currents Defend Your Electronics


When spring thunderstorms rumble and flash, electronic devices in


your home are at risk. Power fluctuations caused by lightening can decrease the lifespan of most any device that plugs into a wall outlet.


Surge protection strips and other point of use surge protectors work well for sensitive electronics such as your TV or computer. To protect appliances, it’s best to install a service entrance surge protector. Service entrance surge protection reduces power surges to a lower level before it enters your home. This helps protect large appliances such as a stove or washing machine.


East Central Electric offers compact meter arrestors for members that provide service entrance protection against multiple power surges. Purchase a compact meter arrestor from your co-op for $165 plus tax. Price includes installation.


For more details, please contact your co-op at 918-756-0833, or visit www.ecoec.com.


Is PrePay Right


For You? Avoid “after shock” by paying ahead for your electricity


Pay for the electricity they used after they used it. With seasonal shifts in usage, this caused some members to suffer from electric bill “after shock.”


B


ECE’s PrePay option revolutionized the way co-op members pay their bills by allowing them to pay ahead for their power.


HOW IT WORKS


Rather than waiting to be surprised by your monthly electric bill, PrePay alerts you when your account balance reaches a minimum threshold. Each PrePay member is free to choose their own limit of $25 or higher.


At the threshold point, you are free to make a payment of any amount over $1 to ensure your balance does not reach zero. When that happens, your electricity goes off.


NO FEES


“The difference in a PrePay account being disconnected versus traditional accounts being disconnected is the reduction in fees,” says Tamara Hawkins, ECE manager of member services. “To be reconnected, PrePay members only need to make a payment that puts their account back in the green by at least the $25 threshhold. Traditional accounts are charged fees for reconnection.”


PrePay members aren’t charged reconnect fees because there is less risk associated with their account, Hawkins added. “A traditional account may have 60 days worth of usage by the time it is disconnected,” Hawkins explained. “PrePay


2 | MARCH 2016 | country living


efore East Central Electric created its PrePay billing option, co- op members had one option:


THAT’S A FACT:


Consumers enrolled in pre-pay programs use from 5.5 to 14% less electricity than consumers enrolled in traditional bill payment plans.


accounts never get that far behind, which helps them avoid more expenses.”


NO DEPOSITS


When a new member calls for a service connection, they are likely to be quoted a security deposit. New members who sign up for PrePay can skip the deposit and pay a much smaller amount to start their PrePay account instead.


ENERGY SAVINGS


PrePay is a sure-fire way to save energy. Studies show consumers who pre- pay use from 5.5 to 14 percent less electricity than traditional consumers.


“Members who pay in advance keep a closer eye on how much and when they use electricity,” says Hawkins.


No fees or deposits, flexible payments and proven energy savings make PrePay attractive to a variety of co-op members. Hawkins says 1,145 members are enrolled in ECE’s PrePay program.


To visit with your co-op about PrePay, please call 918-756-0833 or visit www.ecoec.com for details.


co-opvalues


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