Your Electrical Bill
South Central Electric mails your bill so that you should have it on or about the 1st of the month. The bill reflects usage for the previous month. For example, the bill you receive June 1st is for energy used between April 1st and May 1st.
All bills are due on the 10th of each month, If the 10th falls on a weekend or holiday, payments are due on the next working day. Payments received after the 10th will be assessed a late charge of 3 percent.
You may pay your electrical bill in person at the South Central Electric office located one mile west of St. James on Tiell Drive. We have a drop box located near the front corner of the building so you can make your payment even if the office is closed. We also have a drive-up drop box at the end of the sidewalk for your convenience. You can also mail your payment and meter readings to South Central Electric Association, P.O. Box 150, St. James, Minnesota 56081.
The following is an example of the billing statement you will receive each month. Return the bottom portion on or before the due date along with your payment. Keep the top portion for your records.
Note 1. This is the account number assigned when you became a member.
Note 2. The billing period is the last date of electrical use included on the bill. It is always the 1st of the month. Those transferring in the middle of the billing period will receive a pro-rated bill for the days used, however, the period ending date will state the 1st. We are always one month behind in the billing.
Note 3. If you do not pay by the due date, we add a 3 percent late charge to the amount that is due.
Note 4. This is the amount to pay by the due date. It is calculated from your electrical usage and based on your type of account.
Note 5. We show the amount due if paid after the due date. This amount includes the 3 percent late charge.
Note 6. Record your meter reading in the spaces next to your meter number on the bottom portion of your bill. If you have more than one meter, make sure you record the reading for the correct meter.
Note 7. The location number tells our crew how to find your meter. Use this number whenever you call the office.
Note 8. This is the rate class used to compute your bill.
Note 9. These are the meter readings you reported with your last payment.
Note 10. We calculate your electrical use from your meter readings.
Note 11. A detailed accounting of your bill is given in this portion of the statement.
Note 12. Notices and announcements are given in this portion of the bill.
Note 13. We show the actual due date each month. This will vary slightly depending on what day the 10th falls.
READING YOUR METER
One of the important factors controlling the cost of providing electric service in rural areas is having our members read their meters each month. This reading is recorded on the billing card that members include with their payment for the previous month's electric bill. Some meters such as seasonal, irrigation and demand meters are read by the Cooperative monthly since it is not feasible for the member to read it themselves.
South Central Electric suggests that you read your meter on or about the same day each month so that each reading sent in will cover approximately the same number of days. The meter should be read on the 1st day of each month.
Members with load management equipment may have more than one meter to read. Meters that measure the electrical use of electric heating or corn drying are normally located in the basement or on the dryer. Read these load management meters at the same time as you read the main meter and mark them on your meter card.
Some services have a sub-meter which meters the electricity used for one particular portion of your electric service usage. Sometimes these are used to keep track of the usage for a corn dryer or the usage for a house only. They may record the usage for water heaters, wells, etc. The kilowatt hours that go through these meters go through the main meter also and only the main meter is recorded for the billings. The customer is responsible for the reading of this meter and for computing the cost of the kilowatt hours that go through this submeter. They are the property of the owner and all use and responsibility is the owner's.
The return portion of your bill has spaces for you to record meter readings. Please record all digits displayed on the meter register in the spaces provided. If you have a meter that all five digits move, please record all five numbers. All South Central Electric meters have a number attached to the face of the meter. If your account has more than one meter, make sure you record the reading in the correct space opposite the corresponding meter number.
It is very important that your meter readings and payments arrive by the due date. If we do not receive your meter reading we will estimate your use for the month. You are estimated on your average usage for the previous three months. When we estimate a reading, the bill may be higher or lower than you expect and it may cause you payment problems. If the Cooperative must estimate the bill for two consecutive months, the Cooperative will read the meter on or about the 1st day of the following month at a charge of $40.00.
