Helping those in our community
Help support those in need by donating to the Helping Hand Foundation COVID-19 relief fund today. Click here to learn more.
April 19, 2021
HOPE program providing assistance
The Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) program is now accepting applications. The program provides rent and utility payment assistance to renters who are experiencing financial hardship.
If you have not applied for HOPE funds previously, then visit HOPE’s website to be directed to the online application. Individuals who have applied to HOPE previously can apply again by calling 888-927-5467.
July 22, 2020
Helping our members recover
In early March, Piedmont Electric took the decisive step to halt disconnections for nonpayment and waive late fees due to the pandemic. Later that month, Governor Roy Cooper issued an executive order requiring all utilities to do the same through the end of May. In a move Piedmont Electric supported, he would later extend that order through the end of July.
Recent news stories have made it clear that the executive order will be allowed to expire next week. At which time, Piedmont Electric will begin the process of resuming normal procedures.
If you are behind on your bill, don’t worry, Piedmont Electric is here for you.
For the last few weeks, our staff has been reaching out to members to explain the options that will be available to them. If you are behind on your bill, you have probably received a phone call from us or an email. We are here to answer all of your concerns and questions.
Beginning Aug. 3, we will begin to move toward normal operating procedures. If you are behind on your bill, here is what that means for you.
- Members with past due balances will have that balance enrolled automatically in a long-term payment plan.
- For members with deposits, we will apply these deposits towards past due balances.
- There are several financial assistance programs that can assist with bill payment. Please read more about those here.
- For more information on this process monthly billed members should click here and prepay members should click here.
Piedmont Electric is your local co-op and we are here to help you with your energy needs. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns at info@pemc.coop or 800.222.3107.
June 16, 2020
Energy payment assistance available
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced that the state’s Community Action Agencies (CAAs) have begun to receive flexible funds that can be used to help low-income individuals and families meet a variety of needs caused by the economic disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds are part of the federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and can, among other allowable uses, help eligible residents facing eviction with unmet rent and utility expenses.
To apply for help, contact your local Community Action Agency listed below.
Alamance: Alamance County Services Agency, 336.229.7031
Caswell: Telamon Corporation, 919.239.8111
Durham: Central Piedmont Community Action, 919.742.2277
Granville: Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, 252.492.0161
Orange: Central Piedmont Community Action, 919.742.2277
Person: Telamon Corporation, 919.239.8111
June 2, 2020
Delaying disconnections further
On May 30, Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 142 which extends the prohibition on the disconnection of utilities for nonpayment. This extension is in effect through July 29, 2020.
We support Governor Cooper’s plan to help members impacted by this crisis. Before the executive order was originally issued in March, Piedmont Electric made the decision to suspend disconnections for nonpayment, connect members who had been previously disconnected and to waive late fees for those with past due bills.
Piedmont Electric is helping members with past due bills including long-term payment arrangements, applying deposits toward past due balances and offering debt recovery for members using prepay billing.
We encourage members to continue to pay their energy bill, if they are financially able, to avoid accumulating a large balance when normal operations resume. We would like to remind members that the temporary suspension of disconnections for nonpayment in effect through July 29 is a postponement, not a forgiveness, of your payment obligation for your power purchases.
If you are ready to repay a past due balance or would like help applying for assistance through your local social service office, please give us a call at 800.222.3107.
As a cooperative with ties embedded in our communities, we are responding to this crisis with our COVID-19 Relief Fund campaign. We invite you to join us in raising funds, with a donation of any amount, to the PEHHF COVID-19 Relief Fund. Your donation will make a difference!
Donate online
Donate by check: PEHHF COVID-19 Relief Fund, Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation, PO Drawer 1179, Hillsborough, NC 27278
Phone: 800.222.3107
May 20, 2020
The aid described below will be available once the suspension of disconnections for nonpayments ends July 29.
Helping our members recover
Piedmont Electric is dedicated to helping members navigate their energy use through this crisis and into the future. Below is more information on how we are helping our members as we begin to move toward normal operating procedure.
