How to Pay Your White River Valley Electric Bill: A Comprehensive Guide

Anyone who gets electricity from White River Valley Electric should pay their bill on time and in full. Not making payments on time or at all can cause problems like service interruptions, fees, and other issues. Luckily, White River Valley Electric gives customers a lot of easy ways to pay that can fit any schedule or preference. This guide will tell you everything you need to know to pay your White River Valley Electric bill.

Overview of Payment Options

White River Valley Electric gives customers a number of ways to pay their bills. The main ones are

• SmartHub app and website
• Pay Now online payments
• Cash payments at Vanilla Direct locations
• Automatic bank drafts
• Budget billing
• Credit card payments
• Pay As You Go prepayments
• Third-party payment processors

Below, we’ll explore each of these White River Valley Electric payment options in more detail. We’ll also provide guidance on assistance programs for customers struggling to pay their electric bills.

Paying Online with SmartHub

SmartHub is the best and fastest way to pay your White River Valley Electric bill. This free website and app connect straight to your electric bill.

With SmartHub, you can:

• View your daily, hourly, and monthly energy usage
• Receive email alerts when you hit usage thresholds
• Pay your bill immediately with bank account or card
• Go paperless with emailed billing
• Report outages and check statuses
• And more

To use SmartHub, you just need your White River Valley Electric account number, last name/business name, last four SSN digits, and an email address. Signing up takes two minutes. The intuitive SmartHub platform makes managing your electric account incredibly simple.

We highly recommend all White River Valley Electric customers enroll in SmartHub for convenient online bill pay.

Pay Now Online Payments

Don’t want to use SmartHub? No problem. The Pay Now system from White River Valley Electric lets you quickly pay your bill online even if you don’t have an account. Pay now page, enter your account number and the amount you owe, and send payment by card or e-check.

Pay Now is best for one-off payments since it doesn’t store your information. For regular monthly payments, we recommend SmartHub instead.

Paying with Cash at Vanilla Direct Locations

Not everyone likes paying bills online. That’s why White River Valley Electric partners with Vanilla Direct, which allows cash bill payments at thousands of retail locations. Vanilla Direct eCash payments appear instantly on your White River Valley Electric account, just like online payments.

To use Vanilla Direct, purchase a Vanilla eCash card at a participating retailer. Register it at vanillaecash.com or by calling the number on the back of your card. Then, use Vanilla Direct to make a payment towards your White River Valley Electric bill at any time. It’s great for customers who prefer paying in cash.

Automatic Bank Drafts

One of the easiest ways to avoid late electric bill payments is to enroll in White River Valley Electric’s automatic bank draft program. This authorizes the cooperative to withdraw your monthly bill amount directly from your checking account on the due date.

Setting up automatic drafting takes the hassle out of remembering to pay each bill. The payment happens automatically so you don’t have to lift a finger. Just make sure you have enough in your linked checking account by the due date each month.

Budget Billing

White River Valley Electric’s budget billing program helps you avoid billing spikes from seasonal electric usage changes.

Here’s how it works:

• White River Valley Electric calculates your average monthly usage based on the past 12 months
• They bill you that set amount each month
• At the end of the 12-month period, they compare your actual usage to the budget amount and adjust your bill accordingly

Budget billing prevents your bill from ballooning in hot or cold months. The fixed monthly amount makes it easier to budget household finances. If you experience seasonal swings in your electric usage, enroll in budget billing for more predictable bills.

Paying by Credit Card

White River Valley Electric accepts Visa and Mastercard payments by phone, in person at offices, or through SmartHub. Just have your credit card info handy when you call or visit to make a payment.

Please note that White River Valley Electric charges a 3% processing fee for credit card transactions. We recommend electronic checking payments via SmartHub if possible to avoid fees. But for occasional credit card payments, the option is there.

Pay As You Go Prepaid Billing

If you want maximum control over your electric payments, consider White River Valley Electric’s Pay As You Go prepaid billing program.

With Pay As You Go, you pay money to your account before using electricity. Once your balance hits zero, your power shuts off until you add more funds. This model allows you to pay whatever you want, whenever you want.

Pay As You Go puts you in the driver’s seat for your electric payments. You pay ahead of time and use only what you’ve paid for. It’s great for customers who prefer prepayment over monthly billing.

Third-Party Bill Pay Services

White River Valley Electric cautions customers about using third-party bill pay services. We do accept payments from platforms like Doxo and Plastiq. However, we cannot guarantee correct payments, avoid fees, or prevent errors with third-party systems.

For the smoothest experience, we recommend paying directly through White River Valley Electric’s online options like SmartHub. But in a pinch, third-party bill pay services will get the job done.

Assistance Programs for Struggling Customers

We know paying electricity bills can be a challenge, especially during financial hardships. If you’re struggling to keep up with your White River Valley Electric payments, check if you qualify for one of these assistance programs:

• ECIP: Provides bill payment assistance to avoid disconnection. Offers up to $800 in winter and $300 in summer.

• LIHEAP: Helps low-income families pay energy bills and maintain service. Provides grants, subsidies, and other benefits.

These programs can cover a portion of your overdue bill balance so your lights stay on. Visit White River Valley Electric’s payment options page to learn more about bill assistance programs.

Pay Your White River Valley Electric Bill Today

As you can see, White River Valley Electric offers a wide selection of payment methods. Whether you prefer automatic drafting, online payments, prepaid billing, or another option, you can choose a way to pay that works for your lifestyle.

Remember that on-time payment helps avoid late fees, disruptions, and other unnecessary complications. Review your monthly bill closely and mark the due date on your calendar. Then, pay through your preferred method before the deadline.

SmartHub provides the fastest, easiest online bill pay experience. But you can always call White River Valley Electric directly if you need guidance on payment options or bill assistance programs. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions!