The power of second chances

Electric cooperatives offer members a variety of ways to pay for electric service. Tideland EMC in eastern North Carolina, like other cooperatives, runs a program whereby members can pre-pay for electric service, or “pay as you go.”

The FlexPay program involves opening an account with a small balance. When the balance needs to be replenished, the cooperative notifies the member and accepts payment in a number of ways, including online. Participants don’t get bills in the mail, and they are not subject to late payment fees or non-payment disconnect or reconnect fees.

Pre-paid service also places members closer to their energy consumption patterns, so that their own efficiency measures can reduce usage and lower their costs.