Is there a better way to pay utility bills? New research suggests there is.  

Paying the power bill is a once-a-month routine that many Americans like to automate. Same for phone, internet, water and other recurring charges. Can the payment experience make the utility bill chore any easier? 

To learn more about evolving payment preferences in utilities, American Express and Forbes Insights asked U.S. consumers about their experiences paying for utilities over the past six months. 

Here are five key findings:

1. Utility Customers Want To Choose How They Pay

87% of customers said it’s important that their utility providers offer the payment method they prefer, and 49% said they feel frustrated when credit card payment options are not offered.  

2. They Also Want Easy, Automatic Payments

63% of customers said they would set up regular recurring payments or autopay for their utility bill if given the option. The alternative, making manual utility payments, is not always a smooth process: 10% say that a recent online, email or text transaction failed to complete for a utility payment.

3. Innovation Should Focus On Speed Most Of All, Consumers Say

41% of consumers across all studied industries want payment processing within 30 seconds, the most desired innovation area. 

4. Asking For Banking Details Can Turn Off Utility Customers

44% of consumers become frustrated when required to disclose banking details when making a utility payment because credit cards, digital wallets or peer-to-peer payments are not accepted. 

5. Consumers Seek Simplicity And Ease When Paying

38% of customers feel frustrated when multiple steps are involved in making a utility payment online, and 30% of consumers across all studied industries identified one-click payments through email or text as an innovation they’d like to see in future payment options, a top selection. 

What The Data Tells Us

Consumers want a set-it-and-forget-it option for their utility payments. They appreciate convenience, however they pay, and they want the process to take as little time as possible. Most importantly, they want to choose how they pay, with credit cards being a top option.