Prepaid Billing provides a simple and flexible way to manage your electricity expenses. Think of it like fueling your car: you load funds into your account upfront, and your balance decreases as you use electricity.
This puts you in control—allowing you to track your electric usage in real time and budget your energy dollars more effectively. When your account balance gets low, you can easily add funds to avoid service interruptions.
One of the best features of Prepaid Billing is that it eliminates fees and deposits, making it an affordable and hassle-free option for managing your energy needs.
Application
• Convenience: Prepaid Billing allows for smaller, more frequent payments (daily or weekly) instead of a single, larger, monthly bill.
• Reduced Energy Consumption: Studies indicate Prepaid Billing often leads to increased awareness of energy usage, resulting in lower electricity consumption and a lower bill.
• No Fees: This program eliminates the need for traditional fees and deposits.
• Reduced Bill Shock: Eliminates the risk of unexpected high bills at the end of a billing cycle.
• Initial Funds: You begin by adding funds into your, MVEC electric account.
• Usage Deduction: As you use electricity, the funds in your account are automatically deducted.
• Balance Monitoring: You can easily monitor your account balance and receive alerts when it falls below a level you specify.
• Replenishing Funds: To keep your power flowing, simply add money whenever you want. Flexibility is the key to this program.
1. Online:
• Register for a SmartHub account (payment preferences are saved)
• Use PayNow to make a quick, single payment
2. By Phone:
• Call 855-963-3830 with our automated Touch-N-Go phone system.
3. Mobile App:
• Add the SmartHub app on your smartphone or tablet.
4. Email & Courtesy Call Notifications:
• If your account goes below a $15 threshold, you will receive an automated phone call (except on weekends or holidays).
• If your phone number changes, it’s your responsibility to notify MVEC.
• You will receive a phone call and a letter if your account is at $0 or you have a negative balance.
What will happen if my Prepaid Billing Account runs out of funds?
• If your account balance reaches zero, your electric service will be suspended. Electric service will resume within 30 minutes after MVEC receives a payment which creates a positive balance in your account. Energy purchased between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. will not post until 7 a.m. the following day, your power will not be restored until around 7:15 a.m. Electric charges will continue to be applied daily as long as the account is active, whether the service is on or off. To stop service and avoid recurring charges, you must contact MVEC.
• What if I have insufficient funds? If you have a returned payment (check) or insufficient funds, the disconnection process will begin and you could experience an interruption of electric service.
• When participating in Prepaid Billing, you may be protected from disconnection between Oct. 1 and April 30, due to Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule. To see if you qualify fill out the Prepaid Billing cold weather protection form.
How much does it cost?
• It’s FREE! A minimum balance of $50 is needed to get your account started. This $50 balance goes toward your future electricity usage. You can purchase any amount of energy you would like going forward, as long as you keep your Prepaid Billing account balance above zero.
How is my daily bill calculated?
• Your Prepaid Billing account balance will calculate daily. It includes electricity used for that day, part of the monthly service charge, any taxes and/or city fees, and any payments received.
Can I get off the program at any time?
• Yes, but if you joined the program to avoid deposit charges or had the deposit refunded to your account and you have not participated for one year, the deposit will be added back to your electric account and is due immediately.
Will I get a paper or electronic bill each month?
• No, you do not receive a bill with Prepaid Billing because you can monitor your usage and payment status in real time 24/7.
What if my account has an outstanding balance?
• 50% of each payment will initially be applied towards the past-due amount.
• Once the past-due balance is fully paid, 100% of your payments will be applied towards future electricity usage.
• To begin, MVEC will contact you to arrange a minimum payment of $50. This payment will be applied towards upcoming electricity usage.
• If your past due balance exceeds $200, the remaining will need to be paid at this time.
What if I have a deposit applied to my account? How is it refunded when I sign up for Prepaid Billing?
• Your existing deposit will be refunded to you.
• As billing cycles represent the previous months usage, we will calculate your electric usage since your last regular billing statement.
• You can either pay usage amount in full at the time of your account transfer or arrange to pay it over time.
• If the usage amount exceeds $200, you will be required to pay the remaining balance.
Is there any way I would be forced to go off of Prepaid Billing?
• Members receiving two or more disconnections in a 12-month period will be removed from the program and billed a deposit equal to two times their average monthly bill or $265, whichever is greater.
