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City approves Invoice Cloud to replace online utility payment system; staff expects lower fees and expanded self-service
Summary
The commission approved a contract with Invoice Cloud to replace the city's online payment vendor for utility billing; staff says the move eliminates the existing $1.25 online convenience fee and implements a flat ~3% payment processing arrangement while adding autopay and paperless features.
The Rio Grande City commission approved a contract with Invoice Cloud to provide the city's online utility-payment platform.
City staff and a company representative said the current vendor required customers to enter their last payment amount and account number, and that the city had been charging a $1.25 convenience fee on online utility payments. Invoice Cloud representatives, including Matt Schall, presented the product's features and said the company charges a flat processing fee (presented as 3% in the demonstration) rather than varying card-rate percentages; staff said implementing Invoice Cloud would allow the city to eliminate the $1.25 transaction charge to customers.
City staff and the vendor highlighted additional features: easier sign-in (service address or account number), text-based payment links for customer service representatives to send to callers, autopay enrollment, paperless billing, and support for e-wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo). The vendor projected increased paperless adoption (presented as ~25% in year one) and an estimated postage/print savings the vendor quantified during the meeting as approximately $9,400 in year one, as well as reductions in billing-related customer service calls.
Commissioners asked about comparative rates and existing municipal clients; the Invoice Cloud representative said the company serves thousands of utilities and identified nearby customers in Texas including Brownsville and others.
A motion to authorize the finance director and public utilities director to contract with Invoice Cloud passed by voice vote.
