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If you don't have online bill payment set up, you should do so now. Paying your utility bills online can save you hundreds of dollars every year, increase your household efficiency, and it helps reduce your carbon footprint!

Keep reading for a great list of reasons why you should be paying your utility bills online.

1. It's faster. You'll save your valuable time. Instead of driving to the bank or utilities office where you'll stand in line to drop off a payment, you can do right it from the convenience of your home office.

2. You'll save gas. For your own wallet and the environment, this is a great reason to pay your utility bills online. Using the Internet instead of trekking down to the bank means the car remains in the garage and your money stays in your wallet.

3. It's more secure. Despite what you hear about Internet security, it's actually safer to deal with your bank's secure web servers than to put a piece of paper in the mail with all your bank account numbers and financial details. You don't have to worry about your payments making it to the right people or your personal information falling into the wrong hands.

4. No more stamps and envelopes. If you're an online bill payer, you can often request to have your bills sent to you over the Internet as well. This means you can help save paper, which is great for the environment. You also save on the expense of ever-rising stamp costs.

5. You can often save on promotions. Because utility companies are still trying to market online payment, many are offering incentives for customers to sign up and get on board. Before you register for online utility bill payments, look for rebates and discounts for which you can cash in.

But, how exactly do you pay your bills online?

Typically, a bill payment will run through your bank account. Most banks offer online banking which allows you to log in and access all your account details. From there, you can register your account for bill payments, at which point you'll be prompted to enter your utility company's name along with your customer number.

If you're having difficulty setting up online payments, don't hesitate to visit or call your bank and ask for a step-by-step tutorial on how to set up an online payment program. Remember to always keep your passwords and account numbers safe and stored in a location off your computer.

By Stephen Clayton