To help our members experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, CHEC temporarily suspended service disconnections due to nonpayment of bills on March 20. In accordance with Governor Cooper’s Executive Orders, CHEC also stopped charging members late fees.

As North Carolina reopens and as the moratorium on utility disconnections is lifted, we know many of our members will continue to face financial hardship. Because of this, we will continue to work diligently with members who are experiencing financial difficulty to provide assistance, including deferred payment plans and tools to help reduce home energy use as a way to manage energy costs. 

In order to continue to provide members with reliable power, and in accordance with the order issued by the Governor, on July 30 CHEC will resume member payment procedures, which have always put disconnections as a last resort and prioritized solutions that work for individual members while preserving the cooperative’s financial health and ability to faithfully serve all members.