Can I schedule payments or set up autopay?

Yes, you can schedule autopay payments within the customer account portal after creating an account. Autopay is not available within the one-time payment portal.

Customers who sign up for AutoPay enjoy “set-it-and-forget-it” convenience by automatically having their payment made each month. This capability allows customers to set a preferred payment date (e.g., the 20th calendar date of every month, or the due date on your monthly invoice) and automatically make payment from the customer’s saved bank account or credit card each month. Customers will receive payment confirmation once the payment has been scheduled and another email when it is paid. You can edit or cancel AutoPay elections anytime.

Can third-party bill payers make payments?

Yes, third-party bill payers can pay invoices via the Vicinity online bill pay portal, provided that they can access customer accounts and PIN numbers.

What are the payment options to pay my invoice online?

ACH debit and credit card. ACH debit payments are subject to a $1.00 processing transaction fee, and credit payments are subject to a 2.95% processing fee. Please note you can continue paying through your current payment method (paper check, ACH credit, or wire); online payment via credit card or ACH debit is an additional, optional payment method.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover credit cards. The bill pay portal has a $500,000.00 limit per payment.

You will get a confirmation email from vene@paymentus.com to the email address entered confirming your payment. If you create an auto payment, you will receive an email confirmation that it has been scheduled and another email when it is paid.

Where do I access the online payment portal?

Click the sign-in button in the top right corner of the Vicinity website to pay your invoice online. There is a one-time payment portal and a customer account payment portal, the difference being that the customer account portal requires an email address and password, and the one-time portal doesn’t.

You can also pay your invoices on your phone by accessing the bill pay portal through the Vicinity website.

What do I need to access the customer portal?

You’ll need your PIN number, which can be found on your invoice, and your account number to create an account in the customer portal. The customer account portal will require you to set a password, which you can use to log in for recurring payments to your account.

How can I pay my invoice?

To pay an invoice in the bill pay portal, create your account with your email and set a password, or log in if you are a returning user. Add your account number and go to the ‘Payments’ tab to complete your payment.

What progress has Vicinity made in our commitment to net zero carbon emissions?

Vicinity is actively greening our operations. We are purchasing renewable and carbon-free electricity to power our equipment and have incorporated biogenic fuels into our operations in Philadelphia, Boston, and Cambridge. Currently, we have installed our first electric boiler at our facility in Cambridge, MA, to begin delivering carbon-free eSteam™, to our customers. We have also begun the design process for the industrial-scale heat pump complex that will be installed at our Cambridge facility by 2028. Our team is completing extensive updates at our  Cambridge facility to make way for the heat pump complex and prepare for the electric boiler to enter service in the fall of 2024. Our facilities across the country, in cities like Philadelphia and Kansas City, are also undergoing preparations to install these innovative technologies and decarbonize.

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Will Vicinity continue to operate its combined heat and power (CHP) units once electric boilers are installed?

Vicinity owns and operates several large cogeneration turbines. By installing electric boilers, Vicinity will gradually transition away from its cogeneration turbine and become an importer of electricity to run the electric boilers. Vicinity will purchase wholesale renewable power, resulting in the generation and distribution of eSteam™, a carbon-free renewable thermal energy product, to customers.  

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Will Vicinity’s electrification upgrades affect pricing for all customers?

No. Electrification will not affect customers unless they choose to purchase electrified steam, known as eSteam™. There will be no changes in pricing from Vicinity’s electrification efforts. In the near term, if customers purchase eSteam™, the price will be different than steam generated from fossil fuels. However, our offer will be much more cost-effective than other electrifying alternatives. Because we operate at economies of scale, we can offer our customers the best pricing possible. We aim to manage affordability and sustainability on behalf of our customers. 

How does district energy compare to ground source heat pumps/geothermal?

Ground source heat pumps are not appropriate for all end uses. Converting to a ground-source heat pump would require substantial building retrofits and capital investment for many customers. Further, heat pumps are only sometimes technically viable for many customers, like biotechnology companies, laboratories, or hospitals, with unique energy requirements and high demand. These customers require reliability for critical processes, and heat pumps introduce risk to their operations. If a building uses heat pumps, coupling with district energy ensures reliability and affordability, especially during peaks and carbon neutrality. Finally, inbuilding heat pumps will struggle to meet a building’s temperature requirements on cold days. Below a specific ambient temperature, the heat pump cannot warm up the air in a building to a tenant’s desired comfort level. Comparatively, district energy is a better, more efficient means to heat a building to the appropriate temperature during the winter.