Carpentersville to launch new utility-billing portal Sept. 1 with autopay options

Village staff gave trustees a preview and short video of a new online utility-billing portal that officials said will launch for water billing on Sept. 1.

Assistant Manager and Finance Director Mason, who introduced the preview, said the portal will let residents "pay their water bills and set up an account to be able to see their past history, make payments, set up for autopay, and other features." The portal will integrate directly with the villages internal permitting and billing database so payments and account updates post in real time, staff said.

A demonstration video showed the portal's user flow for quick pay, account sign-up and an account home screen with recent transactions, a consumption graph for the last 12 months, and the ability to add multiple accounts. Mason said the new platform is being introduced for water billing this year and staff expects to expand it next year to accept payments for parking tickets, licensing renewals and special-event registration.

During questions, trustees asked when autopay would withdraw funds and about transaction fees. Staff said the existing village autopay that draws directly from bank accounts on the 21st will remain unchanged and fee-free; the new portal will allow users to select the debit date. Staff said credit-card transactions will carry a transaction fee (about 3% as discussed in the meeting) and an electronic check has a $1 fee. Staff also said existing autopay customers will be migrated into the new portal so users do not need to re-enroll manually.

The portal rollout will be accompanied by communications including social media, a fall newsletter, and inserts in water bills in upcoming cycles.