EMC NEWS & UPDATES
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To help our members recover from Hurricane Helene, we are suspending all disconnections until December 2nd. This includes pre-pay electric accounts, regular electric accounts, and fiber accounts. Additionally, we will waive all late fees (electric and fiber) until December 2nd. Please note that pre-pay text messages and alerts will resume tomorrow, October 24th. While members will receive these notifications,no accounts will be disconnected until December 2nd. The messages are simply to help you keep track of your account balance.
WARNING:
Be aware that a company
known as Doxo, Inc. is using our contact information and reputation to
market their online payment service. WE ARE NOT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DOXO
AND WE HAVE NOT GIVEN THEM PERMISSION TO TAKE PAYMENTS FROM OUR MEMBERS.
Altamaha EMC can't control how long it takes Doxo to send payments to
us.
If you make a payment using their website, you may be charged
a late fee or even be disconnected if your payment does not reach us in
time. Doxo charges a fee to take payments. Altamaha EMC does NOT charge
for online payments made through our website at www.altamahaemc.com.
Please contact us at 912-526-8181 if you have any questions.
OPERATION ROUND UP - REACHING OUT BY ROUNDING UP
On
August 1, 2017, Altamaha EMC joined the nationwide Operation Round Up
program. Operation Round Up is an innovative program that provides
funding for various charitable organizations in our own community.
Through Operation Round Up, the Altamaha EMC Foundation will be able to assist with charitable needs within our service territory. Through Operation Round Up, participating members will allow Altamaha EMC to "round up" their monthly electric bills to the next whole dollar amount.
Click Here For More Information
ALTAMAHA EMC FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
Four scholarships, worth $1,000 each, will be awarded to local
students this spring. The Altamaha EMC Foundation Scholarships were
founded in an effort to help local students further their education.
>>CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
PAY-YOUR-WAY METERING
It's just like putting gas in your car's fuel tank. Let's say you
have $40 to pay for a week's worth of gasoline. You drive
to the gas
station, pump in $40 worth of gas and drive off. Throughout the
week, you watch the gas gauge to see how much gas you have left. The
more you drive, the more gas you use.
By watching the gas gauge, you can tell if the gas remaining in the tank is enough to get you through to the end of the week. You become more prudent with your gas use and make informed decisions on when and how much to use.
STAY CONNECTED BY UPDATING YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION
In the utility business, we know rough weather will
occur, and sometimes power outages simply can't be avoided. But did you
know there are steps you can take to ensure your electricity is restored
as quickly and safely as possible? By keeping your contact information
up to date, you can take full advantage of the services Altamaha EMC
offers. You may have noticed prompts through our monthly newsletters and bill messages requesting your updated contact information. If we don't have the correct phone number linked to your home address, it makes it much more difficult for you to report an outage.
Remember the old days when you had to speak to a customer service representative in order to report a power outage? Waiting on hold could be frustrating and time consuming. Today, with the press of a button, you can easily report an outage.
At Altamaha EMC, we use the phone number you provide to link your service address to our outage management system. For example, if you call us to report an outage, our automated system instantly recognizes your phone number and can determine the particular service address from which you are reporting an outage. Once you give our system a response, your outage is reported.
It's rough weather will occur, and sometimes power outages simply can't be avoided. But did you know there are steps you can take to ensure your electricity is restored as quickly and safely as possible? By keeping your contact information up to date, you can take full advantage of the services Altamaha EMC offers.
You may have noticed prompts through our monthly newsletters and bill messages requesting your updated contact information. If we don't have the correct phone number linked to your home address, it makes it much more difficult for you to report an outage.
All members who update their contact information by September 30th will be entered to win a $50 bill credit.
You must update your information to be eligible for the drawing. Please contact us to update your mailing address, home phone number, work phone number, cell phone number and email address. Three easy ways to reply and enter to win...
1 - Call our customer service department during office hours at 912-526-8181, or toll-free at 1-800-822-4563. Press 0 to speak to a customer service representative.
