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Toll Free: (800) 214-2694 | Pay by Phone: (844) 965-1335
Managing Your Account
In order to best serve you, it's important your account information is up-to-date. With correct phone numbers, billing address, and e-mail addresses on file we are able to communicate with you in the event of planned or unplanned outages or about other cooperative related matters.
Individuals who are responsible for the account are recorded in our system and we cannot provide information to anyone whose name is not listed on the account. For example, if the account is only in the wife's name, we cannot give the amount due to the husband if his name is not on the account.
When contacting the Cooperative to discuss your account, be sure to have your account number ready if you are an existing member.
Electric bills are mailed to all members by the 5th of the month. The normal bill is for approximately 30 days of service but may vary from a minimum of 25 to a maximum of 35 days, based on the number of working days in a month, bad weather, or holiday schedules.
Online
With SmartHub, you may pay your bill online using a bank account or credit card. There is no charge when using your bank account or credit card. You can either utilize the application to make a one-time payment or set-up a recurring payment. You can also access more detailed account information and view your billing history.
Phone
Call (844) 965-1335 to pay your bill by phone 24 hours a day with a major credit card (MasterCard, VISA, Discover, or American Express) or by providing your checking or savings account information. There is no charge when using your credit card or checking or savings account information. A Spanish option is available. Our secure pay-by-phone system also allows you to check your account balance and enroll in autopay.
Auto-Pay
Join the Automatic Bill Payment program and have funds automatically deducted from your checking, savings, or credit card (MasterCard, VISA, Discover, or American Express) account each month. Payments will be deducted on the due date, as stated on your bill. If this date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deduction will take place the following business day.
Bank Payment
Bank payment is an excellent option, but please keep in mind that most online bill payments can take up to five (5) days to process.
In Person
You can make payments at the Cooperative's headquarters in Oronoco Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
A payment drop box is located near the flagpole at the headquarters building. Payments placed in the drop box will be posted by the end of the next business day.
If you pay your bill by mail, we suggest mailing your payment at least five (5) business days before your due date to ensure your payment is posted by the due date. Payments by mail should include the account number(s), be sent in the envelope provided, and sent to:
People's Energy Cooperative
PO Box 402333
Boone, IA 50940-0333
Budget billing allows members to pay more balanced monthly payments throughout the year. This billing option is available for residential and small general service accounts only. It is not allowed for account on demand billed rates.
The budget payment amount is calculated by the billing system, based on the past twelve months of usage history. For more information on Budget Billing and to sign up, click below.
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The MyChoice prepay program is a flexible payment option that allows you, as a member, to prepay your electric account; eliminating set due dates, deposits, late fees and reconnect fees. The program is available to all residential members with a single-phase meter capable of remote disconnect/reconnect unless they have a medical condition requiring continuous electric service or they prefer to participate in other programs that do not coincide with prepayment.
The MyChoice prepay program is an optional and flexible payment option that allows you, as a member, to prepay on your electric account; eliminating set due dates, deposits, late fees, and reconnect fees.
Once enrolled in MyChoice, you can make payments to your account when it works best for you. Payments may be made online through SmartHub, through the secure, automated pay-by-phone system at (844) 965-1335, or in person at the Oronoco office. When your account has a credit balance of less than $25, an alert will be sent to you by text or email, letting you know it is time to add funds to your account. If funds in your account run out, electric service will be automatically disconnected, and you will be notified by text or email that your electric service has been disconnected. You can make a payment on your account at any time, day or night, online or by phone. Once payment is received, and the account balance has at least a credit of $15, a signal will be automatically sent to the meter and you will have 45 minutes to press the black button on the front of the meter to restore the power. There are no disconnection or reconnection fees.
MyChoice is a personal choice. It allows you to budget based on your energy use and/or income. It eliminates deposits, late fees, and reconnect fees. If you prefer to make a larger payment to cover several months of energy you can do that, or if it is easier to make daily or weekly payments, MyChoice may be right for you. Payments as little as $25 can be made on a prepaid account.
All residential members, who elect to enroll and have a single-phase meter capable of remote disconnect/reconnect, unless they (or a person within the same premise) have a medical condition requiring continuous electric service, or they prefer to participate in:
- Time-of-Use rates
- Net Metering
- A rate that is billed for demand (kW)
- Automatic Bill Pay through PEC
- Budget Billing
Note: Households with residents requiring medical necessary equipment cannot participate in MyChoice Prepay billing. It is the members responsibility to notify the Cooperative if circumstances change that require medical necessary equipment.
Contact our office at (800) 214-2694 to speak with a member service representative. Members who sign-up for MyChoice must sign an agreement. The Agreement spells out the terms and conditions of participating in the MyChoice prepay program.
There are no enrollment costs. When an account is converted to the prepay program, the total amount owed through the current meter reading will be calculated in accordance with the account’s present rate schedule. This will provide a starting balance and determine an amount required to meet the required $25 credit balance. If a deposit exists on the account, it will be applied in full to any outstanding balance at the time of converting to the prepay program, and any credit remaining will be applied to the prepay balance for that account.
