SmartPay was introduced to members in 2012, a prepaid program, which can help members better manage their energy use and costs. The pay-as-you-go program now has 3,587 members participating.
“I think SmartPay is a wonderful thing,” said member Kathy Coats. “One of the best programs South River EMC has opened to the public [membership] in a long time.”
Gerardo Figueroa was just such a member. When faced with a deposit, he opted for SmartPay, which does not require a deposit.
"The best thing about SmartPay is that I'm aware of the energy I'm using daily," said Figueroa. "And I'm in control."
Coats agreed, “I like SmartPay because it enables you to actually see how much you’re using each day.”
Members on SmartPay pay the same rate for electricity as those on traditional billing, they just pay for it in advance.
“I’m learning how to save money and energy. I can see my use daily and make changes, I thought the whole idea was too good to be true.”
Setting up an account is easy. It must be set up with a positive balance that should be monitored daily. If you are on SmartPay, you pay as much as you can, when you can as long as you maintain a positive balance.
Upon enrollment, you must purchase at least $75 of energy. You do not pay disconnection or reconnection charges – it's that easy!
“I’m learning how to save money and energy,” said Coats. “I can see my use daily and make changes, I thought the whole idea was too good to be true.”
Once enrolled, participants often find themselves reducing energy consumption by between five and 15 percent.
"Energy use has affected my habits," Figueroa said. "I make changes as soon as I see energy use increase."
Choose SmartPay
You can check your balance daily by clicking View My Account/ Pay My Bill under Service Options at sremc.com, or calling 910-892-8071. If you decide to participate in SmartPay, SmartView monitoring is the most important tool.