Getting an electric bill online is faster, more secure, and provides access to additional information. It also reduces the risk of identity fraud and power shut-offs. Going paperless benefits the environment and may provide incentives from utility companies.
There are many benefits to getting an electric bill online. Not only does it get to the consumer faster than any other method, it also eliminates the need to rely on various postal services to deliver it. In terms of security, this is also a significant step because an online server is normally much more secure than a sealed envelope. Additionally, displaying an e-bill online on a website gives the consumer access to a wealth of additional information such as past uses and ways to reduce energy consumption. Receiving an electronic invoice online is also a responsible choice as it reduces the company’s need for paper product services.
One of the primary methods of identity fraud is for a criminal to confiscate his victim’s inbox. Grabbing the family’s utility bill, he has all the information he needs to contact the electric company and pretend to own the house. This would give them access to personal information that could be used to falsely acquire credit, and this type of fraud occurs almost every day. If a consumer chooses to have their statements in the form of an electric bill online, this type of fraud is much more difficult as the utility company’s servers are much more secure.
Additionally, consumers have their power shut off all the time simply because their bill got lost or delayed in the mail. With an online electricity bill, the consumer has it available on his computer just seconds after the billing office submits it. Even if the incoming email is unintentionally deleted, the records remain on the utility company’s servers so that they can be accessed at any time. An online electricity bill also benefits consumers who travel frequently because the bill can be accessed from any computer system in the world.
Most utility companies also reward consumers for choosing to go paperless by providing numerous additional tools and incentives on their website. For example, in many areas an online electronic bill will show how the consumer’s energy was actually used, how it compared to last month’s bill, and how to save energy at home. Some utility websites also display comparisons of other properties within the user’s area so customers can compare their overall efficiency to the homes and businesses around them.
Another important aspect of receiving an electric bill online is to reduce the need for paper products. An estimated four billion trees are cut down each year to be used for various types of paper, which has numerous effects on greenhouse gases, global warming and damage to the ozone layer. Even those who don’t care about the environment ultimately benefit from an online e-bill because those extra costs are eventually passed on to each consumer. Most consumers would probably agree that saving money and the environment at the same time is a very easy decision to make.
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