PrePaid Advantage Application

Pre-Paid Advantage Terms of Service

By completing and signing this form, I am enrolling in the Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Cooperative) PREPAID ADVANTAGE program.

I understand that I am asking the Cooperative to provide me with electric service and that I will pay for the service prior to use (“prepaid” basis) in lieu of traditional electric service by which payment occurs after use (“postpaid” basis).

If I am a new member, I understand that I must make application by completing the membership application for service. I understand that the Cooperative will perform a credit check to determine if there is a credit risk associated with me, to verify my identification information and to check for past due balances. If I have or have had electric service with the Cooperative the Cooperative may use my existing credit history to determine if there is a credit risk.

The electric service deposit levels, as established in Regulation No. 3 - Deposits, are amended and adjusted such that some PREPAID ADVANTAGE member/owners, based on the results of their credit check, may pay up to a $50 service deposit to cover several days of service.

I understand that I will also be required to pay at least $25 as an initial payment on my account.

If I have an existing deposit, such deposit shall be applied in the following manner:
1. To pay for any service provided by the Cooperative to the member up to the date of the change to the PREPAID ADVANTAGE Program.
2. To new deposit requirements.
3. To the charges for establishing new rate; or,
4. As a credit on the account. 

If I am an existing member disconnected for nonpayment, I understand that I may enroll in PREPAID ADVANTAGE with 50 percent of all payment(s) being applied to the total balance owed up to the date of disconnection. The Cooperative may require a portion of the total past due balance owed to be paid at the time of application for PREPAID ADVANTAGE such that the balance remaining is paid over a twelve (12) month or less period. The Cooperative is the sole and final authority as to such term.

I understand that PREPAID ADVANTAGE is not available for service at any location enrolled in the Cooperative’s Regulation 24 -Medical Equipment Registry program and classified as critical care.

I understand that if my account becomes enrolled in the Cooperative’s Regulation 24 and classified as critical care, I will be removed from the PREPAID ADVANTAGE program.

The Cooperative will perform a credit check, as established in Regulation 3 – Deposits, to determine deposit requirement for the new rate. I as a member/owner may enter into a deferred payment agreement for the deposit requirement. The guidelines for deferred payment agreements are established in Regulation 12 – Billing.

As a PREPAID ADVANTAGE member, I understand that I may cancel PREPAID ADVANTAGE service and establish traditional “postpaid” service under another rate, in which case I may not subsequently request PREPAID ADVANTAGE service for at least one year after the effective date of cancellation. In the event of such change, I will also pay the then-current disconnect/reconnect fee to cover the cost of the required meter exchange and pay a deposit, if required.

I understand that instead of written notice of disconnection, the Cooperative will provide member/owners who are participants with a text message, email or phone call to alert them when the account balance is at or below a projected five day’s usage. I understand that it is my responsibility to provide the Cooperative with a current and correct address for such message. It is not the Cooperative’s responsibility to verify that the message was delivered nor will the Cooperative refrain from disconnecting service if it cannot deliver such message due to insufficient or incorrect information.

I understand that the Cooperative will not send by U.S. Mail to any account on PREPAID ADVANTAGE a written past due or termination for non-payment notice, and any account with a payment balance equal to or less than $-0- will be disconnected without any further notice. However, the Cooperative will only disconnect such accounts Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., excluding holidays.

I understand that the Cooperative regulations concerning disconnection of service due to forecasted temperatures being below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or during certain months of the year, pursuant to Regulation 28 -Disconnection of Electric Service for Nonpayment, do not apply to service under the PREPAID ADVANTAGE Program. I understand any charges incurred by the Cooperative as a result of, insufficient fund checks/electronic fund transfers, returned credit card payments and the like, associated with PREPAID ADVANTAGE shall be applied to the account balance and may result in disconnection of service without further notice.

I understand that the Cooperative reserves the right to delay posting a payment to account up to seven days if, in its sole judgment, it has sufficient reason to believe that the member’s financial institution will not honor the payment.

I understand that the Cooperative will permanently disconnect any account that maintains a $-0- balance or balance due the Cooperative for a period of 30 days. If my account is disconnected for such reason, I must complete an application to reestablish service.

I understand that service will be reconnected during normal business hours upon receipt of payment for the outstanding balance plus a credit towards future energy use.

I understand that pledges from Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or a charitable organization will be treated as payment and service will be reconnected if amount covers the outstanding balance plus a credit towards future energy use.

I understand the difference between prepaid and postpaid service, and am requesting to establish PREPAID ADVANTAGE service from Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative, Inc.