Water payments to go online

Starting in January, residents will be able to pay their water and sewerage bills online, Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer announced Friday in the House of Assembly.

Describing the new system as part of an ongoing “digital transition,” Mr. Rymer said the Water and Sewerage Department will accept payments through two separate systems.

To pay by email, customers will be able to request a link directing them to an online platform, according to the minister. Alternatively, he said, they can sign up on the PayGov portal at payment.gov.vg and create a log-in profile.

“The initiative represents a critical step toward modernising our water and sewerage services, providing residents and businesses with a user-friendly, secure and efficient way to manage their utility payments,” Mr. Rymer told the HOA. “No longer will they need to navigate long queues or cumbersome processes. With just a few clicks, they will be able to access their accounts, view billing information, and make payments from the comfort of their homes or any location with internet access.”

24 hours a day

The platform, which has already been tested, will be available 24 hours a day every day, according to the minister.

It will also allow customers to view their billing history and usage patterns, he said, adding that “state-of-the-art security” will protect customer information.

“I encourage our customers to visit the department and register by providing their email addresses,” he said. “This will facilitate communication regarding bills, receipts and important announcements.”

Moving forward, he added, the ministry will gather customer feedback to refine and improve the portal.

“I extend my gratitude to all stakeholders who made this online payment portal a reality, including the Water and Sewerage Department, the Department of Information and Technology, Banco Popular and their payment processors, the Treasury Department, the Ministry of Finance, Smarter Commerce for their development efforts, and the 17 individuals who participated in the pilot testing and provided invaluable feedback,” he said.

The minister added that the initiative aligns with the National Sustainable Development Plan’s “Goal Four,” which emphasises the importance of resilient infrastructure.

Mr. Rymer concluded by asking his HOA colleagues to encourage their constituents to use the new system.

Previous promises

Online water bills have been promised in the past as well, including in then-premier Dr. Orlando Smith’s January 2017 budget address.

At the time, the Communications and Works Ministry said the new system would come on stream by the third quarter of 2017, but Hurricane Irma hit in September of that year.

BVIEC payments

Mr. Rymer’s Friday announcement came about two months after the BVI Electricity Corporation’s online billing system went offline following a cyberattack.

It still has not come back online since, leaving customers to pay their electricity bills in person.