The Ins and Outs of Paying Your Vt Electric Coop Bill

Paying your electric bill is likely a monthly necessity for most of us While it may seem straightforward, there are actually a number of options and programs available when it comes to paying your Vt Electric Coop electric bill. In this article, we’ll break down the various payment methods, budget billing, payment assistance, and more.

Payment Options with Vt Electric Coop

Vt Electric Coop offers a range of payment options to fit your needs and preferences Here are the main ways you can pay your electric bill with Vt Electric Coop

• Online via SmartHub – The most convenient option is to pay online through Vt Electric Coop’s SmartHub portal. You can pay right from your computer or mobile device. SmartHub also allows you to view usage data, report outages, and set up bill notifications. You don’t need to register for SmartHub to pay online – you can use the Pay Now function without signing up.

• Phone – Call 800-832-2667 or 802-635-2331 and select option 2 to access the automated phone payment system. You can check your balance, set up autopay, or make a onetime payment via check, debit or credit card.

• Autopay – Set up automatic payments directly from your bank account or credit/debit card. This ensures your bill gets paid on time each month. Note that autopay customers still receive a statement but it will say “bank draft do not pay”.

• Mail – Send a check or money order to Vt Electric Coop’s PO Box. Do not mail payments to the physical office address.

• In Person – Drop off payment at Vt Electric Coop’s HQ in Johnson or partner locations like Franklin Telephone Company.

• Recurring Credit Card – Set up recurring credit card payments through SmartHub. There is a $2,500 maximum for credit card payments per month.

Budget Billing

Vt Electric Coop offers a budget billing program that allows you to pay a fixed monthly amount based on your average usage. This helps add predictability to your monthly bills.

Here’s how it works:

• Vt Electric Coop calculates your monthly budget payment based on your last 12 months of bills.

• They review your account mid-year to adjust the monthly payment if needed.

• At year-end they reconcile your account. If you overpaid, you get a refund or credit. If you underpaid, you owe the balance.

You can opt out of budget billing at any time. Just know any balance will be due if you cancel.

Payment Assistance Programs

If you’re struggling to keep up with electric payments, Vt Electric Coop offers assistance:

• Flexible payment plans – Work with Vt Electric Coop to establish a payment plan that works for your financial situation.

• Low-income assistance – There are special discounted rates and financial assistance programs available for low-income members.

Don’t hesitate to call Vt Electric Coop to discuss bill payment options if you’re experiencing financial hardship or trouble paying on time.

Why Pay Online Through SmartHub?

While you can certainly use any of the payment methods we outlined, paying your Vt Electric Coop bill through SmartHub offers some nice perks:

• Convenience – Pay on any device without writing a check or finding a stamp. Get text/email reminders when your bill is due.

• Security – SmartHub uses robust encryption and security measures to keep your data safe. No need to worry about checks getting lost.

• Cash rewards – Some credit cards offer cash back rewards for online bill payments. Might as well get something back!

• Automatic receipts – SmartHub stores digital receipts so you always have proof of payment. No more hunting for paperwork.

• Usage tracking – Monitor your daily electricity usage and set customized alerts. Identify waste and improve efficiency.

• Outage notifications – Get updates on outage status, cause, and estimated restoration right on your phone.

• Account management – In addition to payments, view bills, update account info, and more.

While SmartHub requires an initial registration, it only takes a few minutes to set up. The convenience and features are worth it in the long run. However, don’t hesitate to use another payment method if you prefer or if it better suits your needs. Vt Electric Coop offers flexible options to make bill payment as simple as possible.

Tips for Avoiding Late Fees

Nothing adds insult to injury like late fees on top of your electric bill. Here are some tips to help avoid those pesky extra charges:

• Mark your due date on your calendar so it doesn’t sneak up on you.

• Sign up for bill reminders through SmartHub. They’ll text or email you when a bill is due soon.

• Set payment reminders on your phone, like a daily alarm leading up to the due date.

• Schedule payments to process automatically through SmartHub autopay.

• If the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, pay a few days early.

• Don’t let bills pile up if you’ll be traveling – pay ahead if needed.

• Pay as soon as you receive the bill rather than waiting until the due date.

• Contact Vt Electric Coop before the due date if you’ll have trouble paying on time.

• If you receive a shutoff notice, pay immediately to avoid disconnection. Disconnection/reconnection fees add on even more costs.

Staying on top of electric bill payments takes a bit of planning and organization, but it’s much less stressful than dealing with late payments. Being proactive is key.

Changes Coming for Vt Electric Coop’s Payment Options

In 2023, Vt Electric Coop will be rolling out improved payment options and account management features. Here’s what’s coming:

• An updated version of SmartHub with an even smoother user interface

• Expanded payment locations to include retail shops and gas stations around their territory

• A “round up” program to let members round up bill payments to the nearest dollar, with the extra funds going to their Operation Round Up community assistance fund

• More bill analysis features and electricity usage insights in SmartHub

• Two-way messaging within SmartHub to easily contact Member Services

• Automatic alerts when unusually high usage is detected, so members can address problems proactively

• Integration with smart home devices to tie electric account management into home energy use monitoring systems

Vt Electric Coop prides itself on providing options and technology to simplify the member experience. These upgrades will enhance their payment options and account management features even more in 2023.

In Summary

When it comes to paying your Vt Electric Coop electric bill, you’ve got options:

• Pay online, by phone, in person, or by mail

• Use budget billing for predictable monthly amounts

• Seek payment assistance if needed

• Automate payments to avoid late fees

• Take advantage of SmartHub for convenience and bill management

New payment features launching in 2023 will provide even more flexibility. Don’t hesitate to contact Vt Electric Coop if you ever have questions or need guidance navigating your electric bill and payment options. They want to help members through every step of the process. Paying your bill should be simple, straightforward, and work within your budget – Vt Electric Coop’s payment options make that possible.