New Residential Member Information

Deposits

A $10.00 membership fee is required to receive service.

Specific information on deposits for residential service, general service, industrial establishments and security lights is available at any REMC office.

Deposits may be returned to members as a credit on the electric service account after the establishment of 24 consecutive months of good credit by the member. Otherwise, deposits are refunded upon disconnection of service, less any amount due REMC.

Good Credit

Delinquent Not more than 2 times in the past 24 months
Delinquent and Subject to Disconnection None in the past 24 months
Disconnected for Non-Payment None in the past 24 months
Payment Returned None in the past 24 months
Payment Agreement not Honored None in the past 24 months
Power Diversion or Irregularities None ever

Applicants who are connected with a minimal security deposit will be required to increase the amount of deposit if their electric service account becomes delinquent as many as 3 times or has 2 returned payments in a 12-month period.

Connect Charge

A $30.00 non-refundable charge is required for connecting each meter, including new or existing services, or processing a name change on a meter in place.

Miscellaneous Service Fees

Returned Payment Service Charge $25.00
Service fee for trip made by REMC personnel to collect for returned payment $55.00

Payments for overdue amounts not credited to the account by 5:00 p.m. on the business day prior to the date shown for disconnect on the bill will automatically be charged a $35.00 service fee. The reconnection charge is $60.00 for reconnections made during regular working hours (8:00 am - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday). For all other hours, including holidays and weekends, a $90.00 fee will be charged.

All bills which have not been paid by the time the following month's bill is printed will have a late fee amounting to 1 1/2% of the over-due balance or $6.00, whichever is greater, added to the bill.

Power diversion fee, 1st offense $250.00
Power diversion fee, 2nd offense $500.00
Meter test fee for requesting a meter test within 12 months of a previous testing on the same meter $35.00

A basic facilities charge will apply for the period of time that seasonal accounts are inactive. The charges will apply when a reconnection is made in the same name and at the same location, and no one else has had service there since the disconnection.

PrePay billing accounts will be charged a $6.00 per month additional base charge which will be prorated and applied on a daily basis.

Capital Credits

Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation is a non-profit electric cooperative owned by the members it serves. According to its By-laws, all money applied for electric service by members in excess of the revenue needed to cover operating expenses is returned to these members as capital credit allocations. The amount of the yearly allocation is determined by multiplying the percentage of operating margins by the total amount the members paid that year for electric service.

For example, if your total electric service bill for the year is $500 and the percentage of margins is 10%, your allocation of capital credits would be $50.

The Cooperative retains this capital credit revenue for a period of time to increase member ownership of the system and to cover any unexpected expenses caused by emergencies such as wind, ice or snow storms. However, the Cooperative is currently refunding the total accumulated capital credits to estates of deceased members. General capital credit refunds are being processed periodically in accordance with member equity growth and financial stability.

Always make sure we are advised of any change of address you might have. This will enable us to keep our capital credit files up to date and will help assure your receiving capital credit checks promptly when issued.

Bill Paying Procedures

Bills are past due 15 days after date of bill, and payment should be made within 30 days after date of bill. If you wish to stop receiving a paper bill via the post office you may sign up to receive an "electronic notification" of a new bill to the e-mail address you provide. You will then proceed to our website at www.remc.com to view your bill.

Bills may be paid at any REMC office by check, cash, money order. Outside payment boxes are available at each office for your convenience in making payments after office hours. You may also make your payments by MASTERCARD, VISA, DISCOVER, AMERICAN EXPRESS credit cards, or bank debit cards payments which can be made in person or by telephone.

E-check payments can be made online or through the Interactive Voice Response system (IVR) after visiting our website and setting up an E-check profile.

Online payments can be made by visiting our website and following the instructions.

Your account may also be set up on bank draft by our office staff at your request.

Auto-Pay is an online payment program which allows you to set up your own bank draft on our website. you must have a "zero balance" on your account and a valid e-mail address to begin. Auto-Pay can be set up with a credit card, debit card, or E-check draft. You will have the responsibility of setting the date you want your monthly bill to be drafted and maintaining your account.

