A Comprehensive Guide to Paying Your Adams Electric Cooperative Bill

As a customer of Adams Electric Cooperative it’s important to understand your monthly electric bill and the various ways to pay it on time. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about managing your co-op account reading your statement, payment options, and more.

Overview of Adams Electric Cooperative

Adams Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric utility providing service to over 7,400 members in central Pennsylvania and parts of Maryland Some key facts

• Formed in 1936 to bring electricity to rural communities.

• Headquartered in Gettysburg, PA with district offices in Shippensburg and York.

• Over 2,200 miles of power lines across 8 counties.

• Governed by a 9-member board elected by co-op members.

• Not-for-profit co-op focused on providing reliable and affordable power.

As a co-op member, you become a partial owner and have a voice in co-op governance. Understanding Adams Electric’s billing and payment process is an important part of membership.

Reading and Understanding Your Electric Bill

Adams Electric co-op bills contain detailed information about your account and monthly electric usage. Here’s what each section means:

• Account Summary: Account number, meter number, billing date, due date, and total amount due.

• Payment Stub: Detachable portion to return with mailed payments.

• Account Detail: Name, address, and customer type associated with the account.

• Meter Readings: Shows date and kWh meter readings for current and previous month.

• Usage History: Bar chart comparing current month’s usage to previous 13 months.

• Billing Summary: Breaks down total charges including base rates, purchased power, taxes, fees, and adjustments.

• Message Area: Important notices about rate changes, events, peak usage info, etc.

• Usage Comparison: Compares your usage to other co-op members in your rate class.

Carefully reviewing each billing section can help you understand your household energy use and catch any billing errors. Contact Adams Electric if you have any questions.

Ways to Pay Your Electric Bill

Adams Electric offers several payment options for members to pay bills conveniently:

• SmartHub – Pay online 24/7 through SmartHub web portal or mobile app. Supports one-time or recurring payments.

• Phone – Call 1-855-939-3695 to pay over the phone using automated system. Have account number ready.

• Mail – Detach payment stub from bill and mail with check or money order to Adams Electric PO Box.

• In Person – Visit any Adams Electric district office during business hours to pay with cash, check, credit card, or money order.

• Payment Kiosk – Pay at self-service kiosk with cash, check, or card. Located at all district offices.

• SmartHub PayNow – Make quick one-time payments through SmartHub without logging in. Uses account number and name.

I recommend setting up recurring payments through SmartHub for convenience. But choose an option that best fits your needs!

Payment Due Dates and Late Fees

Adams Electric bills are due by the date shown on your statement, typically around the 25th of each month. If payment is not received on time, a late fee will be assessed:

• 1% late fee applied to overdue balance

• Late notice sent if payment is not received within 5 days of due date

• Disconnect notice may be sent if bill remains unpaid for 15 days after due date

• Service subject to disconnection if bill is unpaid for 25 days after due date

Avoid late fees by paying a few days early or setting up auto-pay through SmartHub. Adams Electric does not provide grace periods or waive late fees.

Payment Assistance Programs

If you’re experiencing financial hardship and difficulty paying your electric bill, Adams Electric offers programs to help, including:

• Budget Billing – Pay a monthly average amount to avoid seasonal spikes.

• CARES Act Funds – Bill assistance for members impacted by COVID-19.

• LIHEAP – Federally-funded bill payment assistance for low-income households.

• Neighbor Helping Neighbor – Donate to support other members in need.

• Payment Arrangements – Set up a payment plan for overdue balances.

• Project Helping Hand – Provides grants to cover utility bills in emergencies or crises.

Contact Adams Electric right away if you anticipate struggling to pay a bill so they can discuss options to avoid disconnection.

Monitoring Electricity Usage

Sudden spikes or changes in your electric bill can be puzzling and concerning. Here are some tips to keep an eye on usage:

• Log in to SmartHub regularly to view current usage data.

• Note meter readings to detect abnormal usage increases month-to-month.

• Consider enrolling in prepaid metering to pay as you go and avoid surprise bills.

• Ensure billing estimates are accurate if unable to read meter. Submit correct reads.

• Compare bills year-over-year and factor in weather differences.

• Complete a home energy audit to identify savings opportunities.

Monitoring usage patterns can help identify issues like faulty appliances, added electric demand, or meter malfunctions before they show up as a high bill. Contact Adams Electric if anything seems abnormal.

Avoiding Service Disconnection

Having your power shut off due to non-payment can be very disruptive. Here are some key things you can do to avoid disconnection:

• Pay overdue balances as soon as possible, even if only partial payment.

• Contact Adams Electric immediately if you won’t be able to pay on time.

• Set up a payment arrangement or payment assistance if eligible.

• Maintain communication and respond to late notices quickly.

• Consider prepaid metering to stay current on usage.

• Keep contact info updated so you receive disconnect notices.

• Qualified low-income households can apply for winter shut-off protection.

Disconnections can be avoided with early intervention and utilizing programs available for struggling members. Keeping Adams Electric informed is key.

Signing Up for SmartHub

Adams Electric members are encouraged to take advantage of SmartHub, the online account management portal and mobile app. With SmartHub you can:

• Pay bills online 24/7.

• View current and historical usage.

• Contact customer service.

• Report outages.

• Monitor payment history.

• Update account information.

• Go paperless.

• And more!

Registration is easy – just have your account number handy. SmartHub puts account management at your fingertips.

Moving and Service Transfers

If you are moving within Adams Electric’s service area, you’ll need to transfer or close your existing electric account:

Transfer Service

• Contact Adams Electric at least 3 days before your move to establish service at your new address.

• Provide new mailing address and contact information for billing.

• Read meter on move out date and move in date to calculate final bill.

Close Account

• Contact Adams Electric at least 3 days before move to disconnect service at old address.

• Provide date service should be disconnected.

• Provide forwarding address to send final bill.

• Accounts remain active until disconnection date if closure notice not received.

Proper service transfers ensure billing duties are handed off correctly. Give ample notice to avoid complications.