An Update from our CEO
April 24, 2020
As our community feels the impact of the coronavirus, we at BREC continue to assure you that the safety, health and well-being of our members and employees is our top priority. We are staying current on the latest updates from state and federal experts and monitor reports daily to ensure current measures in place are best for the situation at hand.
On March 20, 2020, we closed our lobbies in Gaffney and Boiling Springs to the public and limited our daily work to include only essential services as defined by our Emergency Response Plan or ERP. These services include responding to outages, ensuring system reliability and maintaining the member service call center. Our drive thru at the Gaffney office remains open to service member needs. The plan for the co-op wide adherence to the ERP will be re-evaluated on or about May 8th. At that time, management will explore when and how to re-open while maintaining our commitment to the safety of our BREC community.
Until further notice, all disconnections for nonpayment are suspended but we encourage you to stay on top of your billing and make regular payments as you are able. As before, we encourage you to conduct business or manage accounts using the following online or automated services:
- Smarthub App – a free download from the app store, it allows payments of bills from phones, tablets or computers.
- Online bill payment at BroadRiverElectric.com
- IVR payments (automated phone payment) at 866-687-2667
- Electronic Check payments
- Bank draft payments
- Payment via online bill-pay service, offered by some financial institutions.
Thank you for your cooperation as we go through this challenging time.
Terry W. Mallard
CEO
A Message from Our CEO
(As of March 30, 2020)
Dear Broad River EC Member,
Our lives have significantly changed over the last several weeks due to the coronavirus. We have read information published by the WHO and the CDC and watch daily briefings provided by the Coronavirus Task Force. We follow these federal and state briefings to learn more about the virus and its impact on the economy; and more importantly, we are watching for updates on its effects on our families, our community and our way of life. It is important for us as a community to follow the recommendations of the experts. It is each individual’s responsibility to protect ourselves, our community and those we care for and love.
Safety is and has always been our focus at Broad River EC. We need to act to protect the safety of our staff, while at the same time provide you with reliable and dependable electric service. Because of that focus on safety, Broad River EC staff will be limiting its daily work to include only essential services as defined by our Emergency Response Plan. These services include responding to outages, ensuring system reliability and maintaining our member service call center. Effective March 20, the lobbies of Broad River EC in Gaffney and Boiling Springs are closed to the public until further notice.
We know the coronavirus outbreak may cause financial hardships. Some members may face reduced employment or unemployment. Some members are staying home, which makes 24-hour electric service even more vital.
We have established policies to help members get through this difficult time. The following changes in policies and practices are in effect:
- The suspension of disconnections on accounts with past due amounts, as Gov. Henry McMaster requested of all electricity providers. But, as state officials have acknowledged, members still have an obligation to pay their bill eventually. So, we urge you to keep making timely payments. Don’t let your bill increase. Our member service staff is empowered to work with our members, so please contact them to discuss any necessary arrangements.
- Late payment penalties and charges have been waived through April 30, at which time the Board of Trustees will re-evaluate the policy for Late Payment and Charges.
We encourage the use of our drive-through service and night deposit station to conduct business, as well as other electronic options available to manage your account:
- Smarthub app — a free download from the app store, it allows you to pay your bill from your phone, tablet or computer. You can also set reminders for payment dates and alerts for high usage.
- Online bill pay at www.broadriverelectric.com
- IVR (automated phone payment line at 866-687-2667)
- Electronic check
- Bank draft
- Other online bill pay service offered through some financial institutions
Our Member Service Representatives are available by telephone should you have any questions. We appreciate your understanding during this difficult time.
Reliable electric service and the safety of our employees is paramount.
Our commitment is to do everything we can to keep the lights on while keeping our staff and members safe during these unusual times.
Thank you for your support.
Terry W. Mallard
CEO
Broad River Electric Cooperative to Close Lobbies
(As of March 19, 2020)
The safety of our employees and members is of utmost importance. Due to that safety concern, beginning tomorrow morning, March 20th, the lobbies in the Gaffney and Boiling Springs offices will be closed to the public.