If you pay your electric service bill by mail, please use the pre-addressed envelope included with your bill. When mailing payments, be sure to enclose the smaller portion of your billing statement. Your cancelled check or money order stub will be your receipt. We cannot accept post-dated checks. Please do not send cash through the mail.

Failure to receive bills and notices does not exempt a member from payment. Be sure REMC has your correct name and address or your current email address if you have chosen the electronic notification option. A disconnect notice will be printed on all bills with overdue amounts. This will be the only notice given before disconnection for non-payment. Payments for overdue amounts not credited to the account by 5:00 p.m. on the business day prior to the date shown for disconnect on the bill will automatically be charged a $35.00 service fee. The reconnection charge is $60.00 for reconnections made during regular working hours (8:00 am - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday). For all other hours, including holidays and weekends, a $90.00 fee will be charged.

All bills which have not been paid before date of next bill will produce a late fee amounting to 1 1/2% of the overdue balance or $6.00, whichever is greater.

Please do not issue personal checks if your bank account has been closed or does not have sufficient funds to cover checks. A service charge of $25.00 will be added to the electric service account for any payment returned by the bank, and service is subject to disconnection at that time.

Personal checks cannot be accepted by REMC representatives who make a trip to collect for non-payment of electric service accounts, or any other amounts due REMC.

PrePay billing is an option available to qualifying residential and non-demand general service accounts which does not require the establishment of a standard security deposit. PrePay does not produce billing statements or notifications of disconnect for non-payment. All charges for kilowatt-hour usage are billed daily.  Basic facilities charges and other applicable items such as security lights and credits will be prorated and applied on a daily basis. Account history-usage-charges, payments and account balances will be available via the internet or through an Interactive Voice Response System (IVR). The member is responsible for maintaining a positive balance and ensuring that alert notification settings are accurate. Accounts are subject to immediate disconnection any time the account does not have a positive balance. PrePay accounts are not subject to delinquency fees, late payment charges or reconnect fees.

Miscellaneous Services

Adding Electrical Load

Notify REMC if your electric service requirements change significantly. Examples: adding a heat pump or air conditioning, installing large motors or other equipment with high power requirements. Our personnel will check to see if the service entrance equipment is heavy enough for the added electrical load and make changes if necessary.

Member Portal

REMC's Member Portal is a tool which enables you to: view your usage, view your bill, set up Auto-Pay, sign up for E-Bill, pay online, sign up for high usage alerts, and make changes to your account. Click on the Member Services Portal on REMC’s homepage, there you will find instructions on how to create a User ID and password. You will need your account number, telephone number, valid e-mail address and social security number to set up the User ID on our website.

Outdoor Lighting

Automatic outdoor lights are available to members on a rental basis. For complete details, contact any REMC office.

Surge Protection Equipment

Surge protection equipment can be purchased from REMC by calling any of our offices. Surge protection equipment is important, especially if you have electronic equipment. Call REMC today to find out how the surge protection equipment can help (not eliminate) your home and property from the unwelcome intrusion of lightning.

Outage Map

REMC's website includes an outage information map that shows members the location of outages. The number of members affected by each outage is color-coded, accompanied by a legend that gives range of outages. At the bottom of the page, a drop down menu is provided to zoom in on each county served.

Home Audit

Upon request, any REMC member may have an energy conservation audit of his/her home. A trained representative from REMC will come to the premises and make suggestions concerning insulation and other energy conservation practices. We urge you to use electricity and all other fuels as efficiently as possible. Written information on conserving energy and saving on your electric bill can be obtained by mail or from any REMC office or from this website.

If You Depend On Life Support Equipment

REMC needs to know the location of life-support equipment in use on a day-to-day basis (kidney machines, oxygen concentrators, breathing monitors, etc.). While we cannot guarantee uninterrupted service, we will make every effort to restore service quickly to homes where these machines are in use. We would also highly recommend that any life-support equipment be backed up with an alternate power source. Extended, widespread power outages are possible, especially in winter and during tornado weather.

