fees

FEES AND CHARGES

Big Country Electric Cooperative’s service fees are based on the cooperative’s cost of operation. Your cooperative must charge these fees so members requiring special services sustain the additional expense. Membership Fees are required of all new members. With payment of the Membership Fee you become a member-owner of Big Country Electric Cooperative.

MEMBER DEPOSIT – In most cases, Big Country Electric Cooperative does not collect deposits if a letter of credit can be presented. If your bill becomes delinquent, BCEC will require a deposit on your account. Deposits are estimated as two months usage on the account. Each deposit collected by BCEC earns interest and the interest is returned annually. This deposit plus interest is applied to the final bill when electric service is terminated. If the account is paid in full, the amount is returned to the member.

The following fees are designed to help recover additional costs and expense the cooperative incurs due to the actions of individual members. Big Country Electric Cooperative Board of Directors and management strive to keep these costs fair and appropriate to each situation. For more information on fees or specific amounts, please contact any one of our offices.

TRIP FEE – A $50 trip fee/connect fee is required when BCEC personnel must visit a member’s residence to collect payment, install a meter, or other member requested services.

An additional fee is required when a member’s service is disconnected for non-payment and the member requests the service be reconnected. Additional charges will apply for after-hours reconnect.

METER TESTING FEE – This $15 fee will only be charged if you ask for your meter to be tested more than once within a 4-year period.

RETURNED CHECK FEE – This $25.00 fee is collected on any check returned by the bank on which it is drawn.