Through May 31, Piedmont Electric will continue to suspend disconnections for nonpayment and waive late fees as we have since March 10 for those members impacted by COVID-19.
Beginning June 1, we will begin to move toward normal operating procedures. Here is what that means for you.
- Our offices will continue to operate as drive through only and our Caswell branch will continue to operate at reduced hours.
- Piedmont Electric employees will continue established social distancing practices.
- Members with past due balances will be enrolled automatically in a long-term payment plan. For those with deposits, we will return deposits for members who make efforts to pay the difference between their past due balance and their deposit. For more information on this process monthly billed members should click here and prepay members should click here.
Piedmont Electric is your local co-op and we are here to help you with your energy needs. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns at info@pemc.coop or 800.222.3107.
April 14, 2020
Avoid Scams
Reminder that Piedmont Electric will not be disconnecting for nonpayment or charging late fees during this time. If you are contacted by someone claiming to represent Piedmont Electric who wants a payment, requests you purchase a prepaid card or asks for personal information, hang up and call Piedmont Electric at 800.222.3107 to verify it’s a scam.
April 2, 2020
Help Support Your Community
Piedmont Electric’s Helping Hand Foundation has helped support the needs of our local communities ranging from energy assistance, teacher education grants to college scholarships. This is all thanks to the generous support of our members who round up their bill monthly. To continue in the spirit of supporting our local community, consider making a direct donation to our Helping Hand Foundation. Contributions of any size help and are appreciated because when we combine our strength, we can continue to support our community and our neighbors. Thank you for lending a helping hand!
UPDATE: In response to the current COVID-19 crisis, the foundation has set aside an additional $15,000 to go towards energy assistance to help members in need. To continue in the spirit of supporting our local community, consider making a direct donation to our Helping Hand Foundation. Contributions, which are tax-deductible, will directly benefit those impacted in our community through energy assistance. Contributions of any size help and are appreciated because when we combine our strength, we can continue to support our community and our neighbors.
See below for ways to donate to the Helping Hand Foundation:
Online
-Make a secure online donation:
-Go to Piedmont Electric’s Pay Now portal.
-Enter your Account Number as “1” and your Name as: Helping Hand COVID-19
The minimum online donation is $5.00. You will receive a receipt for your records after completion.
Make checks payable to “Helping Hand Foundation COVID-19” and mail to:
Attn: Helping Hand Foundation
Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation
P.O. Drawer 1179
Hillsborough, NC 27278
March 26, 2020
As a precaution against the spread of COVID-19, Piedmont Electric is reducing the hours our Caswell office is open effective Friday, March 27 at 5 p.m. for the foreseeable future.
The Caswell office will be open each Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for members who need to make cash payments, access the credit union or who are otherwise unable to have their needs met via the phone or internet.
We encourage members to make payments, sign up or disconnect service, ask questions or make a service request online through SmartHub, by emailing info@pemc.coop or by calling us at 800.222.3107.
If you need to make a cash payment, visit a convenient MoneyGram location near you or visit the drive-through at our Roxboro (1125 Oxford Rd, Roxboro, NC 27573) or Hillsborough (2500 NC-86, Hillsborough, NC 27278) offices.
While we encourage members to pay their bill to avoid accumulating a large balance, Piedmont Electric will not be disconnecting for nonpayment nor will we charge late fees at this time.
If you have any questions about one of these payment options, please call us at 800.222.3107 and we’ll walk you through the process.
MoneyGram locations include:
- CVS, 1009 W Main St, Haw River, NC 27258
- Wal-Mart, 530 S Graham Hopedale Rd, Burlington, NC 27217
- CVS, 2017 W Webb Ave, Burlington, NC 27217
- Guzman’s Market, 813 E Webb Ave, Burlington, NC 27217
March 26, 2020
No disconnects for nonpayment or associated fees have been charged to members since March 10, 2020 and all those members disconnected prior to this date have been reconnected. Piedmont Electric understands that many members will need help getting through these difficult times which is why the co-op has suspended disconnections for nonpayment. This action is in keeping with our cooperative principles of serving our membership and showing concern for community. The concern for community and serving our members principles are more important now than ever.
