A Guide to Paying Your Elk River Utilities Bill

Living in the city of Elk River, Minnesota means having your electric and water services provided by the local municipal utility company, Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU) Paying your monthly ERMU bill is essential to keep your services running and avoid any late fees or disconnection. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain the different ways Elk River residents can pay their utility bill along with tips for hassle-free payment

Overview of Elk River Municipal Utilities

Elk River Municipal Utilities is the utility company owned by the city to provide electric and water services to the residents and businesses of Elk River, They also handle billing for garbage/recycling services on behalf of the city’s contracted hauler

As a municipal utility, ERMU is governed by a five-member board of commissioners appointed by the Elk River City Council. The company serves around 11,000 electric customers and 10,000 water customers located within city limits.

ERMU owns and operates the infrastructure for electric distribution like power lines, transformers and substations. They purchase wholesale power and deliver it to homes and businesses via their distribution system. For water, ERMU owns and maintains the water treatment plants, wells, pumps, water towers, mains and hydrants.

Now let’s review the ways customers in Elk River can pay their ERMU utility bill each month

Ways to Pay Your ERMU Bill

ERMU offers several payment options to provide flexibility for customers to pay their monthly electric, water and garbage bill conveniently. The main payment methods include:

• Online – Pay via SmartHub account or the QuickPay online portal using credit/debit card or e-check.

• Phone – Call the automated pay-by-phone line and use a card or checking account.

• Mail – Send a check or money order payment by mail to ERMU’s PO Box.

• In Person – Visit the ERMU office during business hours to pay with cash, card, check, or money order.

• Drop Box – Use the drive-up drop box at the ERMU office to leave check/money order payments.

• Bank Bill Pay – Use your bank’s online bill pay service to send a payment.

• AutoPay – Sign up for automatic monthly payments from your checking account.

Paying online via SmartHub or QuickPay is the fastest and most convenient option for most customers. We’ll now go over the step-by-step process for paying your ERMU bill online.

How to Pay Your ERMU Bill Online

Below are the simple steps to pay your ERMU utility bill online through the SmartHub portal or QuickPay:

1. Visit the ERMU Payments website at https://pmt.ermumn.com/ or open the SmartHub mobile app.

2. Choose whether to login as a registered SmartHub user or pay as a guest.

3. Enter your account number and email or service address as prompted.

4. Select the “Make Payment” button for your account.

5. Enter the payment amount and select a payment method.

6. Provide your credit/debit card or bank account information.

7. Carefully review the payment details before submitting.

8. Confirm the payment and receive an emailed receipt.

The online payment is processed instantly so your account is credited right away. It’s quick, secure, and helps avoid late fees as long as you pay by the due date.

Payment Tips for ERMU Customers

Follow these tips and best practices when paying your ERMU utility bill online or through other methods:

• Pay your bill by the 10th of each month to avoid late fees.

• Have your account number handy to log in quickly as a first-time user.

• Register for a free SmartHub account to store payment info for faster checkout.

• Contact ERMU if your mailing address changes to avoid missed bills.

• View payment history and billing statements through your SmartHub account.

• Sign up for paperless billing to receive bills electronically rather than by mail.

• Set up text or email reminders through SmartHub to get notifications when your bill is ready.

• Consider AutoPay to have payments automatically deducted from your bank account each month.

ERMU Bill Payment FAQs

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about paying ERMU utility bills:

What are the customer service hours to call about my bill?

8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Closed on national holidays.

What is the mailing address to send my payment to?

PO Box 430, Elk River, MN 55330

Where is the ERMU office located for in-person payments?

13069 Orono Pkwy, Elk River, MN 55330

What are the late fees if I miss the due date?

Accounts not paid by the 10th are charged a 1.5% late fee.

When is my bill due each month?

Bills are due on the 10th of every month.

How do I check on the balance of my account?

You can check your balance via SmartHub or by calling 763-441-2020.

Can I see past statements and payment history online?

Yes, through your SmartHub account you can view up to 24 months of billing statements.

Is ERMU Moving to Monthly Billing?

Currently ERMU utility bills are sent out every two months covering a 60 day billing period. However, the utility will soon be transitioning residential customers to monthly billing cycles rather than bi-monthly.

With monthly billing, customers will receive a bill from ERMU each month covering about 30 days of service. Some benefits of monthly billing include:

• Lower bill amounts spread over 12 months rather than 6
• More consistent billing cycles making it easier to budget
• Faster notification if usage seems unusually high

ERMU expects to roll out monthly billing for residential customers in early 2023. No major changes will be needed for customers when this transition happens. Your billing dates will just become more frequent.

Conclusion

Paying your utility bill with Elk River Municipal Utilities ensures your essential electric and water services stay on. The company offers several payment options with online, phone, mail or in-person payments available. Setting up an online SmartHub account provides the most convenience including bill reminders, usage tracking, paperless billing and auto pay enrollment. Just be sure to pay your ERMU bill by the 10th of each month using your preferred payment method. Contact ERMU customer service if you have any questions about billing, payment or your utility services.