CEO Report

November 2006

FKEC Offers New Online Account Access & Bill Payment

As a not-for-profit utility, Florida Keys Electric Cooperative strives to provide the best possible service to our 31,000 members in the Upper and Middle Keys. First and foremost, we focus on supplying safe and reliable electric service, but customer service is also a high priority.

Along those lines, we have been working on adding more convenient payment options for our members over the past several years. Our first new addition was electronic funds transfer, which automatically pays your bill from your checking account every month. This service not only saves time, checks and stamps, it is also especially appreciated by our many part-time residents. To sign up for this service, call 305-852-2431 or 305-743-5344 for the forms and instructions to authorize monthly transfers from your bank account.

Last year, we also added the additional convenience of accepting credit card payments over the phone or in person using Mastercard, Visa or American Express. This addition was welcome for those needing to make last-minute payments.

Finally last month, FKEC added eBill, an online bill payment system available over the Internet. This service can be used to make payments anytime using your credit card. All members are invited to use eBill by clicking here.

Register for eBill by simply entering your FKEC account number (found on your electric bill) and your email address, and then creating a password. Once you've registered, you may log on to eBill with only your email address and password. The program provides the option to view and pay your current bill (with your checking account, Mastercard, Visa or American Express), view and print previous bills, view your historical energy use, change account details and more. Please note that bills paid online must be paid in full and credit card charges are limited to $2,000.

FKEC's Board of Directors and staff are proud to add online account access to our member service options and hope it helps simplify the payment process. If you have questions about this system, please contact Member Service at your local FKEC office.

Scott Newberry joined FKEC in 1990 as Planning, Rate and Budget Analyst and was promoted in 1996 to Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, he oversaw all of the financial, accounting, billing and information system functions of the cooperative. He was promoted to CEO on January 1, 2006.

Scott is an active member of the Upper Keys community and is a past president, current director and president-elect of the Rotary Club of Key Largo, is a director for the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce and is co-founder and president of the Upper Keys Golf Association.

In 1994, Scott completed the three-year national electrical course for apprentice linemen to further his education in cooperative operations. He is a graduate of Leadership Monroe County Class XI and completed the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's Management Internship Program in 2005.

Scott graduated from Arkansas State University with a degree in Agriculture Business and Economics in 1986. In 1988, he began his career in the electricity industry when he joined the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) in Washington, D.C. With the REA, he worked first as a Commercial Loan Specialist and was later promoted to Power Requirements Officer before moving to the Florida Keys to join FKEC in 1990.