Is Slow Mail Costing You Money?
In October, the U.S. Postal Service revised service times for certain first-class mail items, resulting in a delivery window of up to five days. This could slow your receipt of mail from WCEC, and our receipt of mail from you.
 
Once mail leaves our offices, we have no control over how long it takes to be delivered, or even if it is delivered to the correct location. The same is true when members mail in payments. In some instances, delays have caused late payments and service charges.
 
There are solutions to avoid that! We encourage you to explore and consider these easy and convenient ways to manage your account.
 
First, think about setting up email alerts on your account. If your payment is past due, you’ll get an email telling you so. Then, here are some other resources we hope you'll consider:

My WCEC App: The My WCEC mobile app allows you to connect and pay your WCEC bills anytime from any compatible smartphone or tablet. From the app, you can view current bills and payment history and make secure payments. It also lets users email or phone us, and includes a handy map to our headquarters. You can also use it to report outages with the push of a button. To get the free app, just search for “Wood County Electric Cooperative” in the Apple Store or in the Android Market and then download it. Once you have the app, either call the office at 903-763-2203 or log on to the Account Services Portal to generate a username and password.

Account Services Portal: With online bill-paying, you’ll never need to write, mail or drop off another check when it’s time to pay your bill. Simply log into the Account Services Portal. There you can:
  • make a one-time payment
  • set up auto-pay
  • view your usage and billing history
  • request services
  • report outages.  

Electronic Billing: WCEC’s Electronic Billing (E-Bill) is a paperless. You can quickly access your bill from your email inbox as soon as it is sent to you. There’s no more waiting for the mail to come or accidentally misplacing your bill and then rushing to make payment. To sign up for E-bill visit: wcec.org
 
Safety Tip of the Month
Have a Flame-Free Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a prime day for kitchen fires, and the U.S. Fire Administration reports that more than 4,000 fires occur on the holiday.

Increased activity in cooking areas and a whole host of distractions can lead to the holiday going down in flames.

For a safe Thanksgiving, remember:
  • Make sure smoke alarms work.
  • Do not leave food cooking or the stove unsupervised.
  • Do not leave candles burning unattended or burn them near flammable items. LED candles are a safe alternative.
  • Keep matches, lighters and candles out of the reach of children.
  • Plug kitchen electrical appliances into outlets protected with ground-fault circuit interrupters.
  • Make sure electrical cords to kitchen appliances such as toaster ovens, coffee makers and mixers stay dry and don’t melt in contact with heat.
  • Follow all directions for using a deep fryer, including never putting a frozen or partially frozen turkey in hot oil, and never leave the fryer unattended.
Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month
Fall is the perfect time to prep your home for the upcoming winter chill. One of the best ways you can save energy and stay comfortable is to caulk and weatherstrip areas that typically need sealing. Start by sealing around windows and doors. Seal plumbing, ducting, and areas where electrical wiring comes through walls, floors and ceilings for additional energy savings.