Payment / Billing Options
San Miguel Power Association offers flexible billing and payment options to suit your home and business needs.
Auto Pay: No more mailing in a check each month! Pay your monthly bill automatically via bank draft or credit card payment.
Online Bill Pay: View your monthly usage and pay your bill quickly and easily online.
Using SmartHub our member-owners can quickly and easily pay their bill right from their computer or smart device.
To sign-up for online bill pay or auto pay, have your member information handy, including your SMPA account number and a valid email address. Sign up for online bill pay here.
If you need help, view screenshot instructions for each of these platforms.
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SMPA's draft date for AutoPay accounts is the 21st of each month. This aligns the draft date with the due date for member electric bills, which is also the 21st.
SmartPay is a new way to pay for electricity. This optional program allows you to buy power at your convenience, with no late fees or security deposit needed. Click Here for more details.
Would you like to receive electronic notifications to alert you that your bill is ready to view online? This can eliminate the need for a paper bill. SmartHub, our online customer care system can do this for you. Learn How.
Members also have the option to pay a $2 monthly fee to continue receiving their monthly statement and bill in the mail.
If you have questions, please email us at billing@smpa.com.
Paper Bill Fee_Information
Paper Billing Fee Encourages Savings, Member Choice
Paperless billing provides members with a faster, more reliable monthly bill. Instead of waiting for postal delivery, members receive an email notification as soon as their bill is available and can securely view and pay it through SmartHub. Members can also set up automatic payments, payment reminders, and account alerts for added convenience.
To encourage greater paperless adoption, SMPA will implement a $2 Paper Billing Fee for members who choose to receive a printed monthly bill, beginning with bills generated in October, 2026. Members who enroll in paperless billing before October 29 will avoid the fee.
Paper Statement Fee Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Beginning October 29, 2026 SMPA members will see a $2 paper statement fee on their bill, if they choose to continue receiving a paper bill. This fee is in place to help SMPA cover the costs associated with processing, printing, and mailing paper bills and to encourage members to go paperless. Check out the frequently asked questions below to learn more about why SMPA is implementing this fee and how you can opt out of it by going paperless now! - see above to learn how to opt out of your paper bill using SmartHub iOS, Android or the Web app.
Why add another fee when living expenses are already high?
We know that any added cost is frustrating, and we don't take adding a fee lightly. The reality of today’s postal rate hikes, paper supply increases, and processing costs is that mailing physical bills has become significantly more expensive.
Rather than continuing to roll these rising paper-handling expenses into overall electric rates—which causes rate pressure for everyone—we separated the fee so that members who don't use paper aren't paying for it, and members who do want paper have full transparency into what that specific service costs to deliver. This transparency gives members more information upon which to assess the value of paper bills or electronic delivery.
Isn't sending a bill just part of basic customer service?
Providing clear, timely account information is absolutely a core part of our service. Digital delivery (email/text notices) carries almost zero incremental cost per person, whereas printing and mailing physical paper incurs continuous per-unit charges for paper, envelope stuffing, labor, and postage.
As a not-for-profit cooperative, every dollar we spend on annual expenses comes directly from our members through rates. Charging a separate fee ensures that members who choose digital billing aren't paying for the physical materials and postage of members who choose paper. It puts control over that expense directly in your hands.
I rely on my paper bill as a physical reminder to pay. What if I forget because I opt for electronic delivery?
That is a very real concern. If you're open to trying electronic delivery to save the $2/month, we have several setup options so you don't miss a beat:
- Automated Text or Email Alerts: You can set up notifications the day your statement is ready AND multiple reminders if your bill becomes past due.
- Auto-Pay Options: You can pair e-billing with automated bank or card payments so you never have to worry about a late fee.
- Print on Demand: You can still view and print a full PDF copy of your statement at home anytime if you like keeping physical records.
If you prefer to keep receiving your paper bill in the mail, you can certainly do so—the $2 charge simply covers the postage and printing required to keep that physical option available to you.
Does the $2 fee cost exactly $2, or is SMPA making a profit?
As a non-profit cooperative, SMPA does not make a profit on fees. The $2 rate was established based on the fully-burdened cost of paper delivery—which includes, mailroom services (such as paper, printing, envelopes, and postage), and returned mail handling.
While postage and vendor rates fluctuate, setting the fee at a stable, $2 amount allows us to absorb upcoming postal rate increases without having to continually change fee amounts on your statement. If the fee collects slightly more than the direct cost in a given month, those funds remain within the cooperative's operating margins and due to SMPA’s not-for-profit cooperative status those margins are allocated back to the members on a pro rata patronage basis. For more information on margin allocations visit our Member Dividends page.
Why is SMPA implementing a paper statement fee?
- Reducing operating costs for printing, labor, and postage expenses lessens rate pressure and allows those resources to be invested in other member programs and services.
