Bills for electric energy consumption will be mailed and/or emailed to customers in accordance with an approved meter reading schedule that is subject to change at the discretion of the Cooperative. Failure to receive a bill will not release customer from payment obligation.
Due Date
Bills are due when rendered.
Delinquent Bills & Penalties:
Unpaid bills for electric service become delinquent if payment is not received in a FKEC office by 5 p.m. on the 20th day after the mailing date shown on the bill.
If such date falls on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, a national holiday, or a holiday observed by FKEC, the next regular business day is deemed to be the date the bill becomes delinquent.
Payments placed in the night deposit box at the Cooperative offices after 5 p.m. will be deemed to have been paid on the next regular business day.
Late Payment Penalties
Delinquent amounts due are subject to a late payment penalty of 1.5% per month of the total amount owed, if the total owed is $5 or more.
After application of the late payment penalty, the delinquent amount due includes both the original amount due and the late payment penalty.
If a bill remains unpaid for more than 1 billing cycle, additional late payment charges will be made on the total amount owed at the same rate.
Disconnect Notice
A disconnect notice will be mailed and/or emailed to any account subject to the late payment penalty if the delinquent amount exceeds both $75 and 1/2 of the billing deposit on that account.
The disconnect notice will show the account number, delinquent amount due, billing date, disconnect date, collection fee, reconnect fee, disconnect fee, after-hours reconnect fee, and the procedure for reconnection of services disconnected for non-payment.
Payment in full of the amount due per the disconnect notice must be received in a Cooperative office by 5 p.m. the day prior to the scheduled disconnect date.
Account # – This is the account number for the service address(s) within the bill. This account number is needed to register for SmartHub. Billing Date –The date the bill is printed and mailed. Payment is due within 20 days of this date. Bills not paid within 20 days of the “Bill Mailed” date are considered delinquent and may be subject to late fees and disconnection. Current Bill Due Date – The date the current charges are due. This does not include any past due balance. Next Reading Date is – The scheduled date your electric meter will be read for your next bill. This date marks the end of the current billing cycle and the start of the next one. Previous Balance – Amount of the previous bill. Payment Received – Date and payment(s) amount posted to the account between the last month’s billing date and the current billing date. Balance Forward – The unpaid amount from a previous billing period that is carried over and added to the current bill. Current Charges Due – Latest amount due and due date of charges between reading dates. Total Amount Due – Thefinal dollar amount you must pay by the due dateto keep your account current. It reflects all charges, credits,and adjustments applied to your account for that billing period.
#2
Service Address – Identifies the property receiving electricity (house, apartment, business, or facility) Service Description –Identifies the subdivision and lot and block.
#3
Meter No. – The unique identification number assigned to the physical electric meter at the service address. It can be located on the face of the meter. Reading Dates – The start and end dates when your electric meter was read to calculate your bill. Readings – Measures kWh used from the last billed meter reading date to the current meter reading date. Multiplier – The recorded meter reading is multiplied by this number to determine the total kilowatt-hours billed. Multipliers are commonly used on larger services where current transformers are installed. kWh Usage – Total kilowatt hours used between billing periods. Peak Demand – The highest level of electrical power your home used at one time during the billing period.
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Usage History – This chart shows your electricity use over the past 13 months, including average daily use and cost, helping you compare your most recent bill and see changes in your daily usage.
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Outdoor Lt-Pwr Cost-Equity–The cost if you ordered an outdoor light. Daily System Access Charge – A “service availability charge” to cover the costs involved in having power available to each active meter. Energy Charge – The $0.033 per kilowatt-hour helps FKEC cover the expenses involved in delivering energy to each account. The first 1,000 kWh of electricity usage each month is not subject to an energy charge. Demand Charge – Is measured in kilowatts (kW) and represents the highest amount of electricity used at one time during a billing period. It reflects your largest spike in power use, even if brief. Currently, the demand line item is for reference only and is not used to calculate your bill. Power Cost – The cost of power purchased from FPL, our primary supplier of electricity. It is passed directly to members with no markup or add-on, and varies monthly. Equity Charge – A formula rate rider that is adjusted annually, either positive or negative, to help FKEC attain the optimum margins needed to properly maintain the system to provide safe, reliable power. Sales Tax – This is the Florida state sales tax for outdoor light rental. Gross Receipt Tax – A 2.563% tax assessed to every bill from the state of Florida. Operation Round-Up®–A voluntary program that “rounds up” your electric bill up to the next whole dollar, and gives 100% of all funds raised to those in need.
