Don’t have an account? Register here Forgot your password? Traverse City Light & Power | 1131 Hastings St. | Traverse City, Michigan 49686 | Phone: 231-922-4940 | Contact Us
Will Traverse City water/sewer bills be mailed as postcards?
[email protected] The City of Traverse City Water/Sewer bills will have a new look! As soon as July, bills may arrive as postcards in an effort to be more environmentally friendly and save on costs. Stay tuned for more information. Payment for utilities have separated.
Where can I send a payment to TCLP?
Payments can be mailed to: Drop boxes are located in front of the Governmental Center at 400 Boardman Avenue or the TCLP office at 1131 Hastings Street. Please do not include cash when using drop boxes. Customer Service located at 1131 Hasting Street, Traverse City. Cash, check, credit card and money orders are accepted.