Demystifying Barton County Electric Bill Pay: A Comprehensive Guide

Paying your electric bill can be a tedious chore, but it doesn’t have to be with Barton County Electric Cooperative’s billing and payment options. As a Barton County Electric member, understanding how to read your bill, when it’s due, and the various ways to pay can make the process quick and painless. This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about Barton County Electric bill pay.

Getting Started: Understanding Your Barton County Electric Bill

Your Barton County Electric bill contains a wealth of information to help you understand your electric usage and what you owe each month Here are the key sections to review

Account Information – This lists your account number bill date due date and total amount due for the current billing period. It also shows any unpaid balance or credit from previous bills.

Meter Readings – Your electric meter is read each month on the same day and this section shows your meter number and the read dates and kilowatt hour usage for the current and previous month. Comparing the two helps you understand your monthly usage.

Billing Summary – A month-by-month breakdown of your electric charges, any applicable credits, taxes and fees. Compare your kilowatt hour use and cost period-over-period.

Messages – Important notifications like rate changes, peak demand info, payment arrangements and more will be noted here.

Usage Graphs – Visual monthly and annual snapshots of your electric use. Helpful for identifying seasonal usage patterns.

Account History – Payment and adjustment details for the previous 12 months for reference.

Familiarizing yourself with these key billing sections will help you stay informed about your electric use and any account activity. Contact Barton County Electric if you ever have any questions.

When is My Barton County Electric Bill Due?

Barton County Electric bills are issued at the beginning of each month and payment is due by the 20th of the month.

If the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, payment is due the next business day. Bills are considered past due after the due date and late fees may apply.

You can easily reference the due date printed on your billing statement each month to avoid any late fees. Setting a monthly reminder can help ensure your bill is paid on time as well.

Ways to Pay Your Barton County Electric Bill

Barton County Electric offers several convenient payment options to fit your needs and schedule:

Online – The fastest and easiest way to pay is through SmartHub, the online member portal. Register your account to pay by e-check, debit/credit card or PayPal 24/7.

Phone – Call Barton County Electric at (417) 682-5636 and select the billing option. Follow prompts to pay via debit/credit card or e-check with no transaction fee.

Mobile App – Download the SmartHub app and securely pay anytime, anywhere from your iOS or Android device.

In Person – Visit the Lamar office Monday-Friday from 7:30am-5pm to pay by cash, check or money order. A 24-hour drop box is also available.

By Mail – Detach payment stub from bill and mail along with check or money order to Barton County Electric, P.O. Box 519, Lamar, MO 64759. Allow 5-7 days for delivery.

Bank Draft – Sign up for monthly auto-draft from your bank account. Download the authorization form from the website and submit to the office.

Budget Billing – Pay the same amount each month based on your average usage to make budgeting easier. Call the office to enroll.

No matter how you prefer to pay, Barton County Electric makes it quick and convenient. Choose the option that works best for your needs each month.

What to Do if You Can’t Pay Your Bill on Time

We understand financial challenges happen. If you are unable to pay your electric bill by the due date, please contact Barton County Electric right away. Our team will work with you to set up a payment plan or make other arrangements.

Ignoring an overdue bill can lead to additional fees, service disconnection and negatively impact your account. Being proactive allows us to help avoid any disruption to your electric service.

Some options if you can’t pay on time include:

• Payment Plan – Set up a plan to pay your balance over multiple months. Initial payment may be required.

• Energy Assistance – If you qualify based on income, energy assistance programs can help pay a portion of your bill.

• Payment Extension – Request a due date extension if you just need a little extra time.

Let us know if you anticipate difficulty paying a bill so we can discuss arrangements before your account becomes delinquent. We want to help members through financial challenges, but need you to contact us promptly when an issue arises.

Ways to Lower Your Monthly Electric Bill

If your electric bills seem higher than expected, there are things you can do to reduce your monthly costs:

• Perform an energy audit to find efficiency weaknesses like leaks or poor insulation. Seal air leaks and add insulation to save up to 30% on bills.

• Upgrade to LED lighting. LED bulbs use at least 75% less energy than traditional bulbs and last 25x longer, cutting lighting costs significantly.

• Adjust your thermostat. Set your thermostat to 68°F in winter and 78°F in summer to save about 10% annually.

• Use a programmable or smart thermostat to automatically adjust temperatures when you’re asleep or away.

• Replace old appliances with ENERGY STAR models which use 15-30% less energy on average.

• Enable power management settings on computers and electronics to reduce wasted standby power.

• Run full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine and use cold water settings to save on water heating costs.

• Have your HVAC system serviced to ensure it’s operating efficiently. Replace filters monthly.

• Caulk and weatherstrip around windows and doors to prevent costly air leaks.

With some adjustments and energy efficient upgrades, you can reduce your monthly consumption and enjoy lower electric bills. Contact Barton County Electric to learn about possible rebates on qualified energy efficiency improvements as well.

Billing & Account Resources from Barton County Electric

Barton County Electric offers many resources to help you understand your bill, manage your account, and pay on time:

• Online Account Access – Register at bartonelectric.com to view bills, payment history, usage and make payments.

• Billing & Payment FAQs – Common questions about billing, payments and budget billing answered.

• Energy Calculators – Estimate the operating costs of appliances and lighting to track usage.

• Energy Assistance – Details on qualifications for energy bill payment assistance programs.

• Payment Arrangement Forms – Request forms for extensions, payment plans and auto-draft enrollment.

• Power Outage Center – Check current outages, report an outage by phone or online and view outage maps.

• Contact Us – Representatives available by phone Monday thru Friday from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm at (417) 682-5636. Email [email protected].

Barton County Electric is here to provide excellent service and resources to members for all your electric account needs. Please reach out with any billing or payment questions.

Key Takeaways on Barton County Electric Bill Pay

• Bills are issued at the beginning of each month and due by the 20th. Late fees apply after the due date.

• Pay online, by phone, mobile app, in person, by mail or with auto-draft. Multiple options fit any schedule.

• Contact Barton County Electric promptly if you can’t pay on time to avoid disconnection. Payment plans are available.

• Reduce usage with efficiency upgrades and adjustments to lower monthly bills. Rebates may apply.

• Member account resources and helpful staff make managing your Barton County Electric account easy.

Understanding your bill details, payment options, and ways to save puts you in control of your utility costs. Barton County Electric is committed to providing affordable and reliable electric service to enhance the lives of our member-owners.