Understanding the 60-day grace period from disconnecting members
As you may be aware, Dixie Electric along with other electric utility providers in Mississippi, are not disconnecting electric service to members who are unable to pay their bills due to circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.
Our members will not be disconnected for nonpayment during the 60-day period that began on March 15, 2020; however, it is important to understand this does not eliminate your bill. Some have misinterpreted this to mean that the electricity used during this period is free. It is not, and there have been clarifications to make it clear this is not the case. Rather, it is a grace period for those who have been affected by this unprecedented event. Once this grace period ends, the bills for electricity used in the period leading up to and during the grace period will be due.
I earnestly ask our members to make every effort to pay their bill and try to stay current. If not, your balance will continue to increase, and it will be more difficult to pay for two or three months of electric bills that will be due at the end of the 60-day grace period. Over the next couple of months, we will continue to provide notifications through the mail, phone, app or email, to help our members stay informed of their electricity use. These are not disconnect notices, but reminders of how much is owed and when it is due.
We are concerned about the health and well being of our members and employees. With that in mind, we are encouraging our members to use the SmartHub app, to visit dixieepa.com to pay online, or call (601) 425-2535 and press 2 to pay by phone. These are easy and free ways to pay without having to visit one of our offices. If you have questions about how to use any of these, please give us a call.
At our offices, we are cleaning the lobbies daily and have provided gloves for our member service representatives when they count money. We are encouraging social distancing, handwashing, and other good health habits with our employees and following the guidelines and requests of our state and national leaders.
No one knows for sure how long this will last or the impact it will have, but one thing is sure. If we work together and encourage each other, we can get through it together and our communities will be stronger and better for it.