Utility customers in Black River Falls will soon have the option to view and pay their bills without involving a single piece of paper.

The city utility commission voted at its regular meeting Sept. 29 to approve the development of a utility website, which will expand bill pay options for customers.

“What we are really wanting to gain is online bill presentation and payment,” said Trena Larson, an accounting employee with the utility.

Larson said the utility regularly receives comments about expanding their bills pay services to include online payment by credit card, so the utility is partnering with Wisconsin Public Power Inc. to create the new website.

The utility will choose a template offered by WPPI for the website. Not only will it include places to view and pay a bill online via credit card or telephone, but it will have links to resources and a place where customers can seek answers to frequently asked questions about the utility.

The first-year commitment to the website will cost the utility $3,915 paid to WPPI. The cost will be $1,515 each year after.

“This will help to stay current with other municipal utilities,” Larson said. “It’s no longer a trendy thing but more a norm for utility.”