Convenient Ways to Pay Your Upper Cumberland Electric Bill

Paying your electric bill on time each month is important to keep your lights on and avoid late fees. But in today’s busy world, it can be easy to forget when your bill is due or not have time to mail in a payment. That’s why Upper Cumberland Electric offers their customers a variety of convenient payment options to choose from.

Upper Cumberland Electric serves over 50,000 customers in Jackson, Overton, Putnam, Smith, and northern DeKalb counties in Tennessee. As an electric cooperative owned by its members, their mission is providing reliable power at the lowest possible cost. Making bill payment straightforward for customers is an important part of that mission.

So what are your options for paying your Upper Cumberland Electric bill each month? Here is an overview of the many flexible ways you can pay

Pay Online

The easiest and most convenient way for many customers to pay their electric bill is online. Upper Cumberland Electric offers online account access through their website www.ucemc.com or mobile app.

To pay online, you’ll first need to create an online account using your account number. You’ll also need a valid email address on file with Upper Cumberland Electric to complete the online registration process.

Once your online account is set up, you can pay your bill by debit/credit card or e-check. Credit and debit payments incur a 2.45% processing fee. E-check payments cost just $1 per transaction.

The major perk of paying online is being able to post your payment immediately. You can also schedule payments in advance if you won’t be available on your bill’s due date.

Pay by Phone

If you prefer to pay your electric bill over the phone, Upper Cumberland Electric makes that easy too.

You can call 800-261-2940 and select option 2 to access their automated bill pay system. The system will automatically look up your account using the phone number you are calling from, as long as it’s the number listed on your account.

Payments can be made by credit/debit card or e-check over the phone. The same additional fees apply as with online payments. The payment will post to your account instantly after being processed.

Pay by Mail

Sending your payment by mail is the traditional way many customers choose to pay their monthly electric bill.

With this option, your payment will post as of the postmark date stamped on the envelope. So be sure to mail your payment several days before the due date to ensure it arrives on time.

Paying by mail gives you the flexibility to send a check or money order without any additional fees. Just be sure to include your remittance stub in the envelope so your payment gets applied correctly.

Pay at District Offices

Visiting one of Upper Cumberland Electric’s four district offices is another easy way to pay in person. Offices are open 8am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

At district offices, you can pay by cash, check, or money order. Be sure to bring your account number or a copy of your bill for reference. A drive-thru window is also available at each office for quick bill payment drop off.

Pay at Night Depositories

All Upper Cumberland Electric district offices have night depositories where bills can be paid after normal business hours. Simply place your payment in the secure drop box anytime outside of operating hours.

Night deposit payments get posted to your account the next business day, backdated to the drop off date. This allows you to pay on time even if the due date falls on a weekend or holiday when offices are closed.

Pay at Kiosks

For 24/7 bill payment access, Upper Cumberland Electric offers self-service kiosks at their Carthage and Cookeville offices. Kiosks accept cash, check, credit cards, and debit cards.

Cash and check kiosk payments cost $0.50. Credit/debit transactions incur the standard 2.45% processing fee. Kiosk payments post to your account instantly after being processed.

Pay at Participating Banks

Many local banks partner with Upper Cumberland Electric to accept electric bill payments. Simply bring your bill or account number to any of the following banks:

• First Freedom Bank (Carthage, Algood, Gainesboro)
• One Bank (Baxter, Livingston)
• Citizens Bank (Gainesboro)
• Regions Bank (Smithville)

Payments made at banks will post to your Upper Cumberland Electric account using the date stamped on your bill receipt. This option gives you another way to pay in person with cash or check without fees.

Pay Where You Shop

A newer payment option offered by Upper Cumberland Electric is paying your bill at local retailers when you shop. This is part of their CheckOut program.

To use this option, you sign up for a payment barcode through Upper Cumberland’s website. Then when checking out at a participating retailer, have them scan your barcode as a separate transaction before paying for your other items.

The major retailers accepting Upper Cumberland Electric payments include Dollar General, CVS, Walgreens, 7-Eleven, and Family Dollar. Cash is the only accepted payment method, and a $1.50 service fee applies. You’ll receive instant payment confirmation after your barcode is scanned.

Sign Up for AutoPay

One of the easiest ways to avoid forgetting payments is enrolling in AutoPay through Upper Cumberland Electric’s online account system. This automatically deducts your bill amount each month on the due date from your chosen payment method.

AutoPay can be set up for debit/credit cards or e-check payments. The same additional fees apply based on payment type. You’ll just need to pick a deduction date that’s before your actual bill due date.

While AutoPay is convenient, it’s important to still log in and review your bill each month. That way you can catch any unusual charges or changes to your usage.

Use Bank Draft

Bank draft deduction is similar to AutoPay but directly debits your checking or savings account instead of a card. This option has no additional fees associated.

To enroll, you’ll need to complete Upper Cumberland Electric’s Bank Draft form and provide a voided check. Bank draft payments will deduct on your bill’s due date each month going forward.

Avoid Third Party Payment Sites

One important tip when paying your Upper Cumberland Electric bill online is only using their official website, www.ucemc.com. Some third party sites may appear to offer electric bill pay but actually charge you extra fees and not process payments properly.

Stick with Upper Cumberland’s official online account system for the most secure bill payment experience. Never provide account information to a website you don’t recognize or fully trust.

Communicate About Payment Issues

If you find yourself unable to pay your electric bill in full one month, contact Upper Cumberland Electric right away to discuss payment plan options. Trying to ignore the issue or not communicating will only lead to penalties, fees, and potential service disconnection.

Being proactive and asking for help when you need it allows their customer service team to work with you on a solution. There are always options available to customers who reach out in advance of bill due dates.

Summary

As an Upper Cumberland Electric member, be sure to take advantage of the many payment methods offered for quick and easy bill payment each month. Pay online, over the phone, at physical locations, or enroll in automatic payments.

The key is choosing an option that best fits your needs and preferences so you never miss a payment. Reach out to Upper Cumberland’s customer service department if you have any questions on getting signed up for one of their payment programs.