Utility Companies Implement New Bank Account Payment Fees

Small business owner questions the rationale behind the new charges

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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A small business owner in Fairview Park, Ohio is questioning the recent decision by some utility companies to start charging customers a fee when making bill payments directly from their bank accounts. The business owner notes that accepting direct bank account payments has no associated costs for their own company, and is curious to understand the reasoning behind the new utility fees.

Why it matters

The new utility fees on bank account payments could impact small businesses and individual consumers who rely on this payment method as a low-cost option. The changes raise questions about the underlying costs and profit motives driving the utility companies' decisions.

The details

Patricia Shumaker, a small business owner in Fairview Park, Ohio, wrote a letter to the editor expressing her confusion and frustration over the new fees some utility companies are charging customers to make payments directly from their bank accounts. Shumaker notes that for her own small business, accepting direct bank account payments has no associated costs, yet the utilities are now implementing new fees for this payment method.

  • The new utility fees on bank account payments were implemented in early 2026.

The players

Patricia Shumaker

A small business owner in Fairview Park, Ohio who wrote a letter to the editor questioning the new utility fees on bank account payments.

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What they’re saying

“I have a small business, and it costs us nothing to have a customer's money deposited into our account, if it is coming from anything other than a credit card.”

— Patricia Shumaker, Small business owner (cleveland.com)

The takeaway

The new utility fees on bank account payments highlight the need for greater transparency around the costs and profit margins associated with different payment processing methods. Small businesses and consumers may push back on fees that appear to be unjustified, potentially leading to further scrutiny of utility pricing practices.