traditional service has a new look

TRADITIONAL SERVICE
HAS A NEW LOOK...
WILL MY BILL GO UP?
Historically, our Member-read system has
resulted in a 30-60 day billing delay. The
TEC-Metering System will bring all accounts
up to date by billing for the most recent 30
days of usage. In making the transition,
the Cooperative will have to catch up all
accounts when the new system is installed.
We call this a billing true-up.
Talquin will combine the unbilled usage on
the old meter at the time it is removed with
any usage that accumulates on the new
meter up to the time of billing. To make
the true-up easier for our Members, this
combined total usage will be cut in half
for the Member’s first bill and the other
half will automatically be broken into 10
equal interest-free monthly installments.
The installments begin with the first bill
following the meter exchange. The true-up
may be paid in full at any time.
EXAMPLE:
If $200 of usage registers on the old meter
and the current usage on the new meter
is $100, then Talquin will combine $200
+ $100, resulting in a $300 balance.
Members will owe $150 (half) plus the
first installment of $15 for a total of $165.
The remaining $135 will be broken into 9
equal interest-free monthly installments.
For this example, $15 would be added to
the first bill following the meter exchange
and would continue for the next 9 months.
CAN I STILL READ MY OWN METER?
YES. Meters will continue to display usage and
can be monitored by Members who want to keep
up with their usage by checking the display.
Soon, every
Learn about our
new TEC-Meters
and system upgrades.
residential
electric meter
WHAT TO EXPECT
You will be notified when work will begin in your
area. You don’t need to be home when the new
meter is installed. This interruption should last
for only a moment.
The new meters are designed to be installed
into the same meter base as your current meter.
Obviously, if there is a problem or safety concern
involving your electric service, it will need to be
repaired by a licensed electrician before the
meter can be installed and service restored.
These repairs will be the Member’s responsibility,
and they are for your safety.
will be retrofitted with
a new, real time electric
meter that will report
energy usage and power
outages automatically.
TEC CONNECTS
If you have questions regarding the true-up, call
the TEC Connects Team at 877.810.0574 and
we will work with you to see what options are
available. You may also visit your Talquin Area
Office for more information.
“I read multiple meters for accounts in
different locations. It’s time consuming and
a lot to keep up with. Since the new TECMeters report energy usage and outages
automatically, it will save me time and money.” - Emily Rowan,
Member for more than 16 years
www.talquinelectric.com
Emily’s parents joined Talquin in 1941 and
were among the Cooperative’s first Members.
The Cooperative remains
committed to fairness,
reliability and keeping costs
down for all our Members.
BENEFITS OF THE NEW TEC-METERS:
REDUCE THE COOPERATIVE’S COSTS
FROM ITS VERY BEGINNING...
Talquin Electric Cooperative has embraced a
simple mission: To deliver services to its Members
as reliably, fairly and affordably as possible.
Talquin’s new TEC-Meters will help keep costs to
Members as low as possible, improve reliability
and reduce operational costs over the long
run. TEC-Meters are the most cost-effective and
efficient metering solution.
Half the cost of the new system will be paid for
with a federal grant – your tax dollars, coming
back to you. The remaining cost of the new
system will be offset in several ways:
•By reducing the amount of
uncollected energy use
•By allowing us to reassign staff
to more productive roles
•By avoiding fuel and trip-related
expenses to capture meter readings
There will not be a separate charge for replacement
of the meters. All meter bases are required to meet
the National Electrical Code. If your meter base
does not meet this Code, you will be notified by
Talquin Electric. A Member whose meter base is not
accessible or does not meet the National Electrical
Code will be responsible to pay for any repairs.
“When I learned TEC was investing in an upgraded
meter system, I became quite excited. As a
Cooperative, this type of upgrade is good for
everyone. What is good for the Cooperative is
good for me and my neighbors. Talquin Electric
Cooperative is indeed stepping into the 21st century.”
As a Member-based Cooperative, Members share all the costs and benefit equally from all savings.
When consumers fail to report their full energy usage or leave the Cooperative without paying
their final bills, all Members are left to pay the price. With the new meters, energy usage will be
captured accurately and billed more promptly to help ensure all Members pay only for the energy
that they used. New TEC-Meters reduce operating costs by eliminating unnecessary expenses and
recovering lost revenue. This will allow the Cooperative to be more efficient.
The graph outlines a per meter,
per month estimated cost of the
system itself and the savings
that are expected to result from
deploying the TEC-Metering
System on all accounts.
- Roy T. Rhodes, III,
Proud Member for more than 30 years
BETTER OUTAGE MANAGEMENT
Because the meters are in communication with the Talquin Operations Center, our dispatchers
will know if your electric service goes out – possibly even before you do. That means we will be
able to get to work fixing the problem as quickly as possible.
MORE CONVENIENT
Members will no longer have to read their own meters and report their monthly energy usage. This
will be particularly helpful to Members with disabilities or physical limitations, those with multiple
meters, absentee owners and frequent travelers. The new TEC-Meters will automatically report
usage and provide Members with a wide range of information, which they can access at www.
talquinelectric.com or by visiting any Talquin Area Office.
CURRENT BILLING
With the existing Member-read system, your bill could reflect energy usage from about 30-60 days
ago. The new TEC-Meters will report your energy consumption as you use it, giving you up-to-date
information, accessible on our website or at any Talquin Area Office. This will allow you to monitor,
track and make more-informed decisions about your energy usage.