A growing trend in public utility companies is providing households with growing number of ways t pay their monthly bills. In addition to offering on-line payments, as well as in personal bill options, many energy companies are integrating Budget Payment solutions which extends payments over a pro-rated period. As a result, households will not see the rapid fluctuation of energy costs during the warm and cold months; instead, households have multiple options for ensuring they can stay ahead of the curve.
For households on tight budgets who need automated payments, Puget Sound offer a Automatic Funds Transfers which deduct directly from your checking account each month. This option ensures that your bill will automatically be paid on time each month, so you don’t have to worry about making arrangements for payment. As a result, there is less risk for delinquency and shut off; households can monitor their bills while utilizing automated payments to keep ahead of the curve.
A popular program recently introduced is the Budget Payment Plan, which gives households a pro-rated payment structure to protect against wide variation in costs. Since energy costs vary widely from season to season, households may incurs higher energy costs in the summer and winter months. By dividing energy costs into twelve equal payments throughout the year, households can spread the cost of payment of the entire year. As a result, households will find that affording heating bills in the winter months is much more feasible, reflecting the extended time period in which households have to pay for their peak seasonal use.
While households may find its difficult to predict the heating costs of the winter months, given variations in raw supplies and household energy use, a Budget Billing Program can help give a structure of stability in light of rapid fluctuations in energy prices and utilization during the summer and winter months. Many utilities now offer these budget billing programs, and enrollment is voluntary: in order to take advantage of budget billing, you should contact your local utility to inquiry into your options.
