Prepaid Service FAQs

Prepaid Service is a payment choice for our members and is totally voluntary, allowing members to make payments into their account to cover the cost of future energy usage.

Prepaid Service is available to members on the Farm and Home Service Rate (Schedule A) with 200 amp or less service.

It is not available if the member…

• is enrolled in Net Metering (ie: if they have renewable energy equipment connected to the CVEC system).
• is enrolled and wishes to remain in the Levelized Billing Program.
• has a Serious Medical Condition Certificate filed with CVEC.
• has terminated the same Prepaid Service within the last 12 months.
• is utilizing and wishes to continue automatic draft payments.

All Prepaid Services shall have a month-to-month contract, automatically renewing and continuing, unless canceled by the member.

• If the account is existing, a member must request transfer to Prepaid Service, pay the full amount due on the existing account, and establish a minimum balance of $50 in the new service.
• If the account is new, in addition to the $50 minimum payment, the member must also pay the standard Service Connection Fee.

• If a new account is being opened, no deposit or credit check is required.
• If an old account is being converted to Prepaid Service and a deposit was made on the original account, a refund will be given to the member or he/she may choose to apply it to the amount due or to the new Prepaid Service.

Each member’s meter is read daily and, after each reading, the appropriate daily charges are calculated and a debit is applied to the Prepaid Service account balance. The payment calculation combines the following to determine the cost of the electric service used by the member:

• Energy charges
• Distribution charges
• Metering and billing
• Basic service charge
• Power cost adjustment
• Applicable taxes
• Other applicable charges

Charges and rates will be the very same as for members on a traditional Farm and Home Service (Schedule A).

Between monthly billings, a Prepaid Service will be billed on a daily basis using the actual daily meter readings and Rate Schedule A. Fixed charges that are billed monthly, including Metering and Billing and the Basic Service Charge, along with the fixed or minimum portion of any local taxes, will be billed daily at 1/30 of the monthly charge. Fixed charges associated with Security Lights (CVEC Rate Schedule SHL) will also be billed daily at 1/30 of the monthly rate.

Each billing cycle, CVEC will reconcile all charges for that billing period (more or less than 30 days).

No bill for service is mailed to a member opting for Prepaid Service. The member is responsible for monitoring his/her account to ensure that the balance does not reach $0, which would cause suspension of service.

The balance can be monitored:

• Anytime online at the Cooperative’s website through the CVEC Account Portal
• By speaking with a Member Services Representative, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays, (800) 367-2832
• By calling the Cooperative’s toll-free number and utilizing the automated account info system, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• By visiting the payment kiosk, located at each division office

The rate for service will be the very same as the current Farm and Home Service Rate (Schedule A) offered by CVEC. As of October 2023, they are as follows:

Recurring Charges

All charges are also subject to the Power Cost Adjustment Rider (filed under Schedule C), as well as applicable taxes.

A member can pay for this service with all of the same methods used to pay for all CVEC services with the exception of Automatic Bank Draft. So, money can be paid into the account ...

• By cash, check, or credit/debit card at one of the CVEC kiosks
• With check or debit/credit card by phone or online

Note: Each payment into the account must be a minimum of $25.