Columbia Power & Water Systems (CPWS) provides electricity, water, and internet services to the city of Columbia and Maury County, Tennessee. As a customer, you are responsible for paying your monthly utility bill on time. CPWS offers various payment options to make it quick and easy. This guide will walk through everything you need to know about paying your CPWS bill.
Understand Your Columbia Power & Water Bill
Your utility bill from CPWS arrives each month and includes charges for any electricity water, sewer and/or internet services. Carefully review the bill details so you fully understand what you’re being charged for. Key sections include
- Account number and billing date
- Meter read dates for each service
- Usage in kWh for electric and gallons for water
- Itemized charges for each utility service
- Taxes and fees
- Total current charges due
- Payment due date
Compare your current usage to the same month last year to spot any unusual spikes. Contact CPWS if you have any bill questions. Keep the last 12 months of bills for reference.
Ways to Pay Your CPWS Utility Bill
CPWS offers several payment options so customers can select the most convenient method for them:
Pay Online
The quickest way to pay is through CPWS’s online bill pay system called SmartHub Register your account on their website to securely pay by credit/debit card or e-check You can also set up recurring payments through SmartHub,
Pay by Phone
Call CPWS at 931-388-4833 and select the pay by phone option. You’ll need your account number and can pay with a card by following the automated prompts. Phone payments are accepted 24/7.
Pay by Mail
Detach the payment stub from your paper bill and enclose it along with a check or money order payable to CPWS. Use the return envelope provided and allow 5-7 days for delivery. Send payments to PO Box 379, Columbia, TN 38402.
Pay in Person
Bring your bill to the CPWS office at 201 Pickens Lane in Columbia and pay with cash, check, or card at the front desk during business hours. You can also use the drive-thru window.
Pay at Retail Locations
Take your bill to an authorized payment center like Publix Super Markets, Kroger, or Walmart to pay with cash or card. Fees may apply. Visit the CPWS website for retail locations.
Enroll in Autopay
Sign up through SmartHub to have payments automatically deducted from your bank account each month. This ensures your bill is always paid on time.
Payment Due Date and Late Fees
CPWS bills are due 20 days after the billing date. A late fee of 5% is charged for unpaid balances after the due date. Service may be disconnected if a bill is more than 60 days past due. Avoid late fees and disruptions by promptly paying your balance by the due date.
Payment Assistance Programs
If you’re struggling to pay your utility bill, CPWS offers programs that can help including:
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Budget Billing: Pay a consistent amount each month based on your average usage. This makes payments predictable.
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Payment Arrangements: Set up a customized payment plan to pay your outstanding balance over time.
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Aid to Distressed Families of Maury County (ADFM): Provides bill payment assistance to qualifying limited income households.
Contact CPWS to discuss bill help and payment assistance options if you are facing financial hardship. Disconnections can be avoided with an approved payment arrangement.
Manage Your CPWS Account Online
The SmartHub web portal and mobile app allow customers to easily monitor usage, view bills, make payments, and manage account details. Register your account on the CPWS website for anytime access. Key features include:
- Pay bills online with bank account or card
- Review monthly usage and billing history
- Set up paperless billing and autopay
- Report outages or service issues
- Update account information and contacts
Using SmartHub makes managing your CPWS electric, water, and internet services more convenient. Opt into paperless billing to receive alerts when new PDF bills are ready to view and pay online.
Billing Disputes and High Usage Investigations
If you notice unusual charges on your CPWS bill, immediately contact customer service to dispute the bill and request an investigation. CPWS can check for issues like:
- Faulty meter readings
- Leaks causing spike in water usage
- Meter mix-ups with another customer
- Errors in meter programming or multipliers
CPWS will send a technician to thoroughly evaluate your meters and usage. You will receive a report on their findings. If billing errors are found, CPWS will adjust your charges and issue credits as appropriate.
Avoid Power Disconnection with Proper Payment
It can be frustrating and dangerous to have your electric or water service disconnected due to non-payment. To keep services active, pay your CPWS bill in full and on time each month. If you anticipate falling behind, call CPWS right away to set up a payment plan.
Disconnections can only happen after proper written notice is issued. Avoid additional fees and costly reconnection charges by making regular on-time payments. Keeping your account balance current also maintains a positive payment history with the utility.
Paying your monthly bill is a responsibility that comes with being a CPWS customer. Taking advantage of the numerous payment methods makes it quick and easy to pay your bill each month. Reach out to CPWS if you need assistance or have questions about charges on your monthly statement. Maintaining a positive relationship with your electric, water, and internet utility provider ensures uninterrupted service.
Our new customer portal, SmartHub, is almost ready!
Save time and money by managing your account anytime from anywhere
FAQs: How to Register for SmartHub
You can find your account number on a printed bill statement mailed to your residence or business.
You can also call us for assistance.
You may choose how you receive notifications from SmartHub (email or SMS) by updating your notifications preferences.
- Log in to your SmartHub account
- Click on “Notifications”
- Click Manage Contacts to add or change email address and phone numbers
- Enter verification code to activate
- Click on Manage Notifications to set up SMS and email alerts
You can save bank account and/or credit/debit card information for future one-time payments.
On the website:
- Click My Profile
- Click on Manage My Stored Payment Accounts and follow instruction
On the app:
- Select Settings
- Select Stored Payment Accounts and follow instructions
Auto Pay allows you to pay your monthly bill through an automated draft from your bank account or credit card at no extra charge. By enrolling in Auto Pay, you authorize us to withdraw funds from your selected account to pay your monthly bill on the due date.
How to sign up on the website:
- Click on Billing & Payments
- Click on Auto Pay Program
- Click on Sign Up for Auto Pay and follow instructions
How to sign up on the app:
- Select Bill & Pay
- Select Auto Pay Program and follow instructions
No. It is provided as an option for your convenience. If you do not sign up for paperless billing in SmartHub, you will continue to receive a monthly bill in your mail.
When we upgraded our systems, those who were previously enrolled in paperless billing were not able to be carried over, so while we understand it’s inconvenient, we do appreciate your understanding of having to enroll again.
You can choose to participate in paperless billing, which sends bill statements to the email address on your account. You will no longer receive a copy of your bill in the mail.
Here’s how to change your preference to participate in paperless billing:
On the website:
- Click on My Profile
- Click on Update My Paperless Settings.
- Choose your paperless preference
On the app:
- Select Settings
- Select Paperless Billing
- Choose your paperless preference
You can view your energy use on the website and app.
On the website:
- Click My Usage
- Select My Usage
- then select Usage Explorer
On the app:
- Select the Energy Use icon to view your energy use.
Should you set up auto-pay for your water bills or not?
How can I pay my utility bill in Columbia County?
To pay your utility bill in Columbia County, you can make online payments via PayGov. us for Ellisville and Mason City utility customers. Your statement should have the Columbia County, Gateway to Florida logo on the top left. If you are unsure, please contact your utility provider for more information about making online payments.
How do I pay for Columbia Water?
Columbia Water has several convenient ways to pay: Online by clicking here. Click here to create an account. The City of Columbia asked companies in January 2014 to submit bids on options for providing water and sewer service lines on the outside and plumbing coverage on the inside for our residents.
What does Columbia Public Utilities Board do?
The Public Utilities Board, which is sometimes called Columbia Power and Water Systems, is in charge of the city’s water systems, broadband networks, and power transmission systems.
