Your account number helps us to quickly locate your account and supply you with prompt, accurate assistance when you are calling the office to pay your bill, ask a billing question or report a power outage.

With few exceptions, electricity cannot be stored. It must be produced on demand. The purpose of the Peak Alert program is to hold down the cost of electric bills by reducing the highest load (demand) for electricity during the year. Peak Alert does not mean there is not enough power available; however, cooperatives must purchase enough electricity to fill their heaviest demand for it. During times of peak demand, every available generator is running. Some generators are used only a few hours a year to meet peak demand and, as a result, it costs more to produce peak load energy.

CMEC calls a Peak Alert any time the weather has been extremely hot or extremely cold for an extended length of time and the state's energy use threatens to reach a peak. Bulletins will be issued on the radio, FaceBook and our website advising members of the situation developing. Members are asked to reduce their use of power during the heavy usage hours of those days. When you are notified of a Peak Alert, you know CMEC is trying to reduce the cost of electricity. Every member’s cooperation is very important. Even a small reduction in energy consumption makes a big difference. 

The peak demand usually occurs in the summer on extremely hot days between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. and in the winter on extremely cold days between 5:00 and 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 and 8:00 p.m.

Many factors determine the cost of your new service. Contact the Operations Department to schedule an appointment with an engineer.

Refundable Aid to Construction is the money you contributed to the cost of building new service. This is credited to your account annually based on your usage.

  • Equipment using electricity that you thought was turned off

  • Space heaters

  • Heat pump settings (such as emergency heat turned on)

  • Stock watering thermostat stuck or incorrectly set

  • Faulty water heater element or thermostat

  • Continually running well pump
    -faulty pressure tank
    -bad foot valve in the well
    -water leaks in underground pipes or metal pipes in the well
    -leaky faucets
    -bad floats in toilets

  • Heat lights or heat tapes in a well house

  • Lights left on in basement, attic, storage closet or outbuilding

  • Improperly sealed doors, windows or refrigeration equipment

  • Clogged coils on outside air conditioning or heat pump unit

  • Clogged air filter on heating unit

  • Electrical faults in wiring systems
    -physical damage
    -moisture
    -dirt
    -improper connections

If no problems are found, CMEC has test meters available to record the electrical consumption. However, if all methods fail, contact your electrician.

When payment or satisfactory payment arrangements are not received by the 24th of the month, an account is subject to disconnection. The total amount due on an account in delinquent status shall include usage to date, a service charge and a security deposit (to insure future payments). If service is desired after a disconnection, a reconnection charge will be added to the total amount due. Same day reconnection could require additional over time fees.

Electrical distribution systems use special breakers called reclosers that automatically clear short circuits on the system. When reclosers do their job, it causes brief interruptions in service. When the line clears itself this means that line crews don't need to be dispatched and you continue to have power after the brief blink.

If you are experiencing brief interruptions several times a day, or if you have interruptions only during wet weather, contact the Operations Department.

In some cases, this is due to electrical devices such as refrigerators or microwave ovens on the same circuit coming on while another device is running, thus overloading the circuit momentarily. If this seems to occur frequently or across separate circuits in your home, it may indicate a loose neutral wire, which can be a fire hazard. Contact your electrician to resolve these issues.