City Of Tulsa Plans Paperless Billing Option

The City of Tulsa plans to start an electronic utility billing program that could eliminate some of the cost spent mailing out utility bills. While City utility bills can already be paid electronically, the city does not offer an electronic billing option.

The City mails out monthly statements at a cost of $61,515 per month.

The bills are for water, sewer, stormwater, trash, recycling and emergency medical service. The city often includes inserts about other city services with the bills.

City Spokesperson Michele Allen said the City mails an average of 136,700 bills per month, at a cost of about $.45 cents each including postage. A private contractor handles the work for the City.

Allen said the City is working on a new proposal for printing and mailing, as well as electronic billing for the first time. Most other utility companies already offer the paperless billing option - and either email out statements or direct them to a website to view the information.