Even though disconnections for nonpayment have stopped for the time being, the cooperative will continue to read meters and send bills. We encourage members to pay what they can during this time so that they do not get too far behind. However we will work with all members to help them catch up once disconnects resume.
To help in these efforts, the Piedmont Electric Helping Hand Foundation (PEHHF) has approved funding to go towards those members needing assistance. Details on this PEHHF funding will be communicated when disconnects resume. Just like our suspension of disconnections, this policy and all future COVID-19 policies associated with disconnections and fees was approved by our board of directors who are members of the co-op just like you. If there is a problem with your bill you can always call us at 800.222.3107.
COVID-19: Small Business Resource Guide
COVID-19: Community Resource Guide
March 23, 2020
As a precaution against the spread of COVID-19, Piedmont Electric is closing our Caswell office effective Friday, March 27 at 5 p.m. for the foreseeable future.
We encourage members to make payments, sign up or disconnect service, ask questions or make a service request online through SmartHub, by emailing info@pemc.coop or by calling us at 800.222.3107. If you need to make a cash payment, visit a convenient MoneyGram location near you or visit the drive-through at our Roxboro or Hillsborough offices.
While we encourage members to pay their bill to avoid accumulating a large balance, if you or someone you know is at risk of being disconnected, please have them email info@pemc.coop or call us at 800.222.3107. We will do everything possible to help them during these difficult times.
If you have any questions about one of these payment options, please call us at 800.222.3107 and we’ll walk you through the process.
March 17, 2020
Our members are our top priority at Piedmont Electric. As your local electric cooperative, we are here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year – even in difficult times like now. Here are a few important things to know.
- Offices will be closed to members and visitors, and we will operate our drive through windows for all business.
- Payments, signing up or disconnecting service, asking questions and making a service request can all be conducted online through SmartHub, by emailing info@pemc.coop or on the phone at 800.222.3107.
- If you know someone who is at risk of being disconnected, please have them email info@pemc.coop or call us at 800.222.3107. We will do everything possible to help them during these difficult times.
- We continue to respond to power outages with the same enthusiasm you’ve come to expect.
- Piedmont Electric staff will not conduct in-home visits such as energy audits or high bill complaints during this time. We still have staff available to speak with members on the phone or via email with such issues.
We are here to serve you now and always. Please stay safe and follow the recommendations of the CDC and WHO.
March 13, 2020
Here at Piedmont Electric, the health and well-being of our members and employees is our top priority. We are closely monitoring the global outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus), and we’re working to safeguard the health of our communities.
You depend on us to provide you electricity safely and reliably every day. We’re committed to maintaining reliable service, while also doing our part to limit the spread of coronavirus.
We strongly encourage you to use our digital tools to access and manage your Piedmont Electric account. If you haven’t already, you can also download the Piedmont Electric SmartHub app to your smartphone or access it at pemc.smarthub.coop. If you don’t have internet access, please call us to discuss the other options that are available at 800.222.3107.
We know this could be a time of hardship or financial difficulty for our members. We’re committed to helping any member facing hardship. Our SmartHub program allows a payment extension to be requested if you are impacted by the coronavirus. If members need to talk directly to a member services representative, you can call us at 800.222.3107.
To protect the communities we serve, we are asking our employees to take steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus. We’re limiting travel, restricting visitors to our offices and asking members to use our drive throughs, internet or phone services during this time. For employees who regularly interact with members, we’re encouraging alternative ways of doing business and remote communication, where possible. In addition, signage will be posted at our offices in the event we are unable to staff our smaller offices.
We are closely monitoring the situation, and you can count on us to deliver the electricity that you need and to protect public health and safety. For information about COVID-19, you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov/coronavirus.