Paying Your Eversource Bill with a Credit Card: A How-To Guide

Paying your monthly utility bills can feel like a chore. Writing and mailing a check or logging in repeatedly to make payments can be time-consuming. Many people prefer the ease and flexibility of paying bills with a credit card. But is that an option for paying your Eversource electricity bill each month?

Eversource is one of the largest energy providers in New England, serving over 4 million electric, natural gas, and water customers across Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. With such a broad customer base, Eversource offers several ways to pay your utility bill. However, they do not directly accept credit card payments.

This guide will explain:

• Eversource’s accepted payment methods
• Why Eversource doesn’t take credit cards directly
• Third party services that accept credit cards for Eversource payments
• Tips for paying your Eversource bill on time

Overview of Eversource Payment Options

Eversource lets customers pay their bills in a number of ways, including online, over the phone, through mobile apps, and in person.

Online Payments

• AutoPay – Set up automatic monthly payments from your bank account
• One-time bank payments – Log in to pay from your checking or savings account
• Online Account Center – Review billing history and make payments

In-Person Payments

• Authorized walk-in payment locations – Places like Western Union where you can pay in cash
• By phone – Call Eversource’s automated payment system

Offline Payments

• By mail – Send a physical check or money order with your bill stub
• Budget billing – Pay a fixed monthly amount estimated from your usage

However, Eversource does not provide an option to pay your residential utility bill directly with a credit or debit card, either online or in person. Any card logos you see on their website refer to integrated third party services, which we’ll discuss next.

Why Eversource Doesn’t Take Credit Card Payments

Given how commonly credit cards are used for online bill payments, you may be wondering why a large utility provider like Eversource doesn’t allow them. There are a few key reasons why Eversource only accepts bank transfers, checks, cash, and authorized third party services:

• High processing fees – Credit card companies charge a transaction fee that would increase Eversource’s costs
• Fraud risks – Utilities carefully limit payment risks to avoid identity theft and fraudulent charges
• Fee recouping issues – If a credit card payment is reversed, Eversource often can’t recover the reversal fees
• Preferential rates – Laws prohibit utilities from charging credit card customers more to account for fees

By restricting payment types, Eversource reduces processing costs and risks that would otherwise get passed on to all customers through higher rates.

Paying Eversource Bills Through Third Party Services

Although you can’t pay your Eversource bill directly with a credit or debit card, there are authorized third party payment services that will accept card payments. These services act as a go-between – you provide your card details to them along with payment info, and then they facilitate the payment to Eversource on your behalf.

Some popular third party payment services include

• Plastiq – Allows you to use any credit card, then sends the payment to Eversource. Charges a 2.5% processing fee.
• DoXo – Links your Eversource account for one-time or auto payments by card. $1.99 per transaction fee.
• Paymentus – Eversource’s exclusive partner for credit card payments. Charges $2.95 per transaction.

There is a processing fee that these services add to your card payment. After that, they send a bank transfer or check to Eversource. This means that the fees can be paid separately, which keeps Eversource’s costs low.

So, if you want to get credit card rewards for paying your bills, you should pay your Eversource bill through a third party processor. Just account for their service fees in your budget.

Tips for Paying Your Eversource Bill on Time

As a customer of Eversource, I depend on their online self-service tools to make payments quickly and easily. To help you pay your bill every month, here are my best suggestions:

• Go paperless so your bill comes straight to your email inbox
• Sign up for AutoPay to set and forget monthly payments
• Pay a few days early in case processing is delayed
• Monitor your usage to spot spikes – adjust your budget billing amount if needed
• Update your payment method right away if your card details change
• Use payment plans if you are ever struggling to pay on time
• Don’t get hit with late fees! Pick a reliable payment method and stick with it

Can You Really Pay an Eversource Bill with a Credit Card?

While Eversource does not directly accept credit card payments, their authorized third party payment services do accept credit and debit cards. Companies like Plastiq and DoXo act as a bridge – take your card payment, charge their processing fee, then pay the full bill amount to Eversource on your behalf.

These services allow credit card users to still benefit from rewards programs and flexible payment options when paying their utility bills each month. Just account for the small transaction fee and pick a reliable service.

The bottom line is that paying your Eversource electricity, gas, or water bill with a credit card is possible with the right payment processor. Choose a service like Paymentus, connect your Eversource account, and set up one-time or recurring credit card payments. Enjoy those rewards points while ensuring your utility service continues uninterrupted!