4.1 Payments. Payments may be made with cash, check, money order, electronic transfer, debit card, or credit card.
4.2 Past Due Payments. Past Due Payments may not be mailed or paid at designated pay stations.
4.3 Insufficient Funds Surcharge. A lawful charge to be established by the Board of Directors will be assessed on all payments returned by the financial institution. If no such charge is established the surcharge shall be set at the maximum amount allowed by law. A Member with two insufficient funds events in a twelve (12) month period will be placed on a cash only basis.
4.4 Level Payment Plan. A level pay plan is available to residential Members desiring to levelize payments. The levelized payment will be approximately the average of twelve (12) monthly billing periods based on historical energy consumption with adjustments for future consumption and future cost increases. Members must establish one year's history of usage and account balance must be paid in full before level pay is available to them. Sign up for the Level Payment Plan is in the month of April each year.
4.5 Prepay Program. A Prepay Program is available to residential Members desiring to pay for energy consumption in advance. In order to participate in the Prepay Program, all amounts owed to the Cooperative must be paid in full, including unbilled usage, and the Member must sign the Prepay Program Agreement and agree to the terms and conditions set forth therein. Members will not receive a monthly billing statement and are fully responsible to ensure the prepay account has a sufficient balance to cover electrical usage.
4.6 Hardship Exemption. When a Member certifies in writing to the Cooperative that a payment cannot be made by the ordinary due date for reasons of hardship (including, but not limited to medical reasons), the Cooperative, at its discretion, may allow the Member an additional 15 days to pay or make payment pursuant to an installment payment schedule. The Cooperative's discretion is vested with the General Manager or his or her designee subject to review and modification by the Board of Directors.