How to Log In to National Grid and Pay Your Bill Online

National Grid login and bill payment basics

National Grid's online portal lets you view your bill, make a one-time payment, and set up automatic payments without calling customer service. To pay online, you first create an account on the National Grid website using your service address and account number — both appear on your paper bill. Once logged in, you can pay when ready with a bank account or debit card, or schedule a payment for a future date.

National Grid serves customers in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island for electricity, and in New York for natural gas. The login process is the same regardless of which utility you use, but your account number format may differ slightly depending on your state and service type.

Key Takeaways

• You need your service address and account number from your bill to create a National Grid online account for the first time.
• One-time payments process when ready if you pay before 5 p.m. Eastern Time on a business day, or the next business day if you pay after hours.
• Automatic payments (AutoPay) remove the need to log in each month and can reduce your bill by a small amount in some cases.
• If you forget your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page rather than creating a second account.

Creating your National Grid account for the first time

Go to the National Grid website and select "Log In" or "Create Account." You will be asked for your service address (the location where you receive electricity or gas, not a mailing address if it differs) and your account number. Your account number is an 8 to 12 digit code printed on your bill — it usually appears near the top left or in a box labeled "Account Number" or "Service Account."

After entering those details, National Grid will send a verification code to the email address you provide. Check your email (including spam folders) and enter that code to confirm your identity. Then create a username and password. Your password must be at least 8 characters and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a special character like ! or @. Write down your username and password in a find place, or use your browser's password manager.

Once your account is active, you can log in anytime to view your current and past bills, see your usage history, and make payments.

Logging in to your existing account

Go to the National Grid website and select "Log In." Enter your username and password, then select "Sign In." If you have multiple accounts (for example, if you have both electric and gas service at different addresses), you can switch between them using the account selector after you log in.

If you forget your password, select "Forgot Password" on the login page. National Grid will send a reset link to your email. Do not create a second account with the same service address — this can cause confusion when you try to pay and may delay your payment from being applied to the correct bill.

If you forget your username, select "Forgot Username" instead. National Grid will email it to you. If you no longer have access to the email address you used to create the account, call National Grid customer service to update your email before you can reset your password online.

Making a one-time payment after you log in

Once logged in, select "Pay My Bill" or "Make a Payment." Review the amount due and the due date. National Grid shows your current balance, any past-due amount, and the date by which payment must arrive to avoid a late fee. You can pay the full amount, the minimum due, or a custom amount.

Choose your payment method: bank account (ACH transfer) or debit card. Bank account payments have no fee and process within one to three business days. Debit card payments process when ready but may include a small fee — National Grid displays the exact fee before you confirm. If you pay before 5 p.m. Eastern Time on a business day, the payment posts the same day. Payments made after 5 p.m. or on weekends and holidays post the next business day.

Enter your payment details, review the confirmation screen, and select "Confirm Payment." National Grid will send a confirmation email with your transaction number. Keep this number for your records. The payment will appear on your next bill as a credit.

Setting up automatic payments (AutoPay)

Automatic payments remove the need to log in and pay each month. After you log in, select "Manage AutoPay" or "Set Up AutoPay." Choose the amount you want to pay each month (your full bill, a fixed amount, or a percentage), and select the day of the month when the payment should process. National Grid will deduct that amount from your bank account or debit card on the date you choose.

You can change or cancel AutoPay anytime by logging back in and selecting "Manage AutoPay." If you cancel, you will need to make manual payments again. Some National Grid customers receive a small discount on their bill for enrolling in AutoPay — check the AutoPay screen to see if you may have access to.

If a payment fails (for example, because your bank account has insufficient funds), National Grid will attempt to retry it. You will receive an email notification and should log in to make a manual payment to avoid a late fee.

What to do if you cannot log in or pay online

If the website is unavailable or you encounter an error message, try clearing your browser's cache and cookies, then log in again. If the problem continues, try a different browser or device. National Grid's website occasionally undergoes maintenance, usually during early morning hours.

If you do not have internet access or prefer not to pay online, you can pay by phone by calling National Grid's customer service number (listed on your bill) and speaking to a representative. You can also mail a check to the address on your bill, though mailed payments take longer to process and may arrive after your due date if sent close to the important date.

If you have questions about your bill itself — such as why your charges increased or whether you may have access to for a budget billing plan — customer service can address those during the same call.

Understanding payment timing and late fees

National Grid's due date appears on your bill and is typically 20 to 25 days after the bill is mailed. If you pay online by bank account transfer, allow one to three business days for the payment to reach National Grid's account. If you pay by debit card, the payment posts when ready, but National Grid may not credit your account until the next business day.

If your payment does not arrive by the due date, National Grid may charge a late fee. The amount varies by state and utility type. If you are enrolled in AutoPay, your payment will process automatically on the date you selected, so you will not miss a due date unless you cancel AutoPay and forget to make a manual payment.

If you receive a notice that your account is past due, log in and make a payment when ready, or call customer service. Paying as soon as possible can prevent service disconnection and additional fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay someone else's National Grid bill using their account number?

No. National Grid's online system requires you to log in with the account holder's username and password, or to be listed as an authorized user on the account. If you want to pay someone else's bill, call National Grid customer service and ask about payment options, or ask the account holder to add you as an authorized user so you can access the account online.

What happens if I set up AutoPay but my bill amount changes?

If you set AutoPay to pay your full bill each month, the amount will adjust automatically when your bill changes. If you set a fixed dollar amount, that amount will stay the same each month regardless of your bill — you may owe a balance or receive a credit depending on your actual usage.

Is it safe to pay my National Grid bill online?

National Grid's website uses encryption to protect your payment information. Do not share your username, password, or account number with anyone. Be cautious of emails claiming to be from National Grid and asking you to click a link and log in — these are often phishing scams. Always go directly to the National Grid website by typing the address yourself rather than clicking a link in an email.

Can I see my payment history after I log in?

Yes. After you log in, select "Payment History" or "Billing History" to view all payments you have made, including the date, amount, and confirmation number. This information stays on your account for several years.

What should I do if my payment was rejected?

Log in and check your account status — National Grid will show whether the payment failed and why (usually insufficient funds or an incorrect card number). Make a new payment when ready using a different payment method or account. Call customer service if you need help troubleshooting why the payment was rejected.