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Total Due – Thefinal dollar amount you must pay by the due dateto keep your account current. It reflects all charges, credits,and adjustments applied to your account for that billing period. Amount Due After – If payment is not received by the date shown above, a 1.5% late fee will be applied.
By reading your meter on a regular basis you can monitor the amount of electricity you are using and gauge your energy saving efforts. Our goal is to give you greater control over your home energy and to provide you with the tools and information you need to keep your electric bills down.
Electric meters measure use of electricity in units called kilowatt-hours or kWh.
1 kWh is 1,000 watts used for 1 hour.
An FKEC digital kilowatt-hour meter displays the usage on a liquid crystal display (LCD). It records usage in the same manner that a car’s odometer records mileage. You read the numbers from left to right.
After you have read your meter, subtract the previous reading from the present reading. The difference between the 2 reflects the number of kWh of electricity you have used.
Meter Information
Supply of Meters
The measurement of electric service is by meters installed, owned, and maintained by the Cooperative.
The Cooperative will select the type and make of metering equipment, and may, from time to time, change or alter the equipment.
FKEC installs meters that are read electronically. Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) technology typically eliminates the need for FKEC personnel to enter a member’s property to read the meter each month.
However, access to the meter may be required from time to time.
By requesting service from FKEC, you are granting 24-hour access to your meter for meter reading, maintenance, vegetation management, and emergencies.
It is the member’s responsibility to see that no hazards or impediments exist to prevent FKEC field personnel from safely accessing the meter. FKEC employees and contractors will, upon request, show credentials and state the reason for requiring access.
Special Measurements
For the purposes of measuring the demand, collecting interval data, or for other measurements of all or part of a member’s load, the Cooperative may, at its option and its own expense, place demand meters, load survey meters, or other instruments and equipment on the premises of any member.
Meter Accuracy & Testing
It is rare that a meter is found to run fast and record an increased usage. Like most other machines, meters tend to slow with age.
The performance of an in-service watt-hour meter is acceptable when the meter does not creep, and when the average percentage registration is not more than 102% nor less than 98% at full and light load.
To maintain a high standard of accuracy the Cooperative, at its own expense, performs periodic tests and inspections of its meters in order to verify they are operating within these parameters.
Meter Testing
If you feel your meter is not operating properly, you may contact FKEC to request a meter test.
If the meter is found to be operating within the acceptable parameters, a fee of $30 for a single-phase meter and $40 for all 3-phase meters may be assessed to cover the expense of the meter test.
If the meter is found to be operating outside the acceptable parameters, no fee will be assessed
If the meter is found to be slow, no additional billing will be made.
If the meter is found to be fast, appropriate credit adjustments will be made to bills rendered 6 months prior to the meter test.
Meter Tampering (Illegal Diversion of Power)
Only an authorized representative of the Cooperative may remove meters, meter seals, connections, or any property of the Cooperative on or about a member’s premises.
Tampering with metering or electrical equipment is illegal, dangerous, and costly to all FKEC members.
Whenever evidence of tampering is found, the member will be subject to penalties as provided in the Florida Statutes, Section 812.14, and responsible for the estimated cost of energy consumed while the meter was not operating properly due to the installation of the diversion devices.
This includes tampering with the meter or with any wiring, electric equipment, or instrumentation between the line side of the meter and the electrical distribution system, which would result in the diversion or non-registration of electric energy, and/or the installation of meter seals other than those installed by FKEC on member’s meter.
Such tampering may be deemed to be cause for disconnection of electric service and/or legal action and criminal prosecution as provided in Section 812.14, Florida Statutes.
Whenever these conditions are found at a member’s premises, service personnel will correct the condition by installing a new seal and/or other associated equipment, as required, and the meter will be tested to assure that it is operating within the prescribed limits of accuracy. Additional fees will be incurred.
If you suspect someone is tampering with a FKEC meter or other electrical equipment, please contact our office at (305) 852-2431 or (800) 858-8845. Reports will remain confidential.
Comparing Electric Bills
There is no way to compare your utility bill with friends and neighbors because you do not use your electric energy the same way. No 2 families own all the same appliances, do the same washing and drying, have the same hot water usage, use the same lights, or have the same lifestyles.
If you notice changes in the amount of your electric bill, look at the usage. The dollar amount on the bill depends mostly on the amount of kilowatt hours that go through the meter.
