Independent payroll-schedule reference · Updated July 2026 Methodology · Submit a correction

Why utilities employers choose a semimonthly cycle

A semimonthly payroll schedule pays employees twice per month on fixed calendar dates, usually the 15th and the last business day, producing exactly 24 paychecks per year. Semimonthly is favored by banks, insurance carriers, technology companies, utilities, and consulting firms because it aligns naturally with monthly accounting closes.

In the Utilities sector, the semimonthly cadence shows up wherever the underlying labor profile favors it. Electric, gas, and water utilities tend to align payroll with the rhythm of monthly accounting closes, where two fixed paydays per month snap cleanly to the GL calendar. The semimonthly schedule also simplifies tax-deposit timing and benefits accruals across multi-state operations.

For employees, the practical implications are straightforward: 24 paychecks per year, with the gross divided across 24 equal periods. Workers comparing offers between same-sector employers can largely ignore pay-frequency differences when calculating annual compensation — but should pay attention when comparing weekly to monthly cycles, since the cash-flow gap can affect rent timing and bill autopay setups. Use the pay schedule calculator to model the per-check size against your current take-home.

All 37 Utilities employers paying semimonthly

CompanyPaydayHQEmployees
AES the 15th and last day of the month Arlington, VA 8,700
Alliant Energy the 15th and last day of the month Madison, WI 3,293
Ameren the 15th and last day of the month St. Louis, MO 9,165
American Electric Power the 15th and last day of the month Columbus, OH 16,711
American Water Works the 15th and last day of the month Camden, NJ 6,500
Atmos Energy the 15th and last day of the month Dallas, TX 4,811
Black Hills the 15th and last day of the month Rapid City, SD 3,007
Brookfield Infrastructure the 15th and last day of the month Toronto, ON 50,000
CMS Energy the 15th and last day of the month Jackson, MI 8,400
CenterPoint Energy the 15th and last day of the month Houston, TX 8,985
Consolidated Edison the 15th and last day of the month New York, NY 14,342
Constellation Energy the 15th and last day of the month Baltimore, MD 13,000
DTE Energy the 15th and last day of the month Detroit, MI 10,100
Dominion Energy the 15th and last day of the month Richmond, VA 17,800
Duke Energy the 15th and last day of the month Charlotte, NC 27,606
Edison International the 15th and last day of the month Rosemead, CA 13,207
Entergy the 15th and last day of the month New Orleans, LA 12,345
Evergy the 15th and last day of the month Kansas City, MO 4,844
Eversource Energy the 15th and last day of the month Hartford, CT 9,594
Exelon the 15th and last day of the month Chicago, IL 19,251
FirstEnergy the 15th and last day of the month Akron, OH 12,150
IDACORP the 15th and last day of the month Boise, ID 2,078
NRG Energy the 15th and last day of the month Houston, TX 6,400
NextEra Energy the 15th and last day of the month Juno Beach, FL 14,900
NiSource the 15th and last day of the month Merrillville, IN 7,474
OGE Energy the 15th and last day of the month Oklahoma City, OK 2,247
PG&E the 15th and last day of the month Oakland, CA 28,000
PPL the 15th and last day of the month Allentown, PA 6,395
Pinnacle West Capital the 15th and last day of the month Phoenix, AZ 5,972
Public Service Enterprise Group the 15th and last day of the month Newark, NJ 12,892
Sempra Energy the 15th and last day of the month San Diego, CA 19,000
Southern Company the 15th and last day of the month Atlanta, GA 27,935
Southwest Gas Holdings the 15th and last day of the month Las Vegas, NV 13,577
Spire the 15th and last day of the month St. Louis, MO 3,500
UGI the 15th and last day of the month King of Prussia, PA 11,200
WEC Energy Group the 15th and last day of the month Milwaukee, WI 7,100
Xcel Energy the 15th and last day of the month Minneapolis, MN 11,512

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