2 - Update your contact information through the online bill pay Your Bill page - >>Click Here To Visit The Pay Your Bill Online Page
3 - Click the link below and complete the Contact Information Update Form and return it to us
>>
Contact Information Update Form**Please list all cell phone numbers that you might use when calling to report a power outage. *We respect your privacy and do not share e-mail or other personal information with third parties
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAMMERS:
Some of the scammers have even identified themselves as Georgia Power representatives authorized to collect on behalf of Altamaha EMC. The scammer warns that the member's electricity will be disconnected unless they make a payment - usually within a one hour time frame.
These scammers are targeting both commercial and residential accounts. Often times the scammers use caller ID spoofing so that Altamaha EMC's phone number shows up on the member's caller ID. The scammer instructs the member to purchase a pre-paid debit or credit card - widely available at retail stores - then call him or her back to supposedly make a payment to Altamaha EMC.
The scammer then asks the customer for the prepaid card's receipt number and PIN number, which grants instant access to the card's funds.
Below are tips on how our members can protect themselves:
- Altamaha EMC mails monthly bills to all members and we will also mail a delinquent notice if a bill is not paid by the due date. Our employees do not call our members regarding payments on delinquent accounts.
- Customers can make payments online, by phone, automatic bank draft, mail, payment kiosk or in person at any of our offices. We NEVER ask a member to purchase a pre-paid debit/credit card to pay their bill.
- If you suspect someone is trying to scam you, hang up and call the local police and then call Altamaha EMC at 912-526-8181 to report the scam. Never dial the phone number the scammers provide.
- Never provide your social security number, credit / debit card number or banking information to anyone requesting it over the phone unless you initiated the call and feel confident with whom you are speaking.
- Beware of the door-to-door sales approach. Never allow anyone into your home to check electrical wiring, natural gas pipes or appliances unless you scheduled an appointment or reported a utility problem. Always ask utility employees for proper identification.
- Be proactive. If you already have provided information to someone claiming to offer this service, contact your bank immediately. Also contact the three national credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion - and request a notation made on your account so that it doesn't impact your credit rating.
- Inform others. Share this information with friends and family so they do not become victims. The elderly are common victims of this type of scam, but anyone who pays a utility bill is a potential victim.
SCAM ALERT / ALERTA DE ESTAFA
ALERT: Recently some of our Spanish speaking members have been targeted by a telephone scam demanding they pay their electric bill over the phone to avoid immediate disconnection. Please be aware this is not normal business procedures for Altamaha EMC. If you receive a call demanding payment from someone claiming to be with Altamaha EMC, please call us at 912-526-8181 for verification.
ALERTA: Recientemente algunos de nuestros miembros de habla hispana han sido el objetivo de una estafa telefonica exigiendo que paguen su factura de electricidad a traves del telefono para evitar desconexion inmediata. Tenga en cuenta que esto no es practica de negocio normal para Altamaha EMC. Si recibe una llamada exigiendo pago de alguien que dice ser de Altamaha EMC, por favor llamenos al 912-526-8181 para verificacion.
PAYMENT KIOSKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT ALL ALTAMAHA EMC OFFICES
As
an added convenience for our members, Altamaha EMC now has payment
kiosks at all three of our offices. The kiosks can be used to make
payments on your electric account 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Cash, checks and credit/debit cards (Mastercard and Visa only) are accepted at the kiosks.
You must have your account number when
making a payment at the kiosk.
All monthly bills are now
imprinted with a barcode at the bottom of the payment stub. This barcode
can be scanned to access your account, or you can simply key in your
account number using the touch screen.
If you plan to use the
kiosk to make payments on a regular basis, you can request a printed
card from us that you can scan to access your account each time you make
a payment.
The kiosk accepts payments for regular electric accounts and prepay accounts. Please call us at 912-526-8181 if you have any questions about using the payment kiosk.