With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, you will most likely see an increase in electricity use due to holiday cooking and lighting up your home with beautiful Christmas decorations. This can lead to higher electric bills. If you are struggling to pay your electric bill, we encourage you to contact our office to discuss your options. MEC Members are urged to utilize the monitoring tools offered with SmartHub to help manage energy use. Members should also look to cooperative programs such as budget billing, which can help make
bills more manageable.
BEAT THE PEAK
Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative’s Beat the Peak program is a voluntary program urging Members to reduce electricity use from 3-6 p.m. on our hottest days in the summer and from 6-9 a.m. on our coldest days in the winter. It is during these times that our region uses the greatest amount of electricity, and your cooperative is purchasing power at higher market prices and generating at times of higher fuel costs.
BUDGET BILLING
Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative offers an additional payment option to benefit residential Members. The Budget Billing program is designed to assist in planning household budgets. There is no charge for participation. In order to be considered for the Budget Billing program, you must meet these initial requirements:
- Be a residential Member who is billed under the cooperative’s Home and Farm Service rate;
- Have 12 months established billing history at present location;
- Must have zero balance on your account at the time of sign-up; and
- Must complete and sign the contract and send it to us.
For more information, please call our office.
PREPAID ELECTRIC SERVICE
PrePay is a voluntary payment choice that allows Members to make payments into an account to cover the cost of future use. Participating Members do not receive a monthly bill. The Member is in complete control of and responsible for monitoring their PrePay balance through the SmartHub app. Members wishing to enroll in PrePay must have a SmartHub account.
WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE
The Weatherization Assistance program provides funds to reduce the heating and cooling costs for low-income families, and to
ensure their health and safety. Assistance services are available for low-income households, particularly for the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and families with children. The program provides direct installation of energy-saving measures, such as:
- Sealing air leaks with insulation, caulking and weather stripping;
- Installation of ventilation fans;
- Repairing leaky duct systems;
- Repairing and/or replacing inefficient or unsafe heating systems; and
- Installation of energy-efficient lighting.
In order to take advantage of this program, call the number below for the county in which you live and let them know you are interested in applying for assistance. Qualifications are based on your income level and the number of people living in your home.
- Greensville, Surry and Sussex: 804-732-7020
- Halifax and Charlotte: 434-575-7916
- Pittsylvania: 434-432-9380
- Brunswick, Lunenburg and Mecklenburg: 434-230-2020
If you qualify, the weatherization provider will schedule an audit to help identify the best energy-saving measures that are cost e ective, healthy and safe.
Visit MECKELEC.ORG.