Richmond, Va. — The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is continuing efforts to improve billing and payment processes to enhance the customer experience. As part of these improvements, DPU is transitioning to a 25-day payment due date cycle.   

Under the new payment due date cycle, customer payments will be due 25 days after the bill date, rather than a 30-day timeframe. Customers will still be billed monthly, with the typical billing frequency (averaging 30 days) remaining unchanged. 

DPU benchmarked with electric, telecommunication and other utilities and the updated payment cycle aligns with industry practices. This change creates a more effective window for payments to be received and processed by financial institutions before the next bill is generated. It will also help reduce instances in which a new bill is issued while a payment on the previous bill is still being processed, providing customers with clearer and more current account information.

I’m thankful for the continued march along the path of improvement in utility service delivery,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II. “This change is a key step in making the customer experience reliable, responsive, and easy to navigate with the needs of Richmonders top of mind.”

“We have the opportunity to take a fresh look at how our billing and payment processes work from beginning to end as we focus on the needs of our customers,” said DPU  Director Scott Morris. “Moving to a 25-day payment cycle will provide a clearer window for payments to be processed and applied before the next bill is generated. It is one of the ways we are continuing to refine our processes and provide customers with more accurate, timely account information.”

Customers who use automatic payments or other scheduled payment methods are encouraged to review their payment settings and upcoming bill due dates to ensure funds are available. Customers who make payments through their financial institution should also allow sufficient time for their payment to be transmitted to and received by DPU.

Payment due dates will transition to a 25‑day cycle over multiple billing periods. In October the payment window will shift to 27 days for November due dates. The final transition to the 25‑day payment timeframe will occur in November for December due dates. This phased approach will allow customers time to gradually adjust. Customers will see their specific payment due date on their DPU bill.

For additional information about DPU billing and payment options, visit www.rva.gov/public-utilities/billing