We encourage the use of our drive-thru service, which opens at 7:30 each weekday morning, as well as other electronic options available to manage your account:
- Smarthub app — a free download from the app store, it allows you to pay your bill from your phone, tablet or computer. You can also set reminders for payment dates and alerts for high usage.
- Online bill pay at www.broadriverelectric.com
- IVR (automated phone payment line at 866-687-2667)
- Electronic check
- Bank draft
- Other online bill pay service offered through some financial institutions
Learn more about billing and payment options.
Our Member Service Representatives are available by telephone should you have any questions.
We appreciate your understanding during this difficult time.
Coronavirus, your electric bill and your electric cooperative
(As of March 18, 2020)
Paying your bill
You are responsible for paying for the electricity you use, which applies to any other product or service. Your cooperative cannot provide free electricity. If we did, your fellow members would pick up the tab because we are a not-for-profit, member-owned enterprise. There’s no one else to pay.
Past due payments
We know the coronavirus outbreak may cause financial hardships. Some members may face reduced employment or unemployment. Some members are staying home, which makes 24-hour electric service even more vital.
We have established policies to help members get through this difficult time. For example, we’ve suspended disconnections on accounts with past due amounts, as Gov. Henry McMaster requested of all electric providers. But, as state officials have acknowledged, members still have an obligation to pay their bill eventually. So, we urge you to keep paying on time. Don’t let your bill grow.
While late payment penalties and interest have been waived for the next 30 days, these may resume on overdue balances after suspension.
Access to our offices
Our office lobbies will remain open, but our employees are operating behind protective glass.
Drive-through windows
Our drive-through window in Gaffney will remain open.
Our mobile app and website
You can do business with us electronically as usual. You may use the website and, if you haven’t already, download our mobile app for added convenience.
Opening a new account
If you need to open a new account for service, you may apply online or visit our offices.
Outages and repairs
We intend to provide the same high-quality, reliable electric service that you expect in normal times. Repairs to our electric system will be accomplished promptly. We do not foresee the coronavirus having a negative effect on our technical abilities to provide the good service you desire.
Protecting our employees
Whether they work in our offices or on the power lines that stretch across our service territory, we intend to provide safe working conditions for our employees and to require safe work practices by them.
Our employees have been instructed to practice social distancing. We want to be friendly, but we’ll keep our distance from each other and you in the office and in the field to avoid the risk of spreading illness.
Our annual meeting
The annual meeting of members, scheduled for May 2, 2020, has been postponed, and a new date will be set as soon as possible. You’ll be notified in advance of the rescheduled meeting.
COVID-19 Update
(As of March 13, 2020)
Effective Friday, March 13, Broad River Electric Cooperative is handling all office transactions from behind protective glass. Extra measures to sanitize our offices have been implemented. We regret any inconvenience this may cause you, but this proactive step is to protect the health of our employees and our members during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
We encourage the use of our drive-thru service, which opens at 7:30 each weekday morning, as well as other electronic options available to manage your account:
- Smarthub app — a free download from the app store, it allows you to pay your bill from your phone, tablet or computer. You can also set reminders for payment dates and alerts for high usage.
- Online bill pay at www.broadriverelectric.com
- IVR (automated phone payment line at 866-687-2667)
- Electronic check
- Bank draft
- Other online bill pay service offered through some financial institutions
Please note we often see an increase in phone scams trying to take advantage of the fear and confusion of an emergency situation by calling members and threatening to cut off services unless immediate payment is made. Broad River Electric Cooperative is not disconnecting meters or service for non-payment at this time.
If you are having trouble paying your bill as a result of the coronavirus, please contact our office to make payment arrangements. You are still responsible for paying your bill, but we are offering this leniency so members do not have to worry about losing vital services during their time of need.
Telephone: 866-687-2667
Broad River Electric is committed to providing safe and reliable electricity to our members, while doing our part to limit the spread of coronavirus. The cooperative will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak and take steps in accordance with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to protect the health of our community.