BEMC ANNOUNCES REPAYMENT PLAN FOR MEMBERS AFFECTED BY COVID-19
Supply, NC, (7/24/2020) – Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) remains committed to members experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic as normal member payment procedures resume August 3.
On March 15, BEMC made the decision to temporarily suspend service disconnections due to nonpayment and waive late payment fees on all past due accounts. NC Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 124 requiring the same action for all utilities on March 31. Executive Order 142 was issued on May 30 and extended the terms of Executive Order 124 until July 29. These Executive Orders stipulate that they do not relieve consumers of their obligation to pay bills for the receipt of services mentioned therein.
As North Carolina reopens and the moratorium on utility disconnections is lifted, BEMC is aware that many members will continue to face economic hardship. Currently, 6.7% of BEMC’s accounts have past due balances with an average of $275. In an effort to help the members most affected, the following repayment plans will be available based on the service type:
- PREPAY ACCOUNTS: Any negative balance on prepaid accounts will be converted to an arrangement amount. The arrangement amount will be the account balance at the end of the day on August 2 plus $20 which will be added to the current prepaid balance to allow for a positive balance and time to make purchases to keep power on. Until the outstanding arrangement balance is fully repaid, each payment will be applied as follows:
- 25% to the outstanding arrangement balance
- 75% to the current energy purchase
- MONTHLY BILLED ACCOUNTS: The overdue balance will automatically be billed as an arrangement over 12 months to begin with the September billing.