How to Pay Your Sumter Electric Cooperative Bill

It doesn’t have to be hard to pay your Sumter Electric Cooperative bill every month. Sumter Electric gives their customers a number of quick and easy ways to pay every month. This article will explain the different ways you can pay your bills and give you advice on how to pick the best one for your needs.

Overview of Sumter Electric Cooperative

First, a quick overview for those unfamiliar with Sumter Electric Cooperative (SEC). SEC is an electric cooperative that provides power to over 20,000 customers across 11 counties in Southwestern Georgia As a cooperative, SEC is owned by the customers it serves

The SEC has reasonable prices and tries to give its members great customer service. Members of the coop can choose how and when to pay their monthly electric bills.

Pay Online

The easiest way for most members to pay their SEC bill is online through the cooperative’s web portal. To pay online you’ll first need to create an account on the SEC customer portal website.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Go to https://billing.sumteremc.com/onlineportal/Default.aspx

2. Click “Create New User” under the login fields.

3. Enter your account information, create a username and password, and provide an email address.

4. Validate your account by entering a confirmation code sent to your email.

Once your portal account is created, you can log in anytime and view your current SEC bill. On the billing page, click “Pay Now” to make a payment by credit card or bank account. The payment will be processed instantly.

The SEC customer portal allows you to:

• Check your current account balance
• View billing and payment history
• Set up recurring payments
• Go paperless with e-bills
• Report outages

Paying online is secure, fast, and convenient for most members.

Pay by Phone

Members of SEC can also use the cooperative’s automated pay-by-phone system to pay their bill over the phone.

To make a payment, call 1-855-938-3432 and follow the prompts. You’ll need to enter your 10-digit SEC account number and the amount you owe.

Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, and electronic checks can all be used with this system. When you pay over the phone, the money goes straight into your account.

The automated phone payment system allows you to pay your bill 24/7 without having to talk to a customer service rep. It’s a great option if you prefer paying by phone.

Pay by Mail

If you prefer to mail in a payment, you can send a check or money order to SEC’s payment processing center at:

SECO Energy
PO Box 70997
Charlotte, NC 28272-0997

To avoid late fees, make sure to mail your payment 7-10 days before the due date listed on your bill. Payments sent via US Mail can take up to 5 business days to process.

Paying by mail is a fine option for members who don’t mind waiting longer for payments to post or who simply prefer mailing in bills each month. Just be sure to allow enough time for SEC to receive and process your mailed payment.

Pay in Person

SEC operates five member service centers across its territory where you can pay your electric bill in person. Service center locations include:

• Eustis
• Groveland
• Sumterville
• Ocala
• Inverness

At each local office, SEC offers both drive-thru and walk-in payment windows. You can pay by cash, check, or money order. The representatives at the service centers can also help answer any questions about your account.

Paying your bill in person ensures same day payment processing. It’s a good option if you’re nearing a due date and want assurance your payment will post ASAP to avoid late fees.

Enroll in Auto Draft

For maximum convenience, enroll in SEC’s automatic bank draft program. With bank draft, SEC will automatically withdraw your monthly bill payment on the due date from your checking or savings account.

To enroll, you’ll need to register for an online account through the SEC customer portal. Once logged in, you can complete the bank draft enrollment process in just a few clicks.

Setting up auto draft payments ensures your SEC bill gets paid on time each month. It’s one less thing to remember and provides peace of mind knowing late fees will be avoided.

Consider Prepay Billing

SEC offers an alternative billing plan called MyWay Prepay. With prepay billing, you pay for electricity before using it instead of receiving a monthly bill.

Here’s how it works:

• You make an initial payment to establish a “credit balance”

• As you use electricity, your balance declines daily

• When the balance gets low, you make another payment to add more credit

• You continue making payments to maintain a positive balance

MyWay Prepay offers more control and flexibility in bill payment. You decide how much to pay and when. Many SEC members like the predictability of prepay billing.

However, it does require you to closely monitor your account balance and make payments more frequently to avoid service disruptions.

Get Payment Assistance

If you’re ever struggling to pay your SEC electric bill on time, don’t hesitate to contact the cooperative for assistance. SEC partners with local non-profit agencies that may be able to provide bill payment assistance.

You can also call Florida 2-1-1 to inquire about bill pay assistance programs you may qualify for. Florida 2-1-1 helps connect individuals with community resources and government assistance.

In some cases, SEC can make payment arrangements if you’re experiencing temporary financial hardship. Reach out to SEC’s member services team to learn about available bill pay assistance options.

Avoid Third Party Payment Sites

When paying your SEC bill online, be sure to use the cooperative’s official payment portal and not a third party payment website. Unofficial sites often charge fees and may cause delays in processing.

SEC advises members to only use the payment options listed on their website. Be cautious of any site asking for SEC account information or payment if the URL does not start with “sumteremc.com”.

Stick to SEC’s authorized bill pay methods to ensure proper crediting of your account and avoid unnecessary fees.

Choose the Best Payment Method for You

As you can see, Sumter Electric offers their members many convenient and flexible ways to pay bills. Whether you prefer paying online, by phone, in person, or by mail, SEC has you covered.

Evaluate the options and choose the payment method that fits your needs and preferences each month. Many members love the convenience of auto draft or online bill pay through SEC’s customer portal.

No matter how you decide to pay, make sure to monitor your account balance closely and pay the total amount due by the due date each month. This will help avoid late payment fees or any disruption to your electrical service.