A meter reading is taken daily and the account balance will be calculated, per the assigned rate, around 9:30 a.m. each day. The daily prepay balance is determined by subtracting charges for usage, the basic service charge, taxes, and other applicable charges and then adding any payments received. Although uncommon, if we cannot get a reading from the meter, our system will estimate the usage based on historical usage data. The system will “true-up” the charges when a valid reading is received.
No, rates are based on the type of service provided and not on how you pay for your service.
No. If you enroll in the MyChoice prepay program, the deposit will be waived. If you have an existing deposit, it will be applied to your account balance and any excess will be applied to your prepaid balance.
No. Prepaid accounts do not receive a monthly bill. Your meter is read and charges are calculated and applied daily. You can track your daily charges and payments by calling our secure, automated pay-by-phone system or online through SmartHub.
That is up to you as long as funds are available on your account. Payments can be made in person at the Oronoco office, through our secure, automated pay-by-phone system or online through SmartHub. A minimum payment of $25 is required per transaction.
Energy assistance payments are accepted as a form of payment for MyChoice prepay participants and will be applied when the payment has been received by PEC. Assistance pledges/guarantees will also be accepted to keep the service active. It is the responsibility of the applicant to inform PEC if they are working with an energy assistance agency, so that the account is updated accordingly.
No. Since you will be prepaying for electric service, you will never be late, thus not incur late charges. Additionally, if the prepaid account funds run out and the account is disconnected, there are no fees for the reconnect, unless Cooperative personnel assistance is required for reconnection.
Checking your account balance and adding money to your account is quick and easy, even on weekends and holidays through any of the following options: • Online through SmartHub by visiting our website, www.peoplesenergy.coop and clicking on ‘Pay Now’. • Calling our secure, automated pay-by-phone system at (844) 965-1335. • At the Oronoco office (during normal business hours).
Yes. You will need to create a SmartHub account if you do not already have one. In SmartHub, select ‘Manage Notifications’ under the notification tab to receive low balance notifications through email or text messaging. Balance notifications will be sent daily once the account goes below a minimum credit balance of $25. It is necessary to sign up for the notifications to receive updates on your account.
During the Cold Weather Rule (CWR) Oct. 1 - April 30, the notifications received via text and/ or email are in lieu of receiving a disconnect notice via mail or left at a service location. A cold weather brochure is provided to all members and is available on PEC’s website.
Power will be disconnected. Disconnection will occur Monday through Friday, typically between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and without further notification.
- Make a payment resulting in a credit balance of at least $15 on your prepaid account. A minimum of a $25 payment is required per transaction.
- Payments made online through SmartHub or over the secure, automated pay-by-phone system at (844) 965-1335 will be processed immediately. If you setup notifications to receive a payment confirmation in SmartHub, then you will be notified that payment was received.
- Once the payment is confirmed as received, you will have 45 minutes to press the black button on the front of the meter to restore power.
Yes. PEC will require full payment and may require a deposit (based on your credit) as a condition of continued service.
Late Bills
Unlike most other products or services, you pay for electricity after you have used it.
Payments must be received in the Cooperative office by the due date to avoid a late payment charge. Late payments are subjected to a five percent (5%) charge of the current month's charges.
If there are any questions concerning your bill, please contact Member Services at (800) 214-2694 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday or send us a message on the Contact Us page of the website.
Delinquent Bills
All delinquent bills for which payment has not been received by the disconnection date shall be subject to the provisions of the Cooperative's disconnection policies. Accounts with the balance of 30 days or more past due are subject to disconnection. Disconnection notices are printed on the monthly billing statement.
If your electric service is disconnected because of non-payment, a reconnection fee of $75 will be charged to reconnect service when able to do so remotely. A reconnection fee of $100 - $400 will be charged to reconnect if the reconnection needs to be done in-person or with additional assistance from the office which is not related to Cooperative equipment issues.
Background
Minnesota's Cold Weather Rule helps protect members and reconnects their heat from October 1 through April 30. This only applies to residential members. Those affected by the Cold Weather Rule must work with the Cooperative to arrange energy assistance or set up a payment plan.
It is important to note that the Minnesota Cold Weather Rule does not forbid winter cutoffs. If a member receives a disconnection notice, they must act promptly.
Guidelines
An electric cooperative may not disconnect the utility service of a residential cooperative member during the period between October 1 and April 30 if they disconnection affects the primary heat source of the residential unit and ALL the following conditions are met:
- The household income of the Cooperative member is at or below 50 percent of the state median income. Income may be verified on forms provided by the Cooperative or by the local energy assistance provider. A cooperative member meets the income requirement if they receive energy assistance or another type of public assistance that uses an income eligibility threshold set at or below 50 percent of the state median income;
- A cooperative member enters into and makes timely payments under a payment agreement that considers the financial resource of the household; and
- A cooperative member receives, from the Cooperative, referrals to energy assistance programs, weatherization, conservation, or other programs likely to reduce the customer's energy bills.
Costs associated with mailing billing statements can reach $85,000 per year for the Cooperative. Fees to process credit card payments are approximately five times more than processing a bank payment. By choosing paperless billing and/or automatic bank draft (ACH) payments, members are helping the Cooperative control fixed costs therefore stabilizing rates.