How To Pay Your Bill With Union Power Cooperative

Paying your monthly electric bill is an essential part of being a Union Power Cooperative member As a member-owned utility, Union Power aims to provide affordable and reliable electric service to homes and businesses across their service territory But that service relies on members paying their bills fully and on time each month.

Union Power offers various payment options to fit every member’s needs. Whether you prefer the convenience of automatic payments, the flexibility of pay-as-you-go prepay, or the classic route of mailing in a check, Union Power has you covered Read on as we walk through everything you need to know about paying your co-op electricity bill.

Overview of Union Power Cooperative

Let’s start with a quick overview of Union Power for some context:

• Member-owned electric cooperative providing service since 1939
• Headquartered in Monroe, NC with over 90,000 members
• Service area covers parts of Union, Anson, Stanly, and Richmond Counties
• Both residential and commercial members
• Governed by a 9-person Board of Directors elected by members

As a co-op, Union Power is owned by the members it serves. Co-ops work on an “at-cost” basis, which means that any extra money they make is given back to members as capital credits. The co-op structure lets members have a say in how the business is run and tries to keep prices low.

Billing and Payment Timeline

Before we talk about the different ways to pay, let’s go over Union Power’s normal monthly billing and payment schedule:

• Around the 25th, Union Power employees visit homes and businesses to write down the current meter reading. This is done near the end of every month.

• Bill generated mid-month – Using the meter read, your monthly bill is calculated and generated around the 10th-15th of the following month.

• Bill due around the 1st – Printed bills are mailed and electronic bills distributed around the 20th. Payment is due a few days into the next month, generally around the 1st.

• Late fee after 15th – If payment is not received on time, a late fee is assessed after the 15th of the month.

• Disconnect warning after 25th – If the bill remains unpaid after the 25th, a disconnection warning is issued.

• Potential disconnection after 30th – Union Power may proceed with disconnecting service for any account more than 30 days past due.

Payment Options Offered

Union Power offers a variety of payment options tailored to how members want to pay their bill. The available options include:

Online

• Pay on Member Portal – Log into your secure online account anytime to make a payment by card or electronic check.

• Mobile App – Download the UPC Mobile app to pay through your smartphone or tablet.

Automatic Payments

• Auto Pay – Set up recurring payments from your bank account on your desired date each month.

• Automatic Bank Draft – Have your bill amount automatically deducted from your bank account around the due date each month.

Alternative Payments

• Prepaid Billing – Prepay your power bill and have usage deducted daily from your balance.

• Pay by Phone – Call the automated phone system anytime to make a payment.

Mail

• Send a check or money order via standard mail using your payment stub and envelope. Allow 5-7 days for delivery.

In Person

• Visit one of Union Power’s local offices in Monroe or Oakboro to pay your bill in person with cash, check, or money order.

The most popular options tend to be the online portal, auto pay, and standard mail. But choose the method that best matches your needs and preferences each month.

Pay Online Through the Member Portal

For the greatest convenience, we recommend enrolling in the Union Power Member Portal to access your account online. This allows online payments anytime from your computer or mobile device in just a few clicks.

To use the Member Portal for bill pay:

1. Visit www.union-power.com and click “Account Login” at the top.

2. Enter your username and password and click Login.

3. Choose “Payments” from the menu.

4. Select the amount to pay and enter your card or bank account information.

5. Review payment details and click Submit.

The payment will be immediately processed on Union Power’s secure system. You’ll have instant confirmation and peace of mind knowing your bill is paid.

The Member Portal also allows you to:

• View current and past billing statements
• Monitor daily electric usage
• Update account information
• Set up recurring auto-pay
• Receive notifications for high bills or outages
• And more!

So enroll today to maximize convenience and get the most out of your co-op membership.

Sign Up for Automatic Payments

If manually paying bills each month sounds like a headache, consider enrolling in a Union Power automatic payment plan. This authorizes recurring monthly payments directly from your bank account or credit card.

Union Power offers two types of automatic payments:

Auto Pay – This allows you to set up payments through the online member portal or mobile app. You decide the amount and payment date each month. It’s great for flexibility to update as needed.

Bank Draft – Provide bank details to Union Power and they’ll pull your monthly bill amount automatically around the due date. Set it and forget it!

To get started, call Union Power or speak to a representative in person at one of their local offices. Provide your account and banking information and authorize the drafts. Payments will seamlessly process each month without any effort on your part.

Prepay Your Electricity with Prepaid Billing

Looking for a more modern, flexible way to pay for power? Check out Union Power’s Prepaid Billing program.

Prepaid billing works like this:

• Load up your account balance in advance by making payments at your convenience.

• As you use electricity each day, the cost is deducted from your balance.

• Manage your balance via Union Power’s online portal and mobile app.

• Get notifications when your balance runs low so you know when to add more funds.

It’s a great option if you want to closely monitor usage, pay as you go, or avoid security deposits. There are no surprise bills – just add money to your balance whenever needed to keep the power flowing.

Pay by Phone 24/7

Union Power offers a toll-free automated phone system to make payments any time of day or night. To use it:

1. Call 800-922-6840.

2. Select option 3 for “Pay Bill.”

3. Enter your 10-digit Union Power account number.

4. Follow the prompts to enter your payment info.

5. Receive a confirmation number at the end.

The phone system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your convenience. Keep the number handy to pay while on the go or to avoid late fees if you forgot your due date. Just note a $5 service fee applies when paying by phone.

Mail In Your Payment

To pay the classic way with a physical check or money order, simply use the payment stub and return envelope included with your monthly bill. Be sure to mail at least 5-7 business days before your due date to ensure it arrives on time.

Mail your payment stub and check to:

Union Power Cooperative
PO Box 63047
Charlotte, NC 28263-3047

Write your Union Power account number on the check or money order and double check the payment stub to avoid processing issues.

While not as fast as electronic payments, mailing a check gives you a paper trail and avoids any credit/debit card fees.

Pay in Person

You can also take your payment directly to one of Union Power’s local offices during business hours:

Headquarters
1525 North Rocky River Rd
Monroe, NC 28110

District Office
474 South Main St
Oakboro, NC 28129

Both locations are open 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday. Take your payment stub and acceptable payment types include:

• Cash
• Check
• Money order
• Debit/credit card

In-person payments allow you to get receipts on the spot for your records. But be sure to pay at one of the official offices – do not mail payments to Union Power’s local addresses or they may be delayed.

Avoid Late Fees and Disconnection

However you choose to pay, the key is making sure your payment reaches Union Power by the monthly due date, typically around the 1st of each month. Payments received after the 15th incur a late fee. If still unpaid after the 25th, your account is subject to disconnection.

So set payment reminders for yourself and select a method that ensures on-time delivery. The online portal and automatic payments are great options to avoid straggling bills. But no