currents ■
CFL Charlie Gets a Girlfriend LED Lucy casts a new light on electric cooperative branding
F
or years, Willie Wiredhand served as the iconic
mascot of the nation’s rural electric cooperatives, but as the electric industry progressed and energy efficiency became the new co-op mantra, a new mascot was created. CFL Charlie, an affable fellow shaped like a CFL lightbulb, began appearing at co- op functions across the U.S.
Now, CFL Charlie has a girlfriend: Meet LED Lucy! Touchstone Energy created Lucy to help promote energy efficiency among young and old alike.
Bill Payment Options
There’s more than one way to pay your electric bill
Choctaw Electric Cooperative (CEC) provides several convenient bill payment options and payment plans. For more details on any of our payment options, please contact your CEC billing representative at 800-780-6486, or visit
www.choctawelectric.coop.
Pay online at
www.choctawelectric.coop. Using our secure payment site you can also view your account history, check your account balance, energy usage and more.
Budget Billing. With this option your energy usage is averaged over 11 months, helping you avoid seasonal high bills .
Taking the form of a light emitting diode (LED), Lucy may steal the spotlight from her CFL friend. LEDs last twice as long as CFL bulbs and contain no hazardous material so
consumers can dispose of them safely in the trash. Watch for Lucy at electric co-op functions everywhere.
Automatic Payment Plan. Monthly bill payments are automatically withdrawn from your checking, savings, or credit card account.
Prepaid Billing. This plan lets you pay ahead for your electricity. Requires an energy purchase of $50 to begin. No late penalites or disconnect/reconnect fees.
Pay-It-Forward Payment Plan CEC’s prepaid billing program offers a solution to past due bills
simply appreciate a payment option that lets them control when and how much they pay for their electricity. With Choctaw Electric’s new prepaid metering program, any member can enjoy “pay-ahead” power, an innovative payment program that works like a prepaid plan for your cell phone.
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With CEC’s prepaid program, members pay ahead for their electric use. When their balance nears zero, CEC issues a notice via email or automated telephone call. The member has the option to pay whatever amount they are comfortable with or can afford at the time. When the balance reaches zero, CEC issues a signal to the
ome co-op members find it difficult to stretch their paycheck far enough to cover their utility bills. Others
meter to disconnect the service.
To reconnect service, the prepaid member pays a minimum of $25, and the process begins again. There are no late fees or disconnect/reconnect fees assessed on prepaid accounts. This helps members avoid the chronic debt cycle associated with past due bills.
Because prepaid customers are more aware of their energy use, they tend to develop usage habits. The result is lower monthly energy costs for prepaid consumers, another prepaid advantage.
For more information on CEC’s prepaid payment plan, please call 800-780-6486, or visit
www.choctawelectric.coop.
After Hours Payments. Choctaw Electric offers a drive through window and/or payment drop box at CEC office locations in Hugo, Idabel and Antlers.
Authorized Payment Locations. Pay your bill at any of the following locations Monday through Friday during regular office hours.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
First Bank & Trust, Idabel
McCurtain Co. National Bank, Idabel Choctaw Electric Cooperative, Idabel Idabel National Bank, Idabel First Bank, Antlers
Ameri State Bank, Antlers
Choctaw Electric Cooperative, Antlers First National Bank, Broken Bow First Bank and Trust, Broken Bow McCurtain Co. National Bank, Broken Bow Shamrock Bank, Clayton
Choctaw Electric Cooperative, Hugo First Bank, Hugo
First Bank and Trust, Hochatown First State Bank, Valliant
McCurtain Co. National Bank, Valliant First Bank and Trust, Wright City
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