What to Do When You Can’t Pay Your Sumter Electric Bill
Sumter Electric, also known as SECO, is an electric company cooperative. The company serves the local community with the:
- Pennies from Heaven
How to Pay Your Bill
Bank draft: Customers can sign up for regular bank drafts on the Sumter Electric website. Bills are sent two weeks before the bill amount is deducted from the bank account on file so customers have time to ask questions regarding the bill.
Online: You can pay your Sumter Electric bill online by visiting https://ebill.secoenergy.com/css/. The service is provided by eBillXpress.
Credit card and debit card payments: Customers wishing to make credit card or debit card payments can do so online through a third-party processor. There is a fee of $3.75 per transaction.
Check payments online: Check payments are also processed by the same third-party company that processes credit card bills. The same $3.75 fee applies for check payments.
Pay by phone: Phone payments can be made at 1-877-371-9382. Checks, credit cards and debit cards are accepted by phone. Customers must have the account number for the Sumter Electric account t and the last four of the social security number associated with the account. There is a fee of $.375 to make payments by phone.
Payment locations: Customers can choose in-person payments at one of the payment locations approved by Sumter Electric. Payment locations are available in:
- Citrus County
- Lake County
- Marion County
- Sumter County
Questions About Your Billing Statement or Account?
Sumter Electric does not list fees online, but there is a FAQs page with information on Capital Credits and security deposits. Customer service is available at one of the following phone numbers:
- Citrus: 1-352-725-3944
- Hernando: 1-352-521-5788
- Pasco: 1-352-521-5788
- Lake: 1-352-357-5600
- Marion: 1-352-237-4107
- Levy: 1-352-528-3644
- Sumter: 1-352-793-3801
How the Penalty Fees Work
Sumter Electric is one of the few electric cooperatives that do not list all fees online. The customer service department was not friendly when we told them we were from a consumer advocacy agency. We were told we needed a member to the cooperative to find out more information on penalty fees.
Security deposits are charged by Sumter Electric. The company requires all members have a credit check if they don’t want to pay the security deposit. After 24 consecutive monthly on-time payments, the company will run another credit check to determine if the customer should receive a refund.
I Can’t Make a Payment
Sumter Electric offers several in-house programs to help people in the local community. These programs include:
- Pennies from Heaven: The Pennies from Heaven program is funded by membership customers. When members sign-up, their electric bill is rounded up to the nearest dollar. The extra change is donated to the fund.
- LIHEAP home energy assistance program: The LIHEAP program is offered from the federal government and helps customers pay your Sumter Electric bill. Qualifying for LIHEAP assistance requires families meet certain income guidelines.
Customers having trouble making their regular Sumter Electric bill payment should contact customer service for immediate options, such as deferred due date or payment plan arrangements. Customer service is available at 1-800-732-6141.
Will They Work With Me to Pay My Bill?
We are curious about Sumter Electric. The company does not offer much information on payment assistance, so what is your personal experience with the company?