- Paperless provides members with a quicker bill delivery, and enhanced communications. For example, consumers can receive notifications triggered by outages, alerts and important service notifications.
- Eliminating frustration over postal delays due to weather, staff shortages, etc.
- Going Green to protect the environment and sustain natural resources for current and future generations.
Is there a billing option where I don’t even need to see a monthly billing statement?
Yes, as a matter of fact there is. SmartPay is SMPA’s pay-as-you-use, prepaid billing option that puts the ultimate control of your usage and payments in your hands. With convenient text and/or email notifications you can stay on top of your usage, so you know when you need to add more to your account balance. If your account gets to zero your electricity is turned off, but adding money to your account automatically turns it back on 24/7, with no reconnect fee. SmartPay is simple and puts you in control. No more monthly billing statements with due dates and late fees. No more security deposits. Check out SmartPay.
How do I register my account with SmartHub?
You're a few steps away from it now.
First, grab one of your old bills with your account number on it, and your debit/credit card or bank draft credentials.
Next, follow the instructions for your device here.
Automatic Service Transfer Agreements
The new Automatic Service Transfer Agreement (ASTA) replaces the previous Landlord Agreement. This new form and process allows for the automatic transfer of the electric service back into a property-owner's name when a tenant moves out. It does not automatically transfer the service to the owner in the case of a disconnection for non-pay on the tenant’s account.
Automatic Service Transfer Agreement - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The new ASTA form and process replaces the previous Landlord Agreement. If you had a Landlord Agreement previously it is no longer effective. The ASTA, like the old Landlord Agreement, allows for the automatic transfer of electric service from a tenant who is moving over to the owner’s name. Unlike the Landlord Agreement, the ASTA does not automatically transfer the service to the owner in the case of a disconnection for non-pay on the tenant’s account. This change allows a tenant’s account to follow the standard delinquent process that is outlined in the SMPA General Rules and Regulations. Going forward, you will need to complete an ASTA form to set up your SMPA account as an Owner’s account.
The new ASTA form and process allows a tenant’s account to follow the standard delinquent process that is outlined in the SMPA General Rules and Regulations. This is important because it gives tenants the option to select SmartPay billing, which unlocks multiple benefits, see SmartPay below.
Yes. The ASTA remains active on the property structure. If the Smartpay tenant voluntarily closes their account at the end of their lease, the billing will transition to your name normally. However, please note that if a Smartpay account runs out of funds and the meter automatically shuts off for a $0 balance, this is treated as a non-payment event, not a vacancy. The ASTA will not automatically roll the account into your name or turn the power back on during a prepay exhaustion event.
Smartpay, or prepaid billing, is a great option for renters. Benefits for the renter include:
No Deposits or Credit Checks: Members can activate service immediately without a large upfront security deposit.
No Late Fees or Due Dates: Because power is prepaid, monthly due dates and late payment penalties are entirely eliminated.
Flexible Budgeting: Members can buy power in increments that fit their paycheck cycles, using the SmartHub app to track daily usage.
No Reconnection Fees: If the balance hits zero and the meter turns off, making a quick payment automatically turns it back on 24/7 with zero penalty fees.
Debt Management: Members with existing past-due balances can allocate a small percentage of each prepaid purchase to slowly pay down their old debt while keeping the power on.
The benefit for the owner is instead of paying late fees or cutoff process fees to SMPA, the renter can more easily pay their rent to you.
The ASTA is strictly triggered by Scheduled Vacancy (a tenant voluntarily ending their service contract). Transferring a delinquent, active tenant's account into your name would force you to assume immediate financial liability for their ongoing energy usage. Furthermore, if you subsequently requested a shutdown of that power while they still occupy the property, it could violate Colorado landlord-tenant laws regarding constructive eviction.
When a member’s bill goes unpaid past the due date, SMPA follows a structured collections and notification process before any physical disconnect occurs:
- Past-Due Notice: If payment is not received by the regular monthly due date, the account is flagged as delinquent, a late fee may be assessed, and a past-due notice is issued.
- Disconnect Warning: If the balance remains unpaid, a formal Disconnect Notice is sent (via mail/electronic notification) providing a final deadline to pay or establish a payment arrangement.
- Physical Interruption: If no action or payment is taken by the deadline specified in the warning notice, the meter is remotely or physically disconnected for non-payment.
No. If a meter is disconnected due to a tenant’s delinquency, the account does not automatically revert to the owner. The power will remain physically off at the property until the tenant resolves their balance, or until the owner contacts SMPA Member Services to establish service back into the owner’s name in writing. An up-to-date membership application must be on file for the owner’ s account.
