Vicksburg residents will be able to pay their utility bills online after a new software is implemented on the city’s website, officials said Friday.

Billy Gordon, director of City of Vicksburg Information Technology, told the Board of Mayor and Aldermen that in about six months the city’s approximately 10,000 utility customers will be able to pay their water, gas, sewer and garbage bills, using a credit or debit card, at www.vicksburg.org. A working e-mail address is required.

“It’s customer convenience,” Gordon said. “In this day and age, people are used to paying things online.”

Implementing the new software will cost about $6,000, he said, and will cut printing, processing and postage fees.

Gordon said he’s not sure how much the city will save; that will have to be estimated once the system is in place and people sign up.

About 800 customers already view their billing history on the city’s website, and Gordon is hoping at least half of those will lead the registration for paperless billing.

“This is part of utilizing the technology that we have at our fingertips,” Mayor Paul Winfield said. “Of course, there are going to be potential savings for us. Wherever we can find savings and do things that are techno-savvy, but also do not expose the city to any increased liability, we’re looking for those opportunities.”