Online bill pay coming soon for WM utility customers

Online bill pay coming soon for WM utility customers

Service will offer convenient way to pay for residents

news@theeveningtimes.com

Online bill paying is coming to the West Memphis Utilities. Assistant Utilities Manager Todd Pedersen unveiled the first phase of the project providing a sneak peak to Utilities Commissioners during the April meeting. Basic, simple and secure were the buzz words describing the work so far. Pedersen expects to make the online payment option available to customers by the end of the year.

“This will give you the ability to pay your bills online. I wanted to give you an update of the website, and how it is going to work. It’s phase one of this project.”

Pedersen said if there is a pending disconnection would be the one condition that would prevent an online payment. “If you have been cut-off for non-pay you will not be able to go through this service because there are added fees.”

Charles Terrell of E-solutions the Utilities IT consultant demonstrated the online bill pay feature.

While the page is still under construction a power point preview proceeded.

“We’ve worked on this for a while, a custom bill pay solution for all the customers here in West Memphis,” said Terrell. “We had to get the data out and put it online in the current format. We are working on the last part now.”

The opening page had photos and information on West Memphis.

The pay your bill page requires a couple of entries to verify you are paying your own bill, an option to pay the total due or just amount over due, and a secure payment confirmation code.

“It will ask you for two requirements,” said Terrell, “it will ask you for your account number and what is your street number. If those two items match we are going to let you pay your bill.”

“It has a spot for your email, if you fill that in it sends you a notice that you made payment,” said Pedersen.

The site is payment card industry (PCI) compliant.

One last piece remains in the works before the online service is turned over to the Utilities for use.

All the bills will auto-post at the end of the day, that’s the piece we are still developing,” said Terrell. “We should have this online very soon.”

All the other bill payment options customers are accustomed to remain available.

By John Rech