Following are the answers to some questions that are asked quite often. If they
don't hit on what you need to know, or if you'd like further information,
contact us.
How do I stop an automatic payment or cancel my participation
in the plan?
Simply log on to
My Account
and select "Automatic Payment Plan" from the Account Transactions menu. The stop
payment must be received at least five business days before the due date of your
bill.
When does the money have to be in my bank account for an automatic
payment?
Your bank account must hold the full amount of your bill, in available funds,
on the due date of your bill. If there are insufficient funds in your bank account
on the payment date, your bank will return the automatic payment. Both your bank
and Peoples Gas might penalize you.
How does the Budget Payment Plan project my monthly payments?
The Budget Payment Plan divides your gas bill payment across 12 months, basing
your monthly payment on projected gas costs and how much gas you've used in the
past. Your actual payment is customized just for you to make your payments more
predictable year-round.
Why does my monthly bill sometimes fluctuate when I'm enrolled in this plan?
The Budget Payment Plan reduces the big swings in your bill that you see from
summer to winter, but they do change based on a couple of factors. We review your
bill each month and adjust the payment amount if there is a significant change in
the weather, your gas usage or projected gas prices. Your payment will increase
if these factors affect your installment payment by 25% or more.
Does this mean my monthly installment payments could decrease?
Yes. We review your account two times a year, once after six months and the
second time at the end of 12 months. You benefit because the credit or debit
balances that remain at the end of your budget year are minimized. In addition,
you receive interest on credit balances at a rate determined each year by the
Illinois Commerce Commission.
How quickly can I sign up for the Budget Payment Plan?
Immediately. There are three ways to enroll. The first and easiest way is to
pay the amount listed in the "Message" section of your
Peoples Gas bill. The second way is to
enroll online through My Account.
Finally, Peoples Gas customers can call
866-556-6001 toll-free.
Once you have enrolled in our E-bill service, you will be able to activate all of
your accounts for E-bill. Please note that our E-bill service is only available for
residential customer accounts at this time.
If an account is in my spouse's name, can I still sign up for online
bill payment service?
Yes. However, you will need to enroll using the name that is listed on your
monthly paper bill. Also, please make sure to use the correct
Peoples Gas account number as it appears on
your spouse's monthly paper bill.
How secure is my bill payment and personal information?
We ensure that your information is secure by the following:
User Name and Password: Your user name and password are unique identifiers
that only you know. If you don't share your user name and password with anyone,
then no one else can sign on pretending to be you.
SSL (secure sockets layer): We use SSL to ensure that your connection and
information is secure from outside inspection.
Encryption: We use 128-bit encryption to make your information unreadable
as it passes over the Internet.
Automatic Sign Out: We automatically sign you out of a session if you are
inactive for more than 10 minutes. We recommend you sign out of My Account
immediately after you have finished using our self-service applications.
Once your request for E-bills has been accepted, we will send you an email
confirming that your E-bill service has been activated. Depending on your billing
cycle, it may take a month or so before you begin receiving your
Peoples Gas bill electronically.
BillMatrix and FirsTech use the highest-level of security in the industry. Your
account data is stored in a secure database that cannot be accessed by
phone — even by you!
Can I use the same credit card to pay multiple accounts?
For security reasons, you can only pay one account per credit card for phone
payments. You can use one credit card for multiple accounts when paying online.
