Paying Your Utility Bill with Riverside Public Utilities

Paying your monthly utility bill is an essential task for every household and business in Riverside, CA. Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) provides electric and water services to the city, so most residents and businesses receive a utility bill from them each month. RPU offers several convenient ways to pay your utility bill. Here is an overview of the payment options, programs, and other key details for paying your RPU utility bill.

Ways to Pay Your RPU Utility Bill

RPU offers four main ways to pay your monthly utility bill:

• Online – Pay instantly on the RPU website using your account number and street address.

• 311 Mobile App – Pay via the 311 app using your account details.

• Phone – Call RPU and use the automated system to pay over the phone,

• Mail: Use the address on your bill to send a check or money order to RPU.

• In-Person – Visit one of RPU’s two customer service centers to pay in cash, check, or money order.

Online and mobile payments through the 311 app make it easy to pay at any time. You can also pay at any time with the automated phone system. It takes a little more work to pay by mail or in person, but those methods can be good for some people.

Payment Plan Options

To help customers budget and manage bills, RPU provides two payment plan options:

• Direct Pay Plan – Your utility payment is automatically drafted from your bank account each month. You can set a maximum payment amount and change it anytime.

• Level Pay Plan – Pay a flat rate every month based on your past average usage. Your rate may adjust if usage changes significantly. You’ll get a settlement bill at end of 12 months reflecting any debit/credit.

The Direct Pay Plan offers reliable autopay and predictable payments. The Level Pay Plan helps keep costs level over the course of the year. You can also combine the plans to make things easier and more consistent.

Understanding Your RPU Utility Bill

Every month when you get your RPU bill, it helps to know what the different charges and fees mean:

• Water Usage – Based on your water meter reading. Usage is billed per “CCF” (748 gallons).

• Electric Usage – Based on your electric meter reading. Usage is billed per kWh (kilowatt-hour).

• Fixed Fees – Includes customer charge and other monthly flat fees like reliability and network access charges.

• City Services – Covers city expenses like sewer, trash collection, utility taxes, etc.

• Surcharges – State-mandated surcharges for ongoing energy programs.

Review your RPU bill each month to ensure accuracy. Compare current and previous usage and charges to spot any irregularities. RPU Customer Service can explain your bill and investigate discrepancies.

Avoiding High Utility Bills

If your RPU utility bill is higher than expected, here are some common reasons why and tips to help prevent surprises:

For Water Bills:

• Fix leaks from faucets, toilets, irrigation systems
• Install water efficient fixtures and appliances
• Adjust sprinklers to proper coverage; don’t water excessively

For Electric Bills:

• Switch to LED lighting
• Unplug devices when not in use to avoid “vampire” load
• Use major appliances efficiently
• Change behaviors like turning off lights and adjusting thermostat

For Both:

• Track usage patterns month-to-month
• Compare rates and consider a rate change if usage warrants it
• Take advantage of RPU’s rebates on efficient equipment
• Practice overall conservation and efficiency

Key Takeaways

• RPU offers online, phone, mail, and in-person payment options for utility bills.

• Payment plans like Direct Pay and Level Pay help manage bills.

• Review charges closely each month to understand costs.

• Monitor usage and take conservation measures to control bills.

Paying your utility bill on time is essential. RPU provides flexible payment methods, programs, and resources to make it as easy as possible for Riverside customers. Take advantage of these offerings to simplify payment and keep utility costs in check.