Discontinuance of Service
The Association may discontinue service for the violation of any of its Rules and Regulations, for violation of any of the provisions of the Schedule of Rates and Charges, or for breach of Application and Contract for Service by the Member/Consumer. The Association may discontinue service to the Member/Consumer for theft of power or for fraudulent, careless, negligent or unlawful use of the service, or where a dangerous condition in the use of the service is found to exist on Member’s/Consumer’s premises without advance notice.
The Association may discontinue service for the nonpayment of bills, as provided in Rule 9, five (5) days after providing delinquent notice, including available rights and remedies, to Member/Consumer. Forms of said delinquent notice may include electronic notification, door hanger, or written notice mailed separately or included in the following month’s billing statement. NEMEPA will make reasonable efforts to receive a consent from Member/Consumers in advance of receipt of termination notices via phone call or electronic notification. Members/Consumers receiving a written delinquent notice will be charged a delinquent notice fee. Prepay customers agreed to maintain a positive balance and are subject to be disconnected with a balance below zero without further notice.
Payment of a delinquent bill may be deferred for a period of time not to exceed three (3) weeks from due date. All customers are limited to four extensions for payment per year unless additional extensions are approved by the Manager or Management staff. A record will be kept of each hearing listing the Members Name, Address, Account Number, Date Bill is Due, Amount of Bill, Date of Final Notice, Date of Hearing, Action Taken at hearing, Date Bill Deferred To, Reason for Deferment, Signature of Person Holding Hearing, and Signature of Customer.
Once the Association receives notice of a returned payment due to insufficient funds, closed account, incorrect account numbers, etc., the Member’s/Consumer’s account will be charged the amount of the returned payment along with a “Return Payment Charge”. Notice of the returned payment will be mailed to the Member/Consumer and payment must be made within 5 days to avoid disconnection of service. Returned payments received for payments made to avoid disconnection of a past due account will be disconnected without further notice.
The Association evaluates weather conditions daily at www.noaa.gov for Oxford, Mississippi 38655. In the event of an excessive heat warning or if the forecasted low temperature is expected to be below 32 degrees (F), on that day, NEMEPA will postpone the disconnection of service of residential customers scheduled for such disconnection due to non-payment. Where disconnection is postponed due to an extreme weather condition, the postponement will not extend beyond the extreme weather condition. This does not apply to Member/Consumers who have voluntarily selected Prepay.
Upon approval of the NEMEPA’s medical necessity form, disconnection of service will be postponed for 30 days from the original scheduled disconnection date to allow customer time to make payment or alternative shelter arrangements. NEMEPA may grant up to two postponements in a 12 month period. The two postponements can run subsequent at the request of the Member/Consumer. The medical necessity form must be completed by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner licensed to practice in the state of Mississippi, or an adjoining state, certifying that the disconnection of electric service would create a life-threatening medical situation for the Member/Consumer or other permanent resident of the Member’s/Consumer’s household. It is the responsibility of the Member/Consumer to ensure that the form has been approved by NEMEPA. A life threatening medical condition does not relieve a Member/Consumer of the obligation to pay for electric service, including any late fees incurred or other applicable charges. If full payment of the past due amount, including all late fees, is not received by the end of the 30 day postponement period or 60 day postponement period, if subsequent, electric service will be disconnected without further notice.