Bank on File Utilities

Commercial variable recurring payments for utilities

Commercial variable recurring payments for electricity, gas and water bills.

Built around the bill. Controlled by the customer.

Bank on File Utilities explores commercial variable recurring payments for utilities, with a focus on electricity, gas and water bill payments.

Commercial variable recurring payments (cVRP) for utilities offer a potential bank payment option for the use cases below.

Give customers a bank payment option designed around changing bills. Explore collections within agreed limits, with a clear connection between each bill and the payment that follows.

cVRPs allow repeat bank payments under a customer’s continuing consent, within agreed limits. The customer can review or withdraw that consent.

Payment uses

Bank on File Utilities: payment use cases.

Electricity bills

Explore variable collections linked to billed electricity consumption, within the customer’s authorised limits.

Gas bills

Support a payment journey that can accommodate seasonal bill changes without storing card details.

Water bills

Consider recurring payments for metered water bills, with clear account references for reconciliation.

Illustrative applications. Availability depends on the eligible payment flow, participating banks, payment provider and integration.

An example journey

How commercial VRP could work in utilities.

A customer receives an electricity bill. If the amount is within their existing consent limits, the provider could request the payment under that authorisation. A higher bill would need a separate payment or an agreed consent change.

Example only; this is not a live service or partnership announcement.

Design the collection around consent.

Show the receiving organisation and proposed payment terms.
Ask the customer to authorise through their bank.
Initiate eligible payments within the agreed limits.
Make payment status, support and consent controls easy to find.

For utility providers

Start with the right payment journey.

Align bill notices, collection timing and customer support. Keep affordability arrangements and alternative payment methods part of the service.

Assess costs and coverage with your payment provider. Define what happens if a payment fails, consent ends or the customer needs another way to pay.

Commercial variable recurring payments: utilities FAQs.

Does a payment limit change the amount owed?

No. The payment permission and the supply agreement are separate. If a bill is higher than the agreed payment limit, the provider needs another way to collect it and should explain the options to the customer.

Are these services already available through Bank on File?

This page explains potential payment uses. Contact Bank on File to discuss your requirements and confirm the available service, bank coverage and implementation options.

Sector background: Open Banking Limited’s Wave 1 commercial model, April 2025. Payment overview: Open Banking’s cVRP guide. Confirm current eligibility with your provider.

Talk to Bank on File

Let’s explore regulated utilities payments.

Discuss your use case and customer journey.

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