The Complete Guide to Paying Your St John Utilities Bill Online

Paying your utilities bill is an essential part of adulting. While writing a check and popping it in the mail is certainly an option paying your St John utilities bill online is often more convenient. In this complete guide we’ll walk through everything you need to know about paying your St John utilities bill online.

What Utilities Can You Pay Online in St John Parish?

Most major utilities in St John Parish offer an online payment option. Here are the most common utilities you can pay online:

• Water The St John the Baptist Parish Utilities Department handles water service for the parish You can pay your water bill through their online payment portal

• Sewer: Sewer service is also handled by the St John Parish Utilities Department. Sewer charges will show up on your water bill.

• Electricity: Entergy is St. John Parish’s main electricity provider. They allow online payments through their website or mobile app.

• Gas: Atmos Energy is the natural gas provider for the area. They also have an online payment system for customers.

• Garbage collection: In St John Parish, garbage collection is handled by the parish Public Works department. Garbage fees can be paid through the online payment portal.

• Internet/Cable: Major providers like Comcast and AT&T allow online bill pay. Some smaller local providers like Reserve Telecommunications also offer online payments.

How to Pay Your St John Utilities Bill Online

Paying online is a pretty straightforward process with most providers. Here’s an overview of how it works:

1. Go to the provider’s website. For water/sewer, visit the St John Parish utilities department website. For things like electricity, gas, internet, etc., go to the website of the utility company.

2. Find the bill pay option. Look for links or buttons for online bill payment, account management, pay my bill, etc. This will take you to the payment portal.

3. Log into your account. You’ll need to log in with your account number and any required security info. If it’s your first time, you may need to register your account.

4. Select a payment method. Choose whether to pay with a credit/debit card, from your bank account, or other options. Enter the required info.

5. Enter payment details. Select the amount to pay or choose options like “pay full balance.” Review payment info before submitting.

6. Get a confirmation. You should get an on-screen, email, or text confirmation that your payment was received. Payment may take 1-2 business days to process.

You can get help from your service provider if you need it while setting up and managing online bill pay. Most portals are easy to use.

Tips for Paying Your St John Utilities Bill Online

Follow these tips and best practices when paying your utilities bills online:

• Set up autopay – Most providers allow you to set up recurring automatic payments from a card or bank account. This ensures your bill gets paid on time every month.

• Check for fees – Some providers charge payment processing fees for debit/credit card payments. Using a bank account transfer is usually free.

• Pay early – Don’t wait until the due date, especially for the first online payment. Allow 3-5 business days for processing to avoid late fees.

• Review statements – Log in periodically to review your account activity and check for any erroneous or fraudulent charges.

• Update payment info – If your credit card expires or you close an account, be sure to update your payment information so autopay isn’t interrupted.

• Keep records – Save confirmation emails and payment receipts in case you need to reference them later.

Avoid Late Fees with Reminders and Alerts

One of the advantages of paying bills online is that you can set up customized notifications to help avoid forgetting a payment. Here are some reminder options to consider:

• Email reminders – Most utility providers let you opt into email reminders before a bill is due.

• Text alerts – Get text notification when your bill is ready and nearing the due date.

• App notifications – If you pay through a provider’s app, it may send reminders about upcoming payments.

• Calendar reminders – Manually add your due dates to your calendar or app with a reminder alert.

• Account alerts – Set notification thresholds to be alerted of unusually high usage or charges.

Automated reminders are an easy way to stay on top of bills and avoid unnecessary late fees. But you can also manually add your own calendar or app notifications as a backup option.

Avoid Service Disruption with Account Management

In addition to paying on time, maintaining your online utility account helps avoid unwanted service disruptions:

• Update contact info – Keep your phone, email, and mailing address up to date on your account.

• Check usage – Log in regularly to monitor usage activity and charges. Make note of any unusual spikes.

• Report issues – Notify your provider right away about any service problems, damages, or billing errors.

• Ask about help – If you’re struggling to pay, ask about budget billing, payment plans, or financial assistance programs.

• Plan ahead – When moving, make sure to set up or transfer service in advance at your new address.

Actively managing your online account helps nip potential problems in the bud. Be proactive in addressing issues to keep service running smoothly.

Get Support for Your Online Utility Account

While online utility account management is designed to be user-friendly, it’s okay to ask for help when you need it:

• Tutorials – Many utility websites offer video tutorials on how to use their online portals.

• FAQs – There are usually extensive frequently asked question pages that address common issues.

• Chat support – Look for a chat box on their website to get real-time assistance.

• Email/call – Most provide customer service email and phone numbers to answer questions.

• In person – You can often get help in person at local offices and payment centers.

Don’t get frustrated if you struggle to use their online systems at first. Customer support is there to guide you through any questions or problems!

Switching to Paperless Billing

For maximum convenience, consider switching your utility accounts to paperless billing when paying online:

• Reduce clutter – Eliminate the paper statements cluttering your mailbox every month.

• No risk of theft – Paper bills being stolen from your mailbox is surprisingly common.

• Eco-friendly – Going paperless reduces waste and is better for the environment.

• Faster viewing – Get access to your bill the moment it’s issued rather than waiting for mail.

• Added security – Paperless may come with extra account security protections.

• Simplify filing -Paperless bills are easy to download and keep in digital financial files.

In most cases, you can make the paperless switch while managing your online account. Just look for the “go paperless” options.

Budgeting and Payment Planning

When money is tight, strategically budgeting and scheduling online bill payments helps you avoid missed payments and surprises:

• Know due dates – Mark all utility payment due dates on your calendar to coordinate timing.

• Stick to a routine – Pay bills on consistent schedule like weekly or monthly.

• Divide annual costs – Breakdown annual bills into affordable monthly budget amounts.

• Allow wiggle room – Leave a small buffer in your budget in case of unexpected costs.

• Look for help – Ask providers about budget plans or financial assistance programs.

• Communicate issues – If you’ll be late or short on a payment, get ahead of it by contacting them.

With some organization and planning, online bill pay can simplify managing utility payments even on a tight budget.

Paying your utilities online is all about convenience, control, and organization. Follow this guide to get the hang of it quickly and ease the stress of monthly bills. Soon, you’ll see why most people consider online payment the best way to manage their St John utilities costs. Give it a try today!