At BELD, we pride ourselves on our customer service, so we answer many
customer questions every day. Below is a collection of the electric questions we're
asked most often.
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Do I need to type in all the zeros in my account number to log in to the Electric Billing section of eBill? |
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No. You simply need to enter the last five digits following the zeros, as well as the two-digit Occupant Code after the dash. For example, for account number 00001234-01, you only need to type 1234-01.
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I am going away for the winter—how do change my mailing address? |
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Contact BELD to change your mailing address for the winter months. Upon your return, contact us again to have your mailing address changed back to your Braintree location.
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I keep getting an error message when I type my account and phone numbers into the Electric Billing page. I know I'm using the correct information, so why is this happening? |
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The account and phone numbers you are entering do not match the numbers in our records. Please contact us to verify your information.
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I made an online payment on my account today, so why does your Web site still shows that I have a balance? |
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Account information is updated overnight, so your payment won't be reflected on our online system until the following day.
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I'll be staying in Florida for the winter and I'd like to pre-pay my Braintree electric bill online now. So why won't the system accept my $300 payment? |
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The maximum amount BELD can accept for an online payment is $150 above your account balance. So, for example, if your account balance is $47.13 you can pay up to $197.13 via our online system. If you wish to pay more than that amount, please call us with a credit card number, mail us a check, or stop by our offices to pay in cash.
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I'm looking for a unique but practical gift. Any ideas? |
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Yes—consider giving a BELD gift certificate! You can purchase certificates in any denomination, and they can be used toward paying any electric or broadband bill. Contact us for more information.
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My broadband bill has an outstanding balance of $4.35 that I'm trying to pay online. Why won't the system accept my payment? |
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The minimum amount BELD can accept for an online payment is $5.00. If you wish to pay less than that amount, please call us with a credit card number, mail us a check, or stop by our offices to pay in cash.
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What is reflected in the “Cost of Electricity” on my bill? |
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The kilowatt-hour charge on your bill reflects three distinct services: energy (generation), transmission and the distribution of electric power. Along with a small monthly charge, which is not related to your usage, these factors are listed on your bill under “Cost of electricity.” Here’s what they mean:
Energy
Energy is the electric current produced at power plants. Power plants use different fuels such as oil, gas, water or nuclear fission to turn turbines that produce electricity. To secure a mix of low cost, reliable power, BELD contracts with more than a half-dozen providers in New England and New York for the electricity used in your home or business.
Transmission
The cost to move bulk electricity from power plants to local substations makes up the transmission portion of the kilowatt-hour rate. Electricity on transmission lines can travel at 345,000 volts, although homes use electricity at 120/240 volts. In New England, power plants and utilities share common transmission lines, and the lines’ owners charge utilities for moving the purchased electricity from the power plant to local destinations.
Distribution
The local delivery of electricity is called distribution. High-voltage current leaves the transmission lines at a substation—BELD has six—where transformers reduce it to a medium voltage. Electricity then travels through distribution lines on poles or underground to neighborhoods. Here it passes through another transformer that reduces it to 120/240 volts. The final step is for the electricity to pass through a meter to measure use in the kilowatt-hour units that later appear on the electric bill.
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What is the CVV code and why is it needed for online bill payment? |
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The Credit Card Validation (or Verification) Value is the extra three- or four-digit code that appears on your credit card. This extra security measure ensures you have physical possession of the credit card. At this time, eBill requires the three-digit CVV code for Discover card users only. It appears after your credit card number on the back of your card in the signature area.
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Why is my electric bill so high? |
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See Why your electric bill may change from month to month, or contact our Energy Advisor for more information.
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