Advance Pay Prepaid Program
Avoid deposits and fees, customize your payment schedule, purchase energy when convenient, and monitor your electricity consumption in a self-managed program!
Please note that Advance Pay does not change the rate or the service availability fee.
Advance Pay - Advance Pay Prepaid Program Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Advance Pay Prepaid Program option?
How do I know if the Advance Pay Prepaid Program payment option is the right choice for me?
Who benefits and what are the benefits of this program?
How do I sign up for the Advance Pay Prepaid Program?
I already have a traditional monthly billing, can I switch to Advance Pay Prepaid Program?
How much is my initial payment or activation fee if I am new to the Advance Pay Prepaid Program?
Will I receive a bill?
How do I make payments?
How much money should I keep in my pay as you go account?
What if my Advance Pay Prepaid Program account runs low?
Will my power be disconnected on holidays or weekends?
If I decide to no longer participate in the program, am I eligible to re-enroll in a traditional Petit Jean Electric account?
When is the Advance Pay Prepaid Program bill calculated?
When is my service disconnected?
When can I get my service reconnected?
How long can I leave my service disconnected?
Should I call Petit Jean Electric Dispatch?
- What is the Advance Pay Prepaid Program option?
The Advance Pay Prepaid 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 Advance Pay Prepaid Program does not change the rate or the service availability fee. -
How do I know if the Advance Pay Prepaid Program payment option is the right choice for me?
Would it be easier for you to make weekly or biweekly payments rather than one large payment each month? If so, Advance Pay Prepaid Program may be for you. Statistics indicate pay as you go electricity programs help lower electric consumption 10 to 15 percent by increasing a member’s - Who benefits and what are the benefits of this program?
The member benefits by not having to pay 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 Advance Pay Prepaid 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.
Similarly, traditional monthly billing post-pay members who have had their electricity disconnected for non-payment will be able to re-establish service by allowing existing security deposits to be applied toward their past due usage, current due usage, unbilled usage, Reconnect Fee, and load their Advance Pay Prepaid Program account with any remaining security deposit monies for future consumption.
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 Advance Pay Prepaid Program members are simply required to always have money in their electric account.
- How do I sign up for Advance Pay Prepaid Program?
To sign up or switch an account to the Advance Pay Prepaid Program option, members can call Petit Jean Electric Cooperative at 501-745- 2493 or stop by one of our office locations (Clinton or Marshall). An agreement form must be signed to enroll in the Advance Pay Prepaid Program.
- I already have a traditional monthly billing, can I switch to Advance Pay Prepaid Program?
Yes, you can switch to the Advance Pay Prepaid 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 Advance Pay Prepaid Program account.
-
How much is my initial payment or activation fee if I am new to the Advance Pay Prepaid Program?
There is no security deposit required for Advance Pay Prepaid Program service. As a new member to Petit Jean Electric you will be required to simply pay a minimum amount of $80.00 to open a Advance Pay Prepaid Program account. This amount includes the required one-time $20 Membership Fee, $40.00 Connection Fee, and a minimum $20 credit into the Advance Pay Prepaid Program account.
If you are already a Petit Jean Electric member with Standard service you can switch to Advance Pay Prepaid Program service. To change your Standard service to Advance Pay Prepaid 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 $20.00 Membership Fee, but would be required to load the Advance Pay Prepaid Program account with a minimum of $20.00 credit. However, 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 $200.00. So, if the Advance Pay Prepaid Program member made an $80.00 payment, then half ($40.00) would go toward the amount owed and the remaining half ($40.00) would go toward all future power purchase. This would continue until the member paid the total past due amount. It requires a minimum credit of $20.00 on a Advance Pay Prepaid Program account for the meter to be reactivated. There is no Reconnection Fee for an active Advance Pay Prepaid Program account. After 5 days of continued non-payment after disconnect a Advance Pay Prepaid Program account will be closed and a Connect Fee of $40.00 must be paid to begin receiving power again.
- Will I receive a bill?
No, Advance Pay Prepaid Program members will not receive a monthly statement. Advance Pay Prepaid Program members can access their account information at any time via Petit Jean Electric’s online SmartHub portal at www.pjecc.com or the SmartHub App. Members who are participating in the Advance Pay Prepaid Program are encouraged to check their electric usage and balance often. By default, you will receive a notification when your account has a credit balance of $15 or less. Members can receive the default $15 or less minimum balance notification via any one or all of the following methods: email, text and/or phone message. You will receive notifications via the methods for which you provide contact information.
- How do I make payments?
Payments can be made at the member’s convenience, 24 hours a day,7 days a week, either by online SmartHub (www.pjecc.com) or by phone (1-888-480-9711). Payments can also be made 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 Advance Pay Prepaid Program are not eligible for payment arrangements, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or Levelized/Budget Billing programs.
- How much money should I keep in my pay as you go account?
This is your choice. That is the beauty of this program. It is entirely up to you. Advance Pay Prepaid 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.
- What if my Advance Pay Prepaid Program account runs low?
Payment is at the member’s discretion. Once your account reaches a zero balance, it is subject to immediate disconnection without notice. If your balance reaches zero 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 $40.00 Reconnect Charge will be required to activate the inactive account.
- Will my power be disconnected on holidays or weekends?
When your account reaches a zero balance, your service will be disconnected. Petit Jean Electric will disconnect services with a $-0- balance Monday – Friday, at 10:00 a.m. Advance Pay Prepaid 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 10:00 a.m., provided there is no payment made beforehand (before 10:00 a.m.). In the event of disconnect, once the outstanding balance, plus $20.00 credit toward Advance Pay Prepaid Program is made, the service will be automatically reconnected. Advance Pay Prepaid Program accounts will be disconnected year-round.
-
If I decide to no longer participate in the program, am I eligible to re-enroll in a traditional Petit Jean Electric account?
Yes, the Advance Pay Prepaid 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 Advance Pay Prepaid Program may opt out at any time. The Advance Pay Prepaid 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.
- When is the Advance Pay Prepaid Program bill calculated?
Once a day the meter is read and the bill is calculated. This process is automated and is completed by 10:00 a.m. each day.
- When is my service disconnected?
After the bill is calculated, if the Advance Pay Prepaid Program balance falls below $-0- on a business day, then the service is disconnected. This automated process occurs once a day at 10:00 a.m.
- When can I get my service reconnected?
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.
- How long can I leave my service disconnected?
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.
- My power went off. Should I call Petit Jean Electric Dispatch?
If you have Advance Pay Prepaid Program service this should not be the first thing you do. 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 $20.00 to load your account in the positive in order for your service to be reconnected. If, however, you still have funds in your account, you may be experiencing a power outage. If you believe you are experiencing a power outage then first check your service panel breakers, especially the main breaker, and make certain they all are in the closed or “on” position/s. If all your breakers, especially the main breaker, are in the closed or “on” position then you will need to call our 24/7/365 dispatch service at 501-745-2493.
To view PDF files on your computer, please click the link below to download Adobe Acrobat Reader.
