Office: (573) 759-7146 | Outages: 1-866-5OUTAGE
FAQ’s
The following are some of the local agencies that may be able to assist you in paying your electric bill. Their programs have various requirements and limits. All programs are subject to the availability of funds.
Missouri Ozark Community Action (MOCA) located in Richland: (573) 765-3186
This MOCA office serves Maries, Miller, Phelps and Pulaski County residents.
- First check your meter. You can do this by turning your power off at your fuse box or breaker box. You have a main that will turn everything in your home off. After you pull the fuse or turn the breaker off, wait about five minutes and then go look at your meter. The disk that revolves around should be stopped completely. If it is stopped, your meter is not creeping. If