Pay as You Go. Stay in Control.
What if paying for electricity worked more like filling up your gas tank? With Pend Oreille PUD’s PrePay Billing Program, you pay ahead for electricity and use it as you go.
PrePay helps you manage your budget, track daily energy use, and avoid surprise bills. Participation is completely voluntary, and there are no extra program fees.
How PrePay Works
- Add money to your electric account before using electricity.
- Your balance is updated daily based on energy use, system availability charges, applicable service or device charges, and taxes.
- As long as your account has a credit balance, your service stays on.
- Get low-balance alerts so you can add funds and avoid service interruptions.
- PrePay customers do not receive monthly bills, late fees, or past-due notices.
- Enrollment in SmartHub is recommended and encouraged. You can do that easily by clicking here or downloading the app.
Who Can Join
- Customers with an advanced meter that supports remote connection.
Managing Your Account
- Keep a credit balance to maintain service.
- Make payments anytime: SmartHub app or online, Pay-by-phone, Payment kiosk at Box Canyon Dam Visitor’s Center, In person at the PUD office.
- $5 minimum for debit or credit card payments.
- Monitor usage and balances daily through SmartHub.
Important to Know
- Accounts are billed daily, not monthly.
- You will receive a low balance notification once your balance drops below $20 (if contact information is up-to-date).
- A negative account balance will result in immediate disconnection if payment is not made before 12:00pm (noon).
- Service is restored once a $20 credit is added.
- Disconnections can occur any day, including weekends, holidays, or during severe weather.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact Pend Oreille PUD Customer Service during regular business hours at 509-447-3137 or service@popud.org.
Want to learn more? Check out the following Frequently Asked Questions below:
The PUD’s PrePay Billing Program offers you the flexibility to pay when you want, how you want, and in the amount you want, before you use it. Instead of receiving a monthly bill, you pay for electricity in advance and your balance is updated daily based on how much power you use.
Some customers would prefer not to make one large payment each month. If you’re one of these customers, PrePay might be just the option you have been looking for. Statistics indicate those who use prepaid electric programs tend to reduce their electric consumption because they are more aware of how they are using their electricity.
You add money to your electric account before using electricity. Each day, the cost of your usage and daily charges are deducted from your balance. As long as your account has a credit balance, your service remains on.
No. PrePay customers pay the same electric rates as other customers in their rate class. There are no additional program fees. PrePay customers will not be required to provide a deposit and PrePay accounts are not subject to late fees or reconnect fees.
PrePay is available to customers who have an advanced meter that allows remote connection and disconnection. Not all meters are compatible.
No. PrePay customers do not receive monthly paper bills, late notices, or past-due notices. You can view your daily usage, balance, and payment history through SmartHub or by contacting the PUD.
PrePay accounts are billed daily, not monthly. Daily charges include:
· System Availability Charge
· Energy usage
· Any applicable service or device charges
· Any applicable state, county and city taxes
Payments can be made anytime using:
· SmartHub (app or online)
· Pay-by-Phone
· Payment kiosk at Box Canyon Dam
· In person at the PUD office
Payments can be made in any amount, but debit and credit card payments require a $5 minimum.
The PUD will attempt to notify you when your balance is getting low using the contact information you provide. It is your responsibility to monitor your account and add funds to avoid service interruption.
If your account does not have a credit balance, we will attempt to notify you using the contact information you provide. If a payment is not made, electric service will be disconnected at 12:00 p.m (noon).
Disconnections can occur any day, including weekends, holidays, or during severe weather.
If service is disconnected for nonpayment, any negative charges must be paid, plus at least $20 toward future electric usage. Once payment is made, power is restored automatically in approximately 5 minutes.
If an automatic reconnect does not incur within one hour from the time payment was made, please contact the PUD office during normal business hours (Monday – Thursday, 7:00am-5:30pm).
Yes. The daily System Availability Charge continues to accrue even if service is disconnected.
There is no security deposit required to start PrePay. PrePay accounts do not have late fees unless a negative balance is not resolved within 14 days.
No. PrePay customers are not eligible for Budget Billing, Auto Pay, or payment arrangements.
Yes. The PUD accepts energy assistance pledges and payments for PrePay accounts. Payments must be received by the agreed upon date to prevent disconnection. Assistance payments are generally applied to past-due balances first, if applicable.
Any existing deposit or credit will be applied to your account when you switch. If there is an outstanding balance, the PUD may review the account for a prepaid arrangement.
Yes. After at least six consecutive months on PrePay, you may request to return to post-paid billing. A deposit and other requirements may apply.
If a PrePay account remains disconnected for 14 days without adding enough funds to restore a credit balance, the account may be terminated, and a final bill will be mailed. Reapplying for service may require fees and may affect PrePay eligibility.
If a meter does not transmit daily readings, usage may be estimated based on recent consumption. If communication issues continue, the account may be moved back to standard billing until the issue is resolved.
Yes. The PUD may remove an account from PrePay if participation is no longer in the best interest of the customer or the utility.
Contact Pend Oreille PUD Customer Service during regular business hours at 509-447-3137 to sign up!