NILES — The city of Niles, in conjunction with company Point & Pay, announced a new online opportunity Monday meant to make the utilities bill payment process easier.

Michelle Tomshack, utilities supervisor, said an online option to pay has been around for a few years, but a new payment portal offers additional features making online pay and management more accessible and usable. The portal was about 1.5 years in the making.

Chief among the perks of the portal is its ability to show bills online, not just on paper, she said.

Other benefits include the ability to sign up for email bill notifications, payment reminders and statements.

Users can sign on by going to bills.nilesmi.org, then scrolling down to a hyperlink that takes users to the payment site.

After entering an account ID and a name, a customer can then make a one-time payment with a quick login option, which Point & Pay charges a $3 fee for, or sign up for free automatic payments. Debit, credit and eChecks are accepted.

Tomshack said about a fifth of customers on average use online pay, as many prefer face-to-face contact when dealing with bills. She hopes, however, that the portal will encourage others to use the online service, especially with the wintry conditions making people inclined to stay indoors.

Customers who need technical support can call (888) 891-6064 or email support@pointandpay.com.

Those with questions about their utility account can call (269) 683-4700 ext. 8003 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday.