January 25, 2021
Starkville Utilities will soon offer prepaid account plans — a new service that gives residential customers the flexibility to choose the amount and frequency of their utility payments.
Instead of receiving bills for utilities already used, prepaid customers will be able to make payments that better suit their budgets and track their utility usage and prepaid balances online.
The option allows for smaller, more frequent payments based on daily water and electricity consumption. By learning real-time usage data, customers also may choose to adjust their utility usage to save money.
“With prepaid service, our customers will have more peace of mind knowing their exact account balances at any given time,” said Terry Kemp, Starkville Utilities general manager. “It will give them more control over their utility usage and prepayment balances so they can keep their accounts in good standing.”
Customers who sign up for prepaid service will receive texts or emails tracking their water and electricity usage, associated charges, and remaining balances. They also will receive low-balance alerts to help them avoid service disruptions.
Starkville Utilities plans to launch the new service in February and no fees or deposits are required. Customers will be able to make payments on their prepaid accounts at Starkville Utilities’ office at 200 N. Lafayette Street, online, or on the app. All payments will be accepted, including cash, check, credit and debit cards, money orders and echecks.
Offering prepaid plans and other billing and payment options is part of the Renew Principle, a new initiative that seeks to improve customer service through better communications, more personalized services and new technologies that make it easier and more convenient to do business with Starkville Utilities.
“We’re excited about adding prepaid accounts to our menu of services,” Kemp said. “We plan to continue expanding our account options and giving our customers more control over how they manage their utilities.”
In addition to prepaid plans, customers can sign up for paperless billing, automated payments; pay bills electronically by phone, bank draft or e-check; and pay in person at Starkville Utilities’ office, drive-through, kiosk or dropbox.
Starkville Utilities is a public utility serving 14,000 residences, businesses and industries in Starkville, Mississippi as well as Mississippi State University. Its mission is to supply safe, reliable, and cost-effective electric and water service of superior quality and value that improves the lives of its customers.