TMLP Commission awards credit-card processing contract to Paymentus under fixed-fee option
Loading...
Summary
The TMLP Commission awarded RFP 25-04 to Paymentus, choosing a fixed-price structure (no per-transaction processing fees) with an option to switch to variable pricing after five years; staff estimated a five-year cost of approximately $1,650,000.
The Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant Commission on Sept. 16 voted to award RFP 25-04 for credit-card processing services to Paymentus, accepting staff’s recommendation to adopt a fixed-price structure with an option to switch to a variable model after five years.
TMLP staff reported Paymentus was the only vendor to respond to the solicitation. Staff presented two pricing options: a variable option that mirrored the utility’s current structure and a fixed option that removes per-transaction processing fees but applies a non‑qualified percentage (2.95% in staff’s presentation). Using historic monthly transaction volumes (12,976 transactions), staff said the fixed option produced a net evaluated monthly cost of $21,150.61 and a per-transaction cost of $1.63; staff estimated a five‑year cost of $1,650,000 for the fixed approach.
A commissioner moved to accept “customer care’s recommendation and award RFP 25-04 to Paymentus using the fixed pricing structure with the option to switch to a variable [structure] after five years,” and the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Commissioners asked whether online-pay fees would be paid by customers or absorbed by TMLP. Staff said customers do not see a separate surcharge at checkout; the cost is incorporated into overall rates, and customers who pay by bank account may not see transaction fees in the same way.
The commission approved the award by unanimous voice vote. Next steps were not spelled out in the meeting record.
