Tips for online utility bill payment in Shanghai

Living in Shanghai means you'll regularly need to pay for water, electricity, and gas. Here's a straightforward guide for expats on how to handle your utility bills online.

Step 1: Find Your Account Number

First things first, you need your utility account number. If you already know it, great! If not, grab your latest utility bill and look for the account number, typically found in the upper left corner.

Note: In Shanghai, water and gas bills are issued every two months, while electricity is billed monthly. Also, electricity rates vary based on the time of day: peak hours are from 6am to 10pm, and off-peak hours are from 10pm to 6am (which are cheaper).

Step 2: Pay via WeChat

1. Open WeChat:

In the bottom right corner, go to the "Me" section.
t "Services" from the menu.

2. Select "Utility."

• Set your location to "Shanghai."

3. Pay Electricity Bill:

Click on "Electricity" and select the correct payment provider, which is usually "Shanghai Electricity."

Enter your account number and optionally set a label for easy reference.

Agree to the terms and proceed.

4. Pay Water and Gas Bills:

For water bills, select "Shanghai Urban Investment Water."

For gas bills, select "Shanghai Dazhong Gas Co Ltd."

Follow the same steps as for electricity: enter your account number and confirm payment.

Step 3: You can also pay via Alipay

1. Open Alipay:

• Search for "Utility Payment (Sheng Huo Jiao Fei)."

2. Set your location to "Shanghai."

3. Choose the type of bill:

• Select "Electricity," "Water," or "Gas" and follow the same steps as in WeChat.

The system usually auto-fills the payment provider; just enter your account number and confirm payment.

These simple steps will help you easily manage your utility bills in Shanghai using either WeChat or Alipay. Enjoy your stay in the city without worrying about missing a payment!