Rural Electric Youth Tour

REMC participates in a program called "Rural Electric Youth Tour to Washington, D.C." The tour is sponsored by REMC and coordinated by the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives (NCAEC) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

REMC selects three high school juniors, one from each of its operating districts, for an all-expense paid week to Washington, D.C. where they can see all of the historic sights they have studied about, learn about the rural electrification program and see their government in action. The Youth Tour winners are selected in December and take the trip during late June.

Selection of Youth Tour Winners is based on a home energy management survey, extracurricular activities, and a personal interview. If you are a high school junior, and would like more information on the Youth Tour Program, contact the REMC office in your area.

Sports Camp

REMC participates in the Touchstone Energy Sports Camp scholarship program which provides girls and boys with an all-expense paid scholarship to attend basketball camp during the summer. REMC selects one girl to attend the Wolfpack Women's Basketball Camp at N.C. State in Raleigh and one boy to attend the Roy Williams Basketball Camp at UNC in Chapel Hill. Rising sixth through eighth graders are eligible to apply and a total of 52 boys and girls will attend the camps. Applicants will be judged on their academics, extracurricular activities and accompanying essays. Each camper will work with championship-winning collegiate coaches to develop fundamental skills that will help them excel both on and off the court.

Bright Ideas Grant Program

REMC is a participant in the "Bright Ideas Grant Program." The grant program is sponsored by REMC, along with other local cooperatives across the state, and North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation in Raleigh.

REMC and 26 other co-ops launched the grant program in October 1994 to underwrite educational initiatives the schools could not otherwise afford.

The funds go to teachers and principals serving grades K-12. Individual or team projects can be awarded grants up to $1,200.

If you would like additional information on the Bright Ideas Grant Program, please contact the Member Services Representative in your district.

NC Green Power

NC Green Power is designed to boost the production of cleaner electric power generated from renewable sources such as wind, solar energy, water, methane and organic material. You may contribute to this program through your monthly power bill. REMC will collect your tax-deductible contributions and send them directly to NC Green Power with no administration fee. Each $4.00 contribution offsets the higher cost of producing 50 kilowatt hours of power through renewable sources and supports the installation of solar PV demonstration projects at NC schools. Call one of our offices or visit our website to contribute.

Lines, Right-Of-Ways And Meters

Right-of-ways

Right-of-way maintenance is one of the most expensive factors in keeping REMC's electrical distribution system in good repair. You can help hold these costs down by not planting tall-growing shrubs and trees within 20 feet of the power line. Trees and shrubs growing in our power lines must either be trimmed every year or two or cut down by our right-of-way crews. Both options are expensive for the Cooperative, and neither is usually acceptable to the homeowner.

See Tree Planting Guide

Cutting Timber Near A Power Line

Please be extra careful when you cut trees near REMC lines. It is our policy to charge the person responsible for cutting a tree across power lines the actual cost of material and labor used to make repairs. This can amount to several hundred dollars in some cases.

If you need assistance to prevent an accident of this type, please let us know so that we can survey the situation and advise you on the safest method.

Digging Near Underground Electric Cables

REMC now has over 2,300 miles of underground distribution lines. all vulnerable to being accidentally cut. If you believe there may be an underground electric cable in the vicinity, we'll locate it for you.

State law requires you to give us a two-day advance notice for a cable location. Remember. before planting trees, blasting, trenching, digging fence postholes, grading, well drilling, etc. have underground cables located. Dig-in repairs are always expensive to REMC and to the responsible party.

REMC is a member of North Carolina One Call. Your one call to them at 811 or 1-800-632-4949 will notify REMC, as well as many other utilities who may also have underground lines in the area, of your intention to dig.

Remember - call before you dig - Contact 811 or 1-800-632-4949.

Portable Generators

If you install a portable generator on your premises, make sure you also install a double-pole, double-throw switch. This device prevents the generator from feeding power back through REMC lines when in operation. Back-fed power could be fatal to REMC crews busy with repair work. Your generator dealer or electrician can supply you the proper equipment and help with a safe installation.

