Streamline Bill Payment with Southside Electric Cooperative

Paying your monthly electric bill can feel like a hassle, especially if you need to mail a check or visit an office in person. Fortunately, Southside Electric Cooperative offers a variety of convenient bill pay options to fit your lifestyle. As a Southside Electric Cooperative customer myself, I appreciate how easy they make it to pay each month. In this article, I’ll overview the bill pay choices available and explain how to get started with each method.

Online Bill Pay

The easiest way to pay your Southside Electric Cooperative bill is online through SmartHub. With SmartHub, you can set up one-time or recurring payments using a bank account credit card or debit card. There are no fees to use SmartHub for bill pay.

To get started, simply visit secsmarthub.coop and either sign up for a new account or log into your existing account. The setup process is quick – all you need is your Southside Electric Cooperative account number and an email address.

Once your account is created, you can make a payment anytime by selecting “Pay Bill” and entering your payment details. You can even view billing history and set payment reminders through SmartHub.

I like using SmartHub for the convenience – I have it saved as a bookmark on my phone so I can easily log in and pay each month. The autopay feature is handy too, as I have my bill set to automatically charge to my credit card each month.

Mobile App

In addition to the website, SmartHub is also available as a free mobile app for iOS and Android. Simply search “SmartHub” in your device’s app store and download it. As with the website, you’ll need to provide your Southside Electric Cooperative account number when setting up the app.

The SmartHub app allows you to securely manage payments, view usage data, report outages, and more. Paying through the app is very quick – just tap “Pay Bill”, choose a payment method and amount, and confirm. Recurring payments can be scheduled as well.

Phone Payments

If you prefer paying your bill over the phone, Southside Electric Cooperative offers an automated pay-by-phone system called IVR (Interactive Voice Response). To use it, call 800-552-2118. The system is available 24/7 so you can pay at your convenience.

You’ll need to enter your 10-digit account number and 4-digit PIN. The PIN is typically the last four digits of your social security number. After entering your credentials, follow the prompts to make a payment using your debit card, credit card, or bank account.

IVR helps you avoid long wait times to speak with a customer service rep. The entire payment process usually takes under 5 minutes.

Office Locations

Southside Electric Cooperative has four local offices where you can pay your bill in person with cash, check, or money order. The offices are located in:

• Crewe
• Altavista
• Powhatan
• Dinwiddie

Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM. When paying in person, be sure to bring your monthly bill or have your account number handy. The staff can look up your account and process a payment on the spot.

Dropping off a payment at a Southside Electric Cooperative office gives you the chance to speak with someone face-to-face if you have any questions about your bill. However, offices may have long wait times during peak months.

Drop Boxes

Each Southside Electric Cooperative office has a 24/7 drop box where you can deposit your payment (check or money order) after hours. Simply place your payment in an envelope with your account number written on it and drop it in the slot. This is a quick option if you happen to be passing by one of the offices outside their regular business hours.

Third-Party Bill Pay Services

You can also make payments through third-party bill pay services offered by your bank or other providers. These services allow you to set up one-time or automatic payments to Southside Electric Cooperative by check or electronic funds transfer.

The main downside is it may take several days for Southside Electric Cooperative to receive the payment, versus instant processing through their website or app. Be sure to schedule payments 1-2 weeks in advance of your due date if using a third party.

Prepaid Billing

Southside Electric Cooperative offers prepaid electric accounts as an alternative to postpaid billing. With prepaid billing, you pay ahead for electricity instead of receiving a monthly bill. Your usage is immediately deducted from your account balance as you go.

To get started, you’ll need to make an initial payment of at least $50 to establish a positive balance on your prepaid account. You can then monitor your balance online, through the app, or by calling customer service. When the balance runs low, you simply make another payment to maintain service.

Prepaid billing gives you more control over your electricity spending each month. It also avoids security deposits, late fees, and disconnection fees. Just be sure to closely monitor your usage and account balance to prevent an unexpected service interruption.

Choose the Best Option for You

As you can see, Southside Electric Cooperative offers a variety of bill payment methods to fit any schedule or preference. Whether online, phone, in person, or through a third party, paying your bill is quick and convenient.

I recommend setting up automatic payments through SmartHub if possible, as it saves time and ensures your bill is paid on time each month. But you can’t go wrong with any of Southside Electric Cooperative’s payment options. Review the choices and select the one that best fits your needs.