Level Billing Plan Can Help You Budget Bills
Residential members’ electric usage varies throughout the year, leading to fluctuations in their electric bills. This variance often makes family budgeting difficult. Many Lamar Electric Cooperative members receive higher bills during the winter and summer months, while spring and fall usually bring the lowest power bills.
Members of Lamar Electric Cooperative may qualify for the co-op’s Level Billing Plan. This plan basically allows the member to pay an average amount each month throughout the year, eliminating the high bills associated with higher winter and summer power usage. Level Billing Plan participants must also realize that they will be paying MORE during some months than their actual usage.
With the plan, the member’s account is settled in full each December. The Level Billing Plan amount is automatically reviewed and adjusted each January to reflect the member’s most recent usage history.
To participate in the plan, members must have been a cooperative customer for at least twelve months. The account must be in good standing with a satisfactory payment history. It is recommended to set up in January, to have a full twelve months average, of lower and higher usage.
Upon approval, the member will pay the same amount, as determined by the cooperative each month. The December bill will be an amount that brings the member’s bill to a “fully paid” status. If the plan is terminated, a settlement is required to clear the account. If electric service is terminated by the cooperative for past-due amounts, the entire amount owed must be paid prior to restoration of service and the plan is automatically terminated.
Each month, the member’s bill denotes the amount to be paid to satisfy the Level Billing Plan agreement, the member’s actual monthly usage and the status of payments compared to billing to that point. This allows members to keep up with the actual status of their bill from month to month.
The Level Billing Plan takes the surprise out of your seasonal electric bill and gives you, the member, the control you need to help plan your family budget. Members who are interested in Lamar Electric Cooperative’s Level Billing Plan may contact the billing department for full details and an application.
