ePay questions
Frequently asked by customers
Does
Otter Tail Power Company charge a fee for ePay?
No. This is a free service to all Otter Tail Power Company customers.
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When
will my bank account be charged?
For pay by Internet or pay by telephone methods, you may
choose the date your account is charged by using the date-selection feature.
If you select no date, your account will be charged on the date the payment
is entered. For the automatic debit payment method, your account
will be charged five business days before your bill is due.
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When
will my electronic service statement be available to view and pay?
Your electronic service statement will be available one business day after
Otter Tail Power Company prepares it. Normally, this will be at the same
time that you ordinarily have received your paper statement.
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When
will my direct payment be posted to my Otter Tail Power Company account?
We will apply the payment to your electric service account within two
business days after your bank account has been charged.
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May
I use the ePay service anytime, day or night?
The electronic billing and payment options are available 24 hours a day.
Our company will not generate statements or process payments on Saturdays,
Sundays, or holidays when Otter Tail Power Company offices are closed.
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What
happens if my bank says the funds are not available?
If funds are not available after two attempts, we will notify you by email
and ask you to pay by some other method. We must receive payment by the
due date to avoid additional charges and past-due notices. We may charge
a fee to your account if insufficient funds or a closed account caused
the return. Frequent bad payments through ePay can result in cancellation
of your ePay service.
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What happens when my account has a credit balance?
Credit balances will carry forward to your next service statement. In fact, you may prepay your account for one month’s service. Your electronic service statement, which will be available to you online, will reflect your current balance. Payments will not be processed for less than $5.00, nor will accounts with less than a $5.00 balance
be charged a late fee.
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I read my own meter each month. Will I continue to do that?
If you have been reading your own meter each month you will continue to do so. You can submit your meter reading using an online service form.
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Will
I be notified when my electronic service statement is ready?
Yes. You will receive an email message to let you know that your statement
is ready.
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Why
will my paper statement be discontinued?
Otter Tail Power Company's ePay service provides those enrolled with an
electronic record of their statements. Up to six electric service statements
will be available online for your account, and you may print them off
as needed. Otter Tail Power Company discontinues sending paper statements
to those enrolled in ePay as a cost-saving measure. This is one way we
can provide new services while making every effort to keep our electric
rates low for all customers. Bill inserts and newsletters, that would have been included with your paper statement are available on this web site.
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What
if I don't want my bank account charged this month?
You have the option of overriding a pending payment or monthly automatic payment by logging in to our web site or by calling 800-729-7427. You must do this at least one business day prior to the scheduled payment date.
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I
prefer to decide when my account will be charged. Is that possible with
ePay?
Yes. You can initiate payments rather than use the automatic debit option.
This service is available through the ePay section of this web site or
by telephone at 800-729-7427.
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What
should I do if I change bank accounts?
Log into the ePay section of this web site and update your funding account
information.
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May
I pay someone else's accounts using ePay?
Yes, with the account owner's permission. You must register that account with your web registration and establish a funding source.
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Can
I enroll more than one Otter Tail Power Company account?
Yes, you can have as many accounts enrolled and grouped together as you
wish to pay. Home, cabin, and business accounts all can be managed through
ePay. And you have the option of linking each account to a different funding
source. For example, your business bills can be handled separately from
your home account.
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What
happens if I lose access to my computer?
If your loss is short-term, you may use the telephone service at 800-729-7427 to check your account balance and to initiate payments. (You will need to use the PIN you chose when you enrolled.) If your computer loss is long-term, and the telephone service doesn’t meet your needs, you may call 800-729-7427 to cancel your ePay enrollment.
We will send you a paper statement, and you may pay it through one of our other payment methods.
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