Disconnection/Reconnection
Procedures

The Cooperative strictly adheres to disconnection procedures set forth in Vermont Public Service Board regulations governing electric utilities. There are basically four steps to the process.  These steps apply only to those disconnections occurring from November 1 to March 31.  From April 1 to October 31, only steps 1 and 2 apply.  These steps are as follows:

(1)     WEC mails bills monthly. If the bill remains unpaid by the start of the next billing cycle, the customer carries a "balance forward" on that month's bill. If several more days go by with no payment, a disconnect notice is sent warning of a possible disconnection and providing information about the customer's rights under the law. The member is invited to contact the Cooperative to discuss payment arrangements that can take some of the pressure off, but still ensures that WEC will receive payment of the overdue amount within a reasonable amount of time.

(2)    The next collection effort begins on a Friday afternoon approximately one month after the original bill was mailed.  The Co-op initiates automated telephone calls to all delinquent customers. The automated calls are programmed to run until 8:30 p.m. on Friday, and from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The calls deliver a message, which can be recorded by an answering machine, advising the member to call the Cooperative as soon as possible.

(3)    In order to reach those people who fail to respond to the automated message, Co-op employees stay on duty until 7:00 p.m., one or two days of the following week, making personal calls to remind members that their payments are past due, and offering again to set up a repayment plan.

(4)    The fourth and last step is the "note drop" - a personal delivery of a final disconnect notice, which again informs the member of a range of dates when his or her power might be turned off. 

Failure to pay the delinquent amount or make reasonable payment arrangements may result in disconnection of service. The member will incur a $20.00 disconnection fee and a $20.00 reconnection fee if restoration of service is done during regular business hours. Additional charges will apply if service is restored after business hours.

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