BUCKEYE RURAL TO RESUME DISCONNECTS FOR NONPAYMENT IN AUGUST
Not-for-profit electric co-ops like Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative (BREC) are member-owned and routinely return excess revenues to their members. Because of this structure and the desire to keep energy costs as low as possible, co-ops have more limited reserve margins to sustain high rates of nonpayment. When the announcement for Ohio’s stay-at-home order arrived from Governor DeWine in March, BREC moved quickly to suspend disconnects for nonpayment for nearly six months. We have begun taking steps, along with other cooperatives and utilities across the state, to resume normal business operations. This will include resuming disconnects for nonpayment beginning on August 24th and continue each week thereafter, depending on which “cycle” a member is billed. Members scheduled for disconnection of service will receive a SPECIAL NOTICE letter with further details, along with contacts normally provided.
We understand that this pandemic has brought many unexpected financial hardships for our members, but we are here to help! If you have had difficulty paying your bill because of COVID-19 and have not already contacted us, simply give us a call to discuss your options now. Our team is here to offer arrangements that can help avoid disconnection of your service.
How does it work?
BREC offers a payment arrangement program that can provide flexibility in paying off your balance over time, while avoiding disconnection for nonpayment. Our member service representatives are ready to assist you. They can review your account and offer you a more manageable payment option.
As always, our member’s health and safety is important to us. Keeping safety in mind, the office will continue to be closed to walk-in members, but our team will continue to accept phone calls and provide service to our members through the drive-thru window. Our members are encouraged to use our website’s online payment option or pay by phone. Bill payment options can be found at https://publicweb.buckeyerec.coop/index.php/bill-payment-options/. You can contact our office by phone at 800.231.2732. If you have been disconnected for nonpayment, you can pay the full amount required, by phone, and be automatically reconnected, 24/7, nights and weekends. We’re here to help!