ELECTRIC SERVICE RATES

•  Power Cost or Fuel Adjustment and State and/or County Sales Tax will be added to the above rates, when    applicable. rates, when applicable. •  The above rates are net costs if paid by the due date. A late payment charge of 1-1/2 percent will be added after due date. •  Other stipulations apply to the various categories. For more specific information call 715-372-4287 or 1-800-278-0166. •  All rates are subject to change.

HOW TO READ YOUR ELECTRIC BILL

Knowing how to read your electric bill is a good way to check for errors and can be an easy way to monitor your exact energy usage. We try to keep the billing procedure simple, but sometimes the maze of numbers found on your billing statement can get confusing.

HOW TO READ YOUR ELECTRIC METER

Year-round residents are required to read their meter monthly. Seasonal accounts are read once a year by Cooperative personnel. Most residential and farm meters are very easy to read. They have  five digits which are read just like the odometer in your car. Simply write down the numbers showing, and you have your meter reading. Read all numbers as shown on the meter even if they are zero. A place to record your meter reading is on your bill stub. A good rule to follow is to read your meter on the 1st of every month. We'll be happy to assist you in learning how to read your meter. Just give us a call at 715-372-4287 or 1-800-278-0166.

BILL PAYMENT PROCEDURES AND POLICIES

On or about the 25th of each month you will receive a statement of your power usage and cost - a bill. That bill is due and payable upon receipt. A due date is shown on your bill statement. If a due date falls on a weekend, the following Monday is then considered the due date. If the due date falls on a holiday, the next business day is then considered the due date. Please make all checks payable to: Bayfield Electric Cooperative We have a night depository at both the Iron River and Mellen offices so you can drop payments off after working hours, and we also have 6 paystations that except payments on behalf of Bayfield Electric. These include Associated Bank in both Ashland and Hurley, Drummond State Bank in both Cable and Drummond. Northern State Bank in Mellen, and Moccasin Trail in Odanah. If the bill is paid by the due date shown, you need pay only the "net" amount. Payments arriving after the due date need pay the "gross" amount which includes a 1-1/2 percent late payment charge added to balance. You can also pay your bill by telephone or online with your VISA or MASTERCARD. We have a BUDGET BILLING plan available to help keep monthly payments within household budget limits. Call for details. If you are having trouble paying your electric bill, contact our office immediately at 715-372-4287. The key to avoid having your power disconnected is COMMUNICATION. We are willing to work out payment plans with all members. For your convenience, we also offer AUTOMATIC PAYMENT of your electric bill through your checking account or credit card. Please contact our office for the appropriate forms.

METER TAMPERING IS AGAINST THE LAW

Just a few words on meter tampering... DON'T DO IT! Meter tampering is not only against the law and carries significant monetary punishment, but it can be extremely dangerous. When someone steals electricity from your Cooperative, they're stealing from you. All meters are sealed for your protection. If, for any reason, you have to cut the seal or if your meter has to be removed... CALL YOUR COOPERATIVE FIRST! IRON RIVER OFFICE (715) 372-4287 MELLEN SERVICE CENTER (715) 274-5281 TOLL-FREE 1-800-278-0166

SAFETY PROTECTION DEVICES REQUIRED ON ELECTRICAL HOOK-UPS

You are required to provide approved protective devices, such as fuses or circuit breakers; so motors, electrical appliances and all electrical equipment are protected. The Cooperative is not responsible for damage to any equipment if the damage is caused by dangerous operation, overloads, voltage loss or drops, inadvertent high voltage, single phasing of poly-phase motors or phase reversal. The Cooperative's responsibility extends only to the connection point at the service entrance. The Cooperative owns and maintains the meter; the member/consumer owns and maintains the service entrance. We require a disconnect switch at the meter location. This is to allow a quick and easy way to turn off power in case of an emergency. The Cooperative also has very specific requirements for proper hook-up of the electrical service entrance to your home, farm or business. Please check with the Cooperative before changing your service entrance. Local townships may also require more stringent variations to the electrical code. If you have a standby generator, we require that you have a double throw switch that disconnects the Cooperative lines when the standby unit is in use. This disconnect is strictly a safety precaution and prevents the power you generate from feeding back onto distribution lines which would put Cooperative personnel in great danger of electrocution. We request that you inform the Cooperative when adding any electrical equipment or increasing the electrical capacity at your home, farm or business. Larger transformers may be required to provide adequate service.