Meters

It is extremely important that REMC have access to your electric meter. We ask that you cooperate with our meter reader in the following ways:

  • State utility law requires that the meter be accessible at all times. Meters are NOT to be located inside buildings or on porches. If you must install a locked fence around the meter, we request an "interlock" so that our personnel can get to the meter to read, test or repair it. If vicious dogs are a problem, we ask you to provide a metering point outside the fence (at your expense).
  • Keep shrubs and bushes trimmed from around the meter. Please respect the meter seal. If your electrician has to break the seal to complete electrical repairs or alterations, call your local REMC office and inform us. Repeated broken meter seals may result in an extra security deposit to you. Personal locks are not allowed in place of REMC's meter socket seal.

Attachments

REMC's Service Regulations do not permit any type of attachments to its service poles such as antennas, personal lighting, signs, birdhouses, basketball goals, etc. Such attachments not only create a safety hazard to you but also for REMC personnel who may have to climb the pole.

Statement of Nondiscrimination

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program

Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form.  You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form.  Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Heating and Cooling Efficiently

Heating and cooling costs gobble up a sizable portion of the typical family's take-home pay. And although energy costs are high and going higher, there are some things every family can do to make the home and surroundings more energy efficient. Take some time to look over them. You'll find that most of these tips will save you money, while not causing undue inconvenience or discomfort.

Heating Tips

  • Install insulation as needed to keep heat in and cold out. Ideal levels of insulating efficiency are R-38 in ceilings, R-15 in walls (total wall R-value) and R-19 under floors. "R" stands for "resistance to heat flow."
  • Caulk and weatherstrip to minimize air leakage around doors and windows.
  • Install insulated doors and double-pane windows or add storm windows to single-pane glass. Tight-fitting plastic can be placed temporarily over single-pane glass in the winter.
  • Never use your oven or range to heat your house, and use electric space heaters sparingly, if at all.
  • Close your chimney damper when fireplace is not in use. Install glass doors on fireplace to help reduce interior heat from being drawn up the chimney.
  • A thermostat setting of 68 degrees is generally recommended. Check your thermostat with a reliable thermometer to make sure it's accurate. Check also to see if it's level.
  • Keep furnace filters clean. Check them monthly and clean or replace, if needed.
  • Draw shades and draperies when sun goes down in winter to conserve heat.
  • Keep shrubbery away from heat pump compressors due to blocking airflow across the outdoor coils.
  • Central heating and cooling ducts that pass through areas not heated or cooled should be sealed with a permanent finish sealer and insulated to R-8.

Cooling Tips

  • The same insulation and air infiltration recommendations apply to cooling as well as to heating. A home that is built for maximum heating efficiency will also be easier to cool.
  • Never run whole-house fans when central air conditioner is running.
  • When practical, place window units on north or shady side of house to reduce the work load or install an awning over them if they are exposed to a lot of direct sunlight.
  • Don't block window units or outlets with draperies, shades, pictures or furniture.
  • Use floor (box) fans to move conditioned air from a window unit into other rooms.
  • Keep shrubbery and grass away from central air compressors due to blocking airflow across the outside coils.
  • When possible on cool nights, run the air handler on your central air conditioner without turning on the compressor.
  • Another inexpensive alternative to central air conditioning is the whole house ventilating fan. Reversible ceiling fans are also helpful in reducing cooling costs.
  • A thermostat setting of 78 degrees is generally recommended.
  • If you're planning to buy a room air conditioner, consider the EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) ratings. The higher this rating is, the more efficiently it will operate. REMC recommends an EER of 11 or higher. If you're planning to buy a heat pump or a central air conditioner, consider the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating of the unit. The higher this rating is, the more efficiently it will operate. REMC recommends a SEER rating of 15 or higher for a heat pump and central air conditioner.

Sales Tax Reduction

The North Carolina Department of Revenue allows certain industries and manufacturing plants a tax reduction on the North Carolina Sales tax they pay on utility bills. This electricity must be measured by a separate meter.

A member who qualifies for this preferential rate of tax on electricity should complete Form E-595E, Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement Certificate of Exemption which is available at the North Carolina Department of Revenue website, https://www.ncdor.gov/. Once the form is completed, a copy of the form should be sent to Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation, P.O. Box 1569, Forest City, North Carolina, 28043. If you have any questions about eligibility, please contact either your accountant or the North Carolina Department of Revenue Taxpayer Assistance Division at 1-877-252-3052 (toll-free).