The Automatic Service Transfer Agreement (ASTA) governs billing administration only and does not constitute a guarantee of physical power delivery, continuous electrical supply, or uninterrupted utility service. If you as a landlord wish to ensure service is not interrupted because of a delinquent or past due payment, you should consider keeping the service in your name and remaining current on billing.
It is likely that the Tenant did not fulfil the requirements to put service into their name. The requirements are stated in section II. ESTABLISHMENT OF SERVICE of the SMPA Rules and Regulations (Policy 300). They include completing the application for service and membership, satisfying the deposit requirements and compliance with SMPA Rules and Regulations, policies and bylaws.
Deposit requirements as specified in the SMPA General Rules and Regulations are a condition of service from SMPA, unless you select Smartpay billing.
An ASTA is a standing agreement between a property owner (or manager) and SMPA. It ensures that when a tenant moves out and requests a disconnect, the electric service is automatically transferred back into the owner’s name without a gap in service. A service fee of $25 applies.
No, but it will be your responsibility to notify SMPA if you sell the property or changes have occurred that would impact the ASTA. SMPA may choose to periodically audit the ASTAs we have on file and reach out to you to confirm that the ASTA is still needed and up-to-date.
Yes. The fee is based on the connect fee stated in SMPA’s Policy 300 General Rules and Regulations, currently $25.
- Property Protection: Having an ASTA lessens the potential for a lapse in power, helping to prevent frozen pipes and helping to maintain power for security systems and lighting. Property owners/managers must not rely on the ASTA for property protection. Unplanned power outages can happen at any time, so it is the responsibility of building owner/managers to have the necessary property protection and back-up power supply options in place.
- Convenience: Eliminates the need to call SMPA every time a tenant moves out.
The transfer occurs the moment a tenant’s requested "stop service" date passes. SMPA’s billing system will automatically shift the responsibility for the meter from the tenant’s account to the owner/manager’s ASTA account.
Yes. SMPA will send a confirmation (via email, text or mail) once the account has been moved back into your name so you are aware that you are now responsible for the usage.
SMPA does not typically send that kind of notification to anyone that is not specified on the electric service account as an authorized contact. This is because, if your tenant has electric service in their name, we do not share their account status or account information with anyone without their explicit permission. It is possible for your tenant to set you up to receive service status notifications in SmartHub. If you are concerned about a disconnect for non-pay affecting continuity of service at your property location, please consider placing service at the location in your name. Keep in mind that SMPA cannot guarantee that power outages will not affect service regardless of who has the service in their name.
The new tenant must contact SMPA to apply for service. Once their application is processed, the service will automatically transfer from the owner’s name to the tenant’s name, effectively "pausing" the owner's responsibility. The $25 connect fee will apply only to the new account.
No, there is not a monthly fee, but the transfer fee of $25 is applied to your account each time an automatic transfer process of putting the service back into your name takes place. There is no transfer fee applied to your account when the service is transferred to a tenant’s account. The fee applies to the new tenant's account in this case.
The ASTA is used for scheduled vacancy, not delinquency. The ASTA transfer is triggered by a request to stop service. If a tenant is disconnected for non-payment, the ASTA does not trigger. This prevents owners from unknowingly inheriting the bill of a delinquent tenant. In the case of an eviction, the owner must manually contact SMPA to move service back into their name.
Absolutely. You can add or remove specific meters/addresses from your ASTA at any time by submitting a written update to SMPA.
It is the owner's responsibility to notify SMPA to cancel the ASTA for that location. If you do not cancel it, you may continue to be billed for usage between tenants even after the sale.
Owners must complete an Automatic Service Transfer Application. This requires a list of all meter numbers and service addresses, along with a primary contact for billing.
You should complete the Discontinuance form. SMPA will process the disconnect within 3 business days of the disconnect date specified on the form.
Transfer of service into the tenant’s name will be done in accordance with the requested date for service stated on the application for service and membership form.
No. SMPA will not participate in landlord-tenant civil disputes or facilitate actions that could be interpreted as constructive eviction under Colorado state law. If an Owner requests a voluntary disconnection of service, but SMPA determines the property is still actively occupied by a tenant, SMPA will deny the disconnect request. Service and billing will remain under the active member profile until the landlord provides legal documentation confirming the vacancy or a court-ordered eviction is executed.
As long as you occupy the property, you have a right to establish utility service. SMPA can and will reactivate the power at that location provided you complete our standard Service and Membership Application, pay the necessary connect fee and deposit, and fully comply with the SMPA's conditions of service.
Once these criteria are met, SMPA is obligated to restore power, unless the co-op is restricted from doing so by:
- A direct order from a court of competent jurisdiction.
- An official notice of a violation of a local government ordinance (e.g., a condemned building or safety code violation).
- Specific emergency, safety, or regulatory constraints as explicitly detailed in SMPA Board Policy 300 (General Rules and Regulations).