If you're a Crow Wing Power member, you've probably seen both "AutoPay" and "Paperless Billing" mentioned in SmartHub, on our social pages, or on your bill. It's an easy mix-up: the names sound related, and plenty of members assume signing up for one automatically covers the other. It doesn't. Here's what each one actually does, and how to set up whichever combination works best for you.
AutoPay: How Your Bill Gets Paid
Auto Pay is all about the payment method. When you enroll, Crow Wing Power automatically deducts your bill amount from your bank account or credit/debit card on the due date each month. You don't have to remember to log in, write a check, or worry about a late payment because you were out of town.
AutoPay says nothing about how you receive your bill. Unless you also enroll in Paperless Billing, you'll keep getting a paper bill in the mail every month, just like before.
Paperless Billing: How You Receive Your Bill
Paperless Billing is all about delivery. Instead of a paper bill showing up in your mailbox, you get an email (or text, depending on your notification settings) letting you know your bill is ready to view in SmartHub. No more paper piles, and one less thing headed to the recycling bin. Goodbye Paper, Hello Convenience! (Check out our Go Paperless campaign and switch to paperless billing between September 18, 2026 and December 18, 2026 to be entered to win cool prizes! Find more information at cwpower.com/gopaperless)!
Here's the key part: Paperless Billing has nothing to do with how your bill gets paid. You can still pay it exactly the way you always have by logging in and paying manually each month, mailing a check, paying by phone, or stopping by to pay in person. Going paperless only changes the format of the bill itself, not your payment process.
The Part that Trips People Up
A lot of members assume that because they're on AutoPay, they must also be signed up for paperless billing or vice versa. In reality:
- Being on AutoPay does not automatically enroll you in Paperless Billing. You could be on AutoPay and still be getting a paper bill every month.
- You don't need AutoPay to go paperless. You can enroll in Paperless Billing on its own and keep paying your bill the same way you always have. You'll just get an email instead of a mailed statement.
These are two separate settings in SmartHub, and each one needs to be turned on individually if you want both.
How to Enroll
Both settings are managed through your SmartHub account (web or mobile app):
- To turn on AutoPay, go to your Billing & Payments tab and look for the AutoPay Program option.
- To turn on Paperless Billing, go to your account settings and look for the Paperless Billing toggle.
If you're not sure which options you're currently enrolled in, it's worth logging into SmartHub and checking both settings. You might find you're only set up for one when you thought you had both. And if you ever have questions, Crow Wing Power's billing team is happy to walk you through it!