FAQs

Office Information: Where is your office located?
Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative is located in Buxton, North Carolina at 47109 Light Plant Road. Please see the local area map for more detailed information.

What are your office hours?
Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Can I still pay my electric bill at the Buxton office?
You may always pay your bill at the Buxton office. Our office hours are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and there is a drop-box located near the front door.
Bill and Meter Reading Information: How much is my bill?
Please see our sample bill . Your total due will appear in the "TOTAL DUE NOW" block that is highlighted in yellow. The amount due is also listed on the payment stub.

When is my bill due?
Please see our sample bill . The due date is listed near the middle on the right side of the bill. It is also listed on the payment stub.

What is the rate per kWh?
Visit our Rate Schedules pages for this information:
• Residential Service
• Commercial Service
• Security Light Service
• Wholesale Power Cost Adjustment

What is the $20.00 basic service charge for?
It helps us recover part of the fixed cost of the service facilities serving your account, such as meters, service drops and transformers. In addition, it covers some of the fixed costs for meter reading, maintenance of account records and billing costs that are not covered in our rates for energy and demand.

Why is my bill so high?
Extreme weather can make a significant change in your "normal" electric bill amount. You may notice these differences in the "Electricity Use" chart on your bill (see our sample bill). If you have a rental property, your rental agent may be able to help you determine which factors influence your usage.

What is the last day I can pay before my service is disconnected?
You must make a payment with us immediately to avoid being disconnected.

How long does it take to get service connected for new construction?
After we have received the required fees and necessary documents ( New Construction Service Form ), we will schedule your connection. Usually, connections will be completed within two weeks. However, our scheduling can be affected by inclement weather.

Do you estimate or read the meters?
We read meters each month. During hurricanes and other severe and dangerous weather, we may estimate a billing cycle. In the past fifteen years, we have only had to estimate two cycles.

When is my meter read?
Please see the meter-reading date on your statement (see sample bill) . Meters are read in cycles from 28 to 32 day periods.

Do you take credit cards for payment?
Yes, we accept Visa and MasterCard. You may pay your bill online, in person or over the phone.
Other questions: What special services does CHEC offer?
In addition to delivering quality electric power to the residents and visitors of Hatteras Island, Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative offers the following additional services:
• Water Heater sales and delivery
• Surge Arrestor sales & installation
• Bank Draft
• Roundup program

Do you have power outages often?
Power is not interrupted very often on Hatteras Island. Including hurricane weather through the past five years, our overall outage hours is 18.51 hours per customer or 3.71 hours per customer per year. Inclement weather outages are possible, but do not happen very often. We continually maintain and upgrade our electric lines and equipment so that outages can be avoided whenever possible. When a scheduled outage is necessary for work or maintenance, local media is notified and announcements are made.

Do you turn off all power before a Hurricane?
No, Cape Hatteras Electric does not turn off power before Hurricanes. We strive to maintain quality electric power at all times. Our linemen are dedicated and work in extreme weather until weather conditions become unsafe.

How long does it take to restore power following a Hurricane?
Power is restored as quickly as possible after a storm. Sometimes, we have help from neighboring Cooperatives and contractors. If Hatteras Island is inaccessible, there could be delays in power restoration. If you have medical concerns or require electric power for life support machines, we recommend that you evacuate the area before storms threaten to arrive. Personal generators are great back-up systems, but for safety sake, they must not be connected in such a way that would allow power to flow back onto the utility grid. They also depend on a fuel source that may be in short supply during a hurricane.

Is there a certain order to the method of restoring power here?
Yes, Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative has strict guidelines to restoring power following extreme weather conditions.

What are the generators for?
The diesel generators on Hatteras Island are owned and operated by North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, which is a cooperative that purchases electricity on behalf of 26 NC Co-ops, including Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative. The generators are used to produce lower-cost electricity during times of peak consumer demand, when the additional power would otherwise have to be purchased from NC Power at a higher cost. Additionally, when storms interrupt the electric supply from the mainland, the generators are used to bring power to the islanders.