Billing Information

• About Your Electric Bill
   
• Members are the Cooperative
   
• Monitoring Your Electrical Usage
   
• Reading Your Meter

   

About Your Electric Bill

BCREA mails your bill so that you should have it by the 25th of the month. The bill reflects usage for the previous month. For example, the bill you receive by June 25th is for energy you used between May 1st and June 1st.

All bills are due by the 5th of each month. If the 5th falls on a weekend or holiday, payments are due on the next working day. Payments received after the 5th will be charged 1-1/2% penalty fee. One late payment per year is allowed with no penalty.

To make paying as convenient as possible we have provided several choices. A drive up drop box at our office building, is located near the flag pole. We also have a night depository located near the front door of our office building. Bills also may be paid in person at our office or mailed to us.

Automatic Payment is also available. This is the method whereby your electric bill payment is automatically deducted from your checking or savings account each month. Download the Automatic Payment Application at the bottom of this page or contact BCREA for more information.

It is important for us to receive your meter readings each month. It allows us to calculate your electric bill accurately. If we do not receive a reading, the amount is estimated and this may cause you to be billed incorrect amounts. To submit your meter reading online click here.

Members are the Cooperative

As a member you are a part owner of Brown County Rural Electric Association. The area served by Brown County REA is divided into 9 districts. Each district elects one director to the board of directors. Directors elections take place at the Annual Membership Meeting.

The Annual Meeting shall be held on a date determined by the Board of Directors. Directors serve a three year term.

The board of directors meets monthly to conduct the business of the Cooperative. They hire the General Manager who hires the Cooperative employees and manages the daily affairs of the Cooperative.

Brown County REA is a cooperative business, therefore we credit any money the members pay over and above actual operating expense to each member’s Capital Credit account. Your share of the Capital Credits for the year depends on the amount you have paid to the Cooperative that year. Each year you will receive a notice showing the amount of your Capital Credits for the past year.

By retaining Capital Credits for a period of time we reduce our need for borrowing money thus saving in interest cost. As money is available, and as the board decides, we pay Capital Credits to all people who were members in a certain year. We pay Capital Credits to estates on a discounted basis since the heirs receive payment ahead of the regular member.

If you move, call and let us know your forwarding address. As Capital Credits are paid in the future they will be sent to your last known address.

Monitoring your electrical usage

Your electric meter is an accurate way to measure electrical use. Brown County REA meters are tested on a regular cycle to ensure that they are working properly. You can use your meter to help you conserve energy and lower your electrical bills.

Keep a record of your meter readings for each month. By comparing use from one month to the next or for the same month a year earlier you can see if your use has changed. If you have not made major changes in your electrical system and have not added major appliances, but your use has changed it may indicate a problem in your electrical system.

You can also use daily readings to check your use. Daily readings help you keep track of patterns that may develop during the day or week. They may indicate ways that you can reduce electrical use without major changes in how you live.

Take a few moments each day (preferably at the same time) to record the reading on the electric meter. It’s best to start on the 1st day of the month and to keep a record for at least one month.

Subtract the previous days reading from today’s reading to get the total KHW used for the day. Also when you read the meter record any special activities that may have happened in the last 24 hours that may have affected energy use. Add up weekly and monthly totals of energy use. You will see how much--and when your family used electricity.

Your meter is an accurate way to measure electrical use. If you see a pattern of increasing use, try to find out why. Your records of daily use may show you the reason for the larger use. Was the weather colder and an engine heater plugged in? Was there increased laundry? Did you take extra showers?

If you cannot explain increased use from your notes, you may need to call an electrician to check for electrical wiring or appliance problems.

Reading your meter

Brown County REA members read their own meters unless it is an irrigation or commercial account.

We ask you to read your meter on the 1st of each month and mail your reading and payment by the 5th of each month. By reading your meter on the same day each month, you make it easier to compare one month’s bill with another. Each billing period will then have about the same number of days.

Members with load management equipment may have more than one meter to read. Meters that measure the electrical use of electrical heating systems are normally located in the basement. Air Conditioning and heat pump meters are usually outside near the outdoor unit. Read the load management meter at the same time as you read the main meter.

The return portion of your bill has lines for you to record meter readings. Please record all digits displayed on the meter register in the printed lines. If your account has more than one meter, make sure you record the reading in the correct area for each meter.

It is very important that your meter readings and payment arrive the 5th of the month. If we do not receive your meter reading we will estimate your use for the month. When we estimate a reading, the bill may be higher or lower than you expect and it may cause you payment problems. If you do not pay your bill by the 5th of the month a 1-1/2% penalty is added with a minimum fee of $1.00.

The meter reading can be estimated for two months. If we do not get a meter reading for two months in a row, we will have one of our linemen read the meter for you. You will be billed $35.00 if we must read the meter. Correct meter readings are essential to the operation of your Cooperative. To verify meter accuracy BCREA will periodically read your meter. There is no charge for that reading, it is done to verify our records.

BCREA tests about 500 meters per year. We test the meter for accuracy and put it back into service. This testing program ensures that all meters are accurately measuring electrical use.

If a member requests that their meter be tested, a $25.00 deposit shall be made prior the test. If the meter is not found to be within plus or minus 2%, the deposit will be refunded and the bill adjusted accordingly.

Members who need the seal on their meter removed for electrical work are required to contact Brown County REA when the work is completed so a new seal can be attached to your meter. This must be reported promptly for safety and legal reasons.