As SPEC continues to roll out its advanced metering system, customers will get a new payment option: prepaid metering. Prepaid metering is a type of payment that offers more flexibility and convenience for you. Instead of paying your bill each due date, you can pay for your power up front.

How does prepay work?

Normally, the amount of electricity you consume is added up throughout the entire billing cycle. Then you’re billed for it. But prepaid accounts allow you to pay for that consumption before you use it. You simply place money in your account through our SmartHub account management service.

As you use electricity, SPEC will deduct it from your account.  You can monitor your energy use and track your spending easily through SmartHub. When your account balance has less than $25 in it, you’ll be sent an email and/or text alert. All you have to do is top off the account before it reaches $0 to keep the power on.

You can purchase electricity, in payments of $25 or more, at any time through SmartHub or our 24 hour phone line. You may also purchase electricity in our office during normal business hours.

What are the benefits?

• It gives you control. Prepaid payment plans turn the traditional billing process on its head. Instead of waiting for the bill in the mail, you can decide when and how much to pay. You can put in enough money to cover your electricity costs for a year, a month or a week. It’s up to you!
• It can help you avoid disconnection. The prepaid plan alerts you when your account funds are getting low. All you have to do is make a payment of $25 or more to ensure your power stays on.
• There’s no deposit. Because you’re paying for your electricity up front, you aren’t required to make a deposit to SPEC. To start a prepaid account, you’ll just need a $35 starting balance. 
• It’s paperless. You’ll no longer get a paper bill in the mail from SPEC. All of your account information will be available online so it’s more convenient for you

How do you turn your power back on with an advanced meter?

If you accidently forget to add money to your account and your electricity is disconnected, turning it back on is easy with the advanced metering system. You just need to bring your account balance back up to $35 and you’ll be able to turn your power back on quickly.

With the new metering system, SPEC can remotely arm the meter so it’s ready for reconnection once your bill is squared away. All you have to do is go outside with your TV remote. Point the remote at the meter and press any button. You should hear a pop, which means the connection has closed and power is running freely from the meter into your home.

Why doesn’t SPEC just turn your power back on? SPEC won’t remotely turn your power on if someone is not home. It’s a precaution that we believe will help keep your home and your family safe. It’s not uncommon for someone to forget to turn something off when the power’s out. If it’s a light, it’s not much of an issue. But if you accidently left the oven on, it could be a fire hazard.