Prepay Program

The Prepay Program offered by Petit Jean Electric Cooperative allows members to avoid deposits and fees, customize their payment schedule, purchase energy when convenient, and monitor their electricity consumption in a self-managed program. The Prepay Program does not change the rate or the service availability fee.

Would it be easier for you to make weekly or biweekly payments rather than 1 large payment each month? If so, the Prepay Program may be for you. Statistics indicate pay as you go electricity programs help lower electric consumption 10 to 15%  by increasing a member’s awareness of their actual usage.

The Prepay Program offers members flexibility and financial relief by removing upfront costs and giving control over how and when electricity is paid for.

No Upfront Deposits

• Under the traditional post-pay monthly billing system, applicants with a history of late or non-payments are required to pay a security deposit to open their account.
• Many people find it difficult to come up with the money for those deposits.
• The Prepay Program solves that problem by eliminating the need for security deposits.
• The money a member puts on his or her account can be used for electricity immediately.

Re-Establishing Service After Disconnection

• Traditional monthly billing post-pay members who have had their electricity disconnected for non-payment can:
• Apply existing security deposits toward their past due usage, current due usage, unbilled usage, and Reconnect Fee.
• Load their Prepay Program account with any remaining security deposit monies for future consumption.

Pay When You Want

Another advantage of this program is that it allows the Petit Jean Electric Cooperative members who choose this program to pay their bills when they want.

• To continue to receive electric power Prepay Program members are simply required to always have money in their electric account.

To sign up or switch an account to the Prepay Program option:

• Members can call Petit Jean Electric Cooperative at (855) 938-3576
• Stop by one of our office locations (Clinton or Marshall)
• An agreement form must be signed to enroll in the Prepay Program.

Yes, you can switch to the Prepay Program even if you already have service with Petit Jean Electric Cooperative. Any existing security deposit will be applied to any outstanding balance, including unbilled usage at the time, and your new Prepay Program account.

New Members

• There is no security deposit required for Prepay Program service.
• As a new member to Petit Jean Electric you will be required to simply pay a minimum amount of $80 to open a Prepay Program account.
• This amount includes:
  • One-time $20 Membership Fee
  • $40 Connection Fee
  • Minimum $20 credit into the Prepay Program account

Existing Members (Switching from Standard Service)

• To change your Standard service to Prepay Program service you will be required to have all usage – past due usage, current due usage, and unbilled usage – paid in full.
• Any existing security deposit monies will be applied first to pay off the account.
• The member with Standard service would not need to pay another $20 Membership Fee, but would be required to load the Prepay Program account with a minimum of $20 credit.

If a Balance Remains After Applying Deposits

• If after all security deposit monies have been applied there remains a balance due and the member is unable to pay the remaining amount, Petit Jean Electric can set the member up on a payment plan for the unpaid amount.
• The remaining unpaid amount would be paid with 50% of all future payments.
• Only after all security deposit monies are applied, the maximum unpaid amount Petit Jean will finance is $200.

Example:
If the Prepay Program member made an $80 payment, half ($40) would go toward the amount owed and the remaining half ($40) would go toward all future power purchase. This would continue until the member paid the total past due amount.

Account Requirements & Reconnection

• It requires a minimum credit of $20 on a Prepay Program account for the meter to be reactivated.
• There is no Reconnection Fee for an active Prepay Program account.
• After 5 days of continued non-payment after disconnect, a Prepay Program account will be closed and a Connect Fee of $40 must be paid to begin receiving power again.

No, Prepay Program members will not receive a monthly statement.

• Account Access: Prepay Program members can access their account information at any time via Petit Jean Electric’s online SmartHub portal.
  • Learn more about SmartHub
• Usage Monitoring: Members who are participating in the Prepay Program are encouraged to check their electric usage and balance often.
• Low Balance Notifications: By default, you will receive a notification when your account has a credit balance of $15 or less.
• Notification Methods: Members can receive the default $15 or less minimum balance notification via any one or all of the following methods:
  • Email
  • Text
  • Phone message

You will receive notifications via the methods for which you provide contact information.

Payments can be made at the member’s convenience, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

• By phone (855) 938-3576
• Online with SmartHub
• In person at Petit Jean’s Office locations during normal business hours.
  • Members may pay with check, credit/debit card, cash, or money order.

Members participating in the Prepay Program are not eligible for payment arrangements, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), or Levelized/Budget Billing programs.

This is your choice. That is the beauty of this program. It is entirely up to you. The Prepay Program members can put in as much or as little as they need or that fits into their budget.

Petit Jean Electric does require that customers have money in their account at all times. Members may purchase power anytime via the internet or by telephone and in person during normal business hours at Petit Jean Electric office locations in Clinton or Marshall.

Payment is at the member’s discretion.

• Once your account reaches a $0 balance, it is subject to immediate disconnection without notice.
• If your balance reaches $0 and you do not purchase more power, the meter will be turned off.
• The Service Availability Charge will continue to accumulate on the account for 5 business days and will be deducted from the next additional purchase payment.
• If an account is disconnected for non-payment the service will be reconnected upon receipt of payment for the outstanding balance plus a minimum $20 to be credited towards future energy use.
  • Once a payment is made and processed, the power will be reconnected. However, please note that if an account is disconnected for non-payment and after 5 business days is still not paid the account will be made inactive and a $40 Reconnect Charge will be required to activate the inactive account.

• When your account reaches a $0 balance, your service will be disconnected.
• Petit Jean Electric will disconnect services with a $0 balance Monday through Friday, at 10 a.m.
• Prepay Program accounts that fall below the $-0- balance over the weekend or on a Holiday recognized by Petit Jean Electric will be disconnected the next business day at 10 a.m., provided there is no payment made beforehand (before 10 a.m.).
• In the event of disconnect, once the outstanding balance, plus $20 credit toward Prepay Program is made, the service will be automatically reconnected.
• Prepay Program accounts will be disconnected year-round.

Yes, the Prepay Program is offered on a strictly voluntary basis upon election by any member receiving residential service and desiring to participate in the program.

Members enrolled in the Prepay Program may opt out at any time. The Prepay Program member who chooses to request the traditional billing services may be required to pay a security deposit depending on past payment history. Petit Jean Electric shall determine the deposit amount based upon Public Service Commission’s requirement.

Once a day the meter is read and the bill is calculated. This process is automated and is completed by 10 a.m. each day.

After the bill is calculated, if the Prepay Program balance falls below $0 on a business day, then the service is disconnected. This automated process occurs once a day at 10 a.m.

If the service is reconnected within 5 business days, the service will be reconnected upon receipt of payment for the outstanding balance plus a minimum $20 to be credited towards future energy use. Service reconnects occur 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The service can remain off for a maximum of 5 business days before the account is closed. At the end of the 5 business days then the membership is considered canceled and the Membership Fee is applied to any outstanding balance amount due.

After any past due amount is paid, the remaining amount is returned to the member. The service availability fee continues to be applied to the account during this 5 day period, regardless if the power is on or off.

If you have Prepay Program service this should not be the first thing you do.

1. Check your balance:
   • First check your account balance with SmartHub.
   • If your balance is zero, then the power can be restored by adding funds to your account.
   • You will need to pay any past due amount at that point plus a minimum $20 to load your account in the positive in order for your service to be reconnected.
2. If you still have funds:
   • You may be experiencing a power outage.
   • First check your service panel breakers, especially the main breaker, and make certain they all are in the closed or “on” position/s.
3. If all breakers are on:
   • You will need to call our 24 hour, 7 day a week, 365 days a year dispatch service at (501) 745-2493.