The Tempe City Council voted Thursday to allow Tempe customers to pay their water bills at SRP pay centers.
Cal Nelson, deputy manager for the Water Utilities Department, said the partnership between the City of Tempe and SRP will make it more convenient for utility customers to pay bills in cash.
“Payments at the pay centers can be made by cash, making it easier for people who do not have bank accounts to pay their bills,” she said.
The pay centers, which are located at grocery and convenience stores in 24 locations around the Valley, will be more cost effective for the city than processing payments in SRP offices or drop boxes.
Councilman Ben Arredondo said the pay centers would give customers the freedom to make payments at different grocery stores at machines that provide a bilingual menu.
The cost of processing a payment made through a drop box is $3.41. The cost of processing a payment made at an SRP pay center is nearly two dollars less, costing $1.67.
The program, which will cost the city $65,000 to implement, will also give customers the opportunity to make payments 24 hours a day at some locations.
Reach Dana Brody at dana5286@aol.com.