Correct meter readings are essential to the operation of your Cooperative. To verify meter accuracy South Central Electric will read each meter at least once every twelve months. There is no charge for that reading. It is done to verify our records only.
South Central Electric replaces meters on a ten year cycle. We test the old meters for accuracy and then put them back into service. This testing program ensures that all meters are accurately measuring electrical use.
SPECIAL CHARGES
In addition to the rate schedule, other special charges may be assessed when necessary.
Meter reading charge (after two estimates) ......................................$40.00
Meter test charge ..........................................................................$25.00
Reconnect Fee (disconnected because of non-payment)
During working hours..................................................................$40.00
After working hours...................................................................$100.00
Consumer Processing Fee (transfer or reconnection of ordinary disconnected service) .........................................................................................$15.00
Collection charge when serviceman attempts collection of unpaid bill at premises ......................................................................................$40.00
Disconnect fee...............................................................................$10.00
Repair member owned security light (labor only)................................$40.00
Building Move Deposit...................................................................$500.00
Dig Holes (when truck is in vicinity) one hole.....................................$60.00
Return Check Fee .........................................................................$20.00
Meter Deposits
A $100.00 deposit will be required for all new members. This deposit will be refundable after one (1) year if the credit rating is satisfactory, and provided all bills are current. Six (6) percent annual interest will be paid on all deposits.
An unsatisfactory credit rating is defined as being contacted by phone, in person, or by letter for two months out of the preceding twelve months, or if the service is disconnected for non-payment of the electric bill.
If a customer has an unsatisfactory credit rating or if disconnection for nonpayment, a deposit will be required. The amount of the deposit required will be estimated two times the average monthly billing for the previous twelve months.
Interest on the above deposit is payable from the date of deposit to the date of refund or disconnection. Interest will be paid on all deposits at the annual rate of six (6) percent.
Date of refund will be approximately twelve (12) months from the date of deposit if evidence of good credit is demonstrated during this period.
BUDGET BILLING PLAN
South Central Electric members on the budget billing plan pay for the electricity they consume in equal monthly payments spread out over the year. Once a year the amount you owe will be adjusted to correct for any over or under billing that has happened.
The budget payment plan is especially useful for members with electric heat as their major use of electricity. With electric heat an regular billing, winter bills can be higher than average and summer bills may be quite low. If you have a lot of farm use, your electrical use may be uniform throughout the year and budget billing may not be of much value to you.
If you are on the budget payment plan you must send in monthly meter readings just as you would for regular billing. Payments are also due by the due date. Each month you'll receive a statement showing your use and the balance left in your account after your last payment.
South Central Electric reserves the right to cancel your budget payment plan for late payments. You will then be put on regular billing and will have to pay
monthly payments that vary with your use. We also reserve the right to increase or decrease the monthly payment as needed so it matches your energy use patterns. The customer also has the right to terminate the budget payment plan at any time and maintain a current monthly billing.
CAPITAL CREDITS
South Central Electric Association is a Cooperative. The difference between a cooperative and another kind of business is that we return our profits back to the membership.
We attempt to set electrical rates so that the money you pay will cover operating expenses and give us a small profit (or margin) in order to satisfy our lenders, Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), and Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
Whenever we have any margins remaining at the end of a year, we credit them back to the membership as Capital Credits. Your share of the Capital Credits depends on the amount you have paid to the Cooperative for electricity that year. Each year you will receive a card like the one below showing your Capital Credits for the year.
South Central Electric retains your Capital Credits and uses that money as operating capital. By retaining Capital Credits we reduce our need for borrowed operating money. As money is available, and as the Board decides, we pay Capital Credits to all people who were members in a certain year. Upon the death of any patron, who is a natural person, Capital Credits shall be paid in full to the estate upon proper request of legal representative of estate. If you move or leave South Central Electric's lines, call or write South Central Electric and let us know your forwarding address. As Capital Credits are paid in the future, they will be sent to your last known address.