Owner’s Manual

President's Message

Dear New Member,

Welcome to membership in Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CEC). In addition to this Owner’s Manual, our website contains valuable information about your new electric energy provider.

CEC By-laws and specific service policies are available upon request and can be accessed by logging on to our website.

Central Electric cannot guarantee uninterrupted electrical service, and therefore recommends you have a backup plan or power source if anyone in your home uses life support equipment or if computers are vital to a home business.

As a Central Electric member you will receive a copy of the monthly Ruralite magazine. Its publishing and postal costs are included in CEC’s business costs. You may ask to receive an email notification each month when the Ruralite is posted on line, if you prefer to view it there. Let us know your preference by emailing Member Services.

The CEC Board of Directors and staff urge you to contact our office if you have questions regarding your billing statement or regarding the Cooperative. We welcome you as a new member and look forward to providing you with the very best service.

Sincerely,

Brad Wilson
President, CEO

This owner’s manual explains the programs and services available to you as a CEC member.

Office Locations:

• Redmond: 2098 NW 6th Street
• Sisters: 220 S Pine Street, Suite 101
• Bend: 61090 SE 27th Street

Each office will offer you assistance in all areas regarding billing questions, credit arrangements, energy efficiency programs or engineering needs.

In the event of a power outage, we are prepared to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach us at any number listed below.

• Redmond (541) 548-2144
• Toll Free (800) 924-8736

Balanced Payment Plan

To assist qualified members in year-round budgeting for electric bills, Central Electric provides a “Balanced Payment Plan.” It allows you to pay the same pre-determined amount every month.

Direct Payment Plan

Members can choose to have their monthly electric billing automatically deducted from their checking account or savings account, or charged to a credit card.

Pay Online

CEC members can pay their electric bill online using the Billing & Payments feature on SmartHub, an application for your computer or mobile devices, such as smart phones and tablets.

To sign up you’ll need a valid email address and your CEC account number. Other SmartHub features enable you to view your present and past billing totals, usage, and payments, and sign up for notifications. Pay with an echeck, credit, or debit card anytime, from anywhere. Find out more about the SmartHub app and see links to download it from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Unlike most retailers, Central Electric extends credit to its members on a monthly basis because the member uses electric service prior to meter readings, billings and payment. To ensure the extension of credit is warranted, Central Electric requires a letter of good credit from the member’s previous electric provider showing the most current 12 months of history. If the applicant cannot provide such a letter, Central Electric will then require a deposit or you may contact us about our Prepaid Program.

Deposits are normally $180 on all services. Commercial and irrigation service deposits may be higher based on pump size and/or consumption history.

The deposit is refunded upon termination of service and full payment of accounts or after 12 consecutive months of good credit history, but at the discretion of Central Electric. Interest is paid on deposits.

CEC members can assist their less fortunate fellow co-op members by participating in Project Helping Hand. This program allows members to “round up” their monthly bills to the nearest dollar (the difference goes to Project Helping Hand).

A committee composed of selected CEC employees review applications for assistance and make selections from members who have difficulty paying their electric bills, especially in the winter.

All gifts are tax deductible and we will provide you with a summary statement of your deductions on your January bill.

Meter Reading Dates and Readings

This area shows the previous reading date and reading, as well as the present reading date and reading. The difference between the 2 readings is your kilowatt-hour usage for the month (times your multiplier).

Multiplier

Used to multiply the meter usage and calculate the actual kilowatt-hours.

Electric Charges

This area shows the breakdown of charges for your kilowatt-hour usage, security lights charges and “Project Helping Hand” donations.

The facilities charge covers the fixed costs of infrastructure, equipment, systems, and personnel essential to operating the utility regardless of how much electricity you use. By 2025, operating and energy costs will be separated in members’ bills, ensuring equitable and fair cost sharing by members.

kWh Usage History

This graph shows you the total kilowatt-hours of electricity you consume each month. It also compares how much you consumed in the same month a year ago and what your average cost per day was in the most recent billing month.

For billing, quick answers, and much more, visit our website.

Emergencies or reporting outages: (866) 459-8651 24 Hours, 7 Days a Week

Service inquiries & payment (800) 924-8736 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday

Email Customer Service

If you would like to pay with a credit card, please call our automated payment system at (855) 384-9811, or you can pay online.

Bills are mailed to our members throughout the working month. All bills are due on receipt and become delinquent after the due date.

Each account requiring a delinquent re-billing will be assessed a $2 re-billing charge.

Accounts requiring a field collection call will be charged a $40 fee.

A $25 fee will be imposed for any item returned for non-sufficient funds. Accounts disconnected for non-payment must pay any outstanding past-due balance in full with cash, money order, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express) and a $100 re-connection fee after business hours prior to re-connection of service, plus a deposit if one is not currently held.

Easy accessibility to the meter at your service is required to ensure our personnel have access for inspections, repairs, and emergency response. If you have a guard dog or a locked gate restricting access, please make sure that your dog is locked up and the gate is unlocked during our annual meter inspection cycle or if your service requires emergency service. Call our Customer Service Department with any questions about our schedule.

• 1940 Rural residents file Articles of Association with State of Oregon for Central Electric Cooperative, Inc.; elect 9 charter members of board of directors; capitalize the company with $244,000 loan from Rural Electrification Administration.
• 1941 Board Chairman Carl H. Baker throws switch at Deschutes Junction Substation, energizing 11 Redmond area farms.
• 1949 To help finance lines, poles, and transformer infrastructure, CEC implements Capital Credits plan, still in effect today.
• 1956 Election of board of directors changed from “at large” selection to representation based on geographic districts representative of communities served.
• 1962 Oregon Public Utility Commission approves Central Electric service territory boundaries, resolving differences over exclusivity with Pacific Power & Light.
• 1977 Redmond Chamber of Commerce gives Community Improvement Award to CEC for co-op’s new Redmond headquarters campus.
• 1978 CEC initiates energy conservation program, later expanded to Home Energy Efficiency Program in 1982, which is still in effect today.
• 1986 Capital Credits repaid to members exceeds $1 million.
• 1995 CEC and 11 other cooperative members of Power Resources Cooperative build and operate 2.5-megawatt Coffin Butte landfill gas-to-electricity renewable energy facility; expanded in 2007 to 5.66 megawatts.
• 2001 CEC achieves a 60-year record low for power outage time per member: 18 minutes, 31 seconds per member.
• 2009 CEC introduces its 7,200-volt safety trailer, giving electrical safety demonstrations at schools and fairs.
• 2012 Completed installation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure across CEC system.
• 2016 Completed Oregon’s largest community solar project located at Bend Service Center.

Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) are partnering to offer CEC members access to various energy efficiency programs that can save electricity and lower electric bills. Below are some of the most popular programs. See our Energy Programs section for additional details.

Residential Weatherization Program

(Site-built homes built prior to 1992 and Manufactured Homes)

Financial incentives can help pay for weatherization of electrically heated homes. Call CEC to sign up or see our Weatherization page.

Ductless Heat Pumps

(Available to owners of new or existing homes)

A cash discount can help offset the cost of these ultra-efficient electric heaters and you get air conditioning in the summer without having to run ductwork throughout the house. View our Ductless Heat Pumps page for more information.

Heat Pump Program

(Available to owners of new or existing homes)

A cash discount is available to help install heat pumps properly. Pre-approval is required. Call CEC to sign up or find instructions and an application on our website.

NHPP - New Home Performance Path

(New site-built homes)

A cash rebate is available for new, verified, electrically heated homes. The local NHPP verifier helps to inspect and verify the homes above standard building code. Call a CEC Energy Specialist or see our New Home Performance Path page for more information.

Northwest Energy-Efficient New Manufactured (NEEM) Certified Homes

A cash rebate is offered to encourage buyers of new manufactured homes to upgrade their purchase to a NEEM certified home. NEEM homes add up to increased comfort levels, and a more energy efficient home. Call a CEC Energy Specialist or visit our NEEM Certified Manufacture Homes page for more information or to apply.

Heat Pump Water Heaters

(Available to owners of new or existing homes with an electric tank style water heater)

A cash rebate can help offset the cost of a new approved energy efficient water heater that uses heat pump technology. More information, including rebate levels, is on our Heat Pump Water Heaters page.

Smart Thermostat

(For new or existing homes)

CEC offers a rebate for upgrading to a qualified smart thermostat in your electrically heated home. On average, these smart thermostats can save you around 8% to 15% annually on your heating and cooling. For a complete list of qualifying units, visit the Smart Thermostat page.

Irrigation Rebates

(Available to CEC irrigation accounts)

Cash rebates are available to CEC irrigators for efficient irrigation hardware (sprinklers, nozzles, etc.) pump testing, and some variable frequency drives. An electrically powered irrigation system and irrigation account is required. Information and application forms are available online. Call a CEC Energy Specialist or visit our Irrigation Pump Programs section for more information.

Please note: BPA programs are subject to change without notice.