Santee Electric Co-op is now offering a pay as you go electricity plan to single phase residential customers. This program will eliminate deposits, disconnection and reconnection fees, allowing members to control their usage and pay whatever amount is convenient whenever they like instead of being responsible for paying a full month's bill all at once, according to Project Engineer, IS Dept. Ardweena Bluefort.

SEC member, Christine McCutcheon, who has been on the program for almost three months, said she is telling everyone about it because advanced pay is the best thing Santee Electric has ever offered. She said it is much more convenient to pay what she has in her pocket instead of coming up with an entire month's bill at once.

It is easy to switch, to the program, Bluefort said, just come to any SEC office; in Kingstree, Lake City, Manning, Hemingway or Georgetown, to sign up. A minimum payment of $5 cash or $20 debit/credit card transaction is required. Then the member will receive an in home display unit that helps them understand what is using electricity on a daily basis and adjust the usage to make their money go further, Bluefort explained.

When funds are low, the in home display unit will beep and, if contact information is current, the member can also receive an e-mail alert, allowing them to reload the account before they run out of electricity.

Members have the flexibility of paying by phone or online using a check card or a credit card anytime, Bluefort said.

Other important things to know about the program is that member's contact information must stay current, a deposit may be required to come off the program and switch back to a regular account and accounts cannot participate in budget billing nor be on bank draft while on the Advanced Pay plan.

For more information, call SEC at 1-800-922-1604.