US utility providers, prominent power supply companies among them, are using 'green' initiatives to motivate customers into signing up for their electronic billing and payment plans.

‘Green billing’ is presented as beneficial to companies and customers alike, since electronic billing allows the former to cut back on their paper and postage costs and provides the latter with an opportunity to lower their expenses and help protect the environment at the same time. For example, Richmond-based power supplier Dominion Virginia Power makes a USD 1 donation for each new customer who signs up for its electronic bill payment offer in September and October 2008. The money goes to a local environment awareness raising community program. Currently, 375.000 Dominion clients are paying their electricity bills online.

New York power company Con Edison also launched its own e-billing program in May 2007 and recently reported enrolling approximately 6.500 new customers every month ever since, reaching a total of 900.000 subscribers to its e-billing initiative. On the whole, customers and suppliers alike tend to focus on the cost-effectiveness that results from e-billing schemes, while suppliers use the ‘environment awareness’ channel to popularize their e-billing initiatives.

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