Columbia to offer paperless billing for water and sewer customers

Columbia will begin offering paperless billing for water and sewer customers under a plan approved unanimously this morning by City Council.

City officials estimate the plan would save the city 40 cents per bill. If all 130,000 customers opt for paperless billing, it could save the city more than $600,000 a year.

The city began offering online water and sewer bill payments last year through the city's Web site, columbiasc.net. Since then, 24,000 customers have signed up online.

If all of the city's online customers opt for paperless billing, it would save the city $115,000 a year.

Once the system goes live, customers can sign up for paperless billing through the city's Web site.