Can You Pay Your Electric Bill at Food Lion Supermarkets?

When your monthly electric bill comes due you want a quick and convenient way to pay it. Running to the grocery store seems like it would allow you to knock out paying your utility bill while grabbing your groceries. But can you actually pay your Dominion Energy or other electric company bills at Food Lion supermarkets?

Unfortunately the answer is no. While Food Lion provides many services like pharmacy money orders, and Western Union, they do not accept payments for electric, gas, water, or other utility bills.

Why Grocery Stores Don’t Accept Utility Payments

There are several reasons why most national supermarket chains like Food Lion do not allow you to pay your electric gas or other utility bills at their customer service desks

• Lack of payment agreements – Food Lion does not have bill payment contracts set up with utility providers to accept and process payments.

• High costs – Accepting utility payments requires staff training and payment handling systems. This is expensive for low margin retailers.

• Slow settlement of funds – Money paid at the grocery store could take days or weeks to reach your utility provider, delaying application to your account.

• Higher risk of errors – Untrained staff entering your account details manually could lead to mistakes and processing issues.

So while paying your electric bill at Food Lion is not an option, there are several other convenient places you can pay utility bills in person.

Where You Can Pay Electric Bills In-Person

While supermarkets don’t allow electric bill payment, here are some places that do accept cash, check, or debit/credit card payments for Dominion Energy and other electric companies:

• Walmart – Most locations have dedicated bill pay services for around a $1.50 fee.

• Kroger – Many Kroger supermarkets accept utility payments at customer service.

• 7-Eleven – You can now pay bills at over 7,500 7-Eleven stores for a small fee.

• Check cashing stores – Fees are higher, but most check cashing outlets accept utility payments.

• Banks and credit unions – Your local branch may allow you to pay electric and other utility bills.

• Authorized payment centers – Check your electric company’s website for a list of approved in-person payment locations.

• By phone – Call your utility provider directly to pay over the phone.

• Online – Paying through your electric company website is quick and secure.

Tips for Paying Your Electric Bill On Time

Since you can’t pay at the grocery store, use one of the convenient options above to pay your utility bill on time and avoid late fees, such as:

• Get in the habit of paying your electric bill as soon as you receive it.

• Enroll in autopay through your electric provider’s website for automatic payments each month.

• If you’ll be late, call your utility ahead of time – they may extend your due date.

• Seek financial assistance from your electric company if you’re struggling to pay your bill. Based on income, you may qualify for discounted rates or payment plans.

Key Takeaways – Paying Electric Bills at Food Lion

While supermarkets like Food Lion provide many customer services, accepting utility payments is unfortunately not one of them. Due to lack of systems and agreements with electric companies, Food Lion cannot accept payments for your Dominion Energy or other electric bills.

You’ll need to use alternative bill pay options like Kroger, Walmart, authorized payment centers, your utility website, or by phone. With so many ways to pay electric bills conveniently, you can keep your utility expenses current each month.