In-Lane Payments | Consumers Energy

Paying your Bill is as Easy as Adding it to Your Shopping List.

We’re introducing a new payment option that makes it easy to pay your Consumers Energy bill in person while you’re doing other shopping.

Pay your bill (up to $999) in the checkout lane of thousands of Michigan retailers.
Use cash to pay up to $999 at any Family Dollar®, Speedway®, 7-Eleven®, Walgreens®, Dollar General® or Pilot Flying J®.
Debit cards accepted at any Dollar General® or Pilot Flying J®.

Here’s How it Works:

1: Get Your Barcode

Get Your Personal Barcode Via Email

2: Go to Local Retailer

Take Your Barcode to a Participating Retailer

3: Pay Bill at Register

Use Your Barcode to Pay at Check Out

IMPORTANT: Payment posting times could vary or be delayed up to 2 business days. If payment is on a past due balance, please contact Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050 to avoid interruption of service.

For account information, please log in to your customer dashboard on Consumersenergy.com. After making a successful In-Lane payment you may retrieve your full detailed e-receipt at vanilladirect.com/pay/ereceipt/

Consumers Energy rules, regulations, rate schedules, proposed rate scheduled, explanations of rate schedules, and explanations of proposed rate schedules are on file and available for inspection by calling 800-477-5050.

Your Personal Barcode

You will need to use your personal barcode to check out at a local retailer. This barcode is linked to your account, so it’s important to keep it secure once you have received it. Barcodes will be sent by email to pilot customers. You can save the email, or print the barcode. Then bring any of these options to a participating retailer.

To request a new barcode:

Send an email to inlanepayments@cmsenergy.com

Please include your account number in your email. Your account number is located in the top right-hand corner of your bill. If you have an online account, you can also find it by clicking here, logging in and going to your account dashboard, where your account number is at the top under your address.
Please also include the email address where you want us to deliver your barcode.

PLEASE NOTE: It may take as long as 48 hours to receive a new barcode. Your barcode is linked to your account, so it’s important to keep it secure once received.

A $1.75 fee applies for each payment transaction. To help during the COVID 19 pandemic, the $1.75 transaction fees are temporarily waived and will be reimbursed in the form of a bill credit for all payments made at authorized agents through December 2020. You do not need to take any action to receive the credit.

In-Lane Payments on each barcode are limited to $999.00 per day, and 10 payment transactions and a total dollar value of $1999 within a 30-day period.

In-Lane Payments are provided by our 3rd Party Payment Provider. By accepting or using an In-Lane barcode to make a payment, you agree to the full terms and conditions, available at vanilladirect.com/pay/terms. After successful payment using this barcode, you may retrieve your full detailed e-receipt at https://pay.vanilladirect.com/ereceipt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are you creating a new in-person payment option for customers?

To provide you with more payment locations closer to home and to make paying your bill easier. This new In-Lane payment method expands the network of places where you can make an authorized payment from 400 locations to over 2000 retailers across the state.

How is this different from current in-person payment options?

The In-Lane Payment Network is an in-person walk in payment method, where you take your personal barcode to a participating retailer and make a payment.

Unlike our current in-person payment options, which require only your account number to be taken to the Customers Service Desk, the In-Lane network uses a personal barcode system that is tied to your account. You do not need to go to a separate Customer Service Desk and can make a payment using your barcode in the checkout line. The transaction will be a separate transaction from other goods you purchase but can be made at the same time. You will receive a separate receipt for your In-Lane payment transaction. The $1.75 transaction fee can be paid for with credit, debit or Cash. Most In-Lane Retailers only accept Cash payments. Dollar General and Pilot Flying-J accept Pin based debit payments.

Where do I pay my bill while at the store? Do I have to go to a separate Customer Service Desk?

To make an In-Lane payment, you go through the check-out line like you normally would. You then provide your personal barcode to the cashier, tell them you want to pay your Consumers Energy bill and how much you want to pay. You will then be given a paper receipt. Additionally, more detailed information about your transaction can be found at vanilladirect.com/pay/ereceipt

How can I remove myself from the program?

To remove yourself from the In-Lane Payment program and stop receiving any additional emails or information, please send an email to inlanepayments@cmsenergy.com Please include your account number. Please include “In-Lane Removal” in the subject line. Your account number is located in the top right-hand corner of your bill. If you have an online account, you can also find it by logging in and going to your account dashboard, where your account number is at the top of the page, under your address.

Are there any payment limits?

Yes, the maximum amount you can pay at any one In-Lane payment is $999. Your total payments in any one day can’t exceed $999 per barcode.

There are no daily limits to the number of payments you can make per barcode. However, you are limited to a maximum of 10 In-Lane Payments in a 30 day period.

Still Have Questions? Give Us a Call.

For more information, give us a call at 800-477-5050

Conveniently Pay Your Consumers Energy Bill in the Checkout Lane

Paying your Bill is as Easy as Adding it to Your Shopping List.

1: Get Your Barcode

2: Go to Local Retailer

3: Pay Bill at Register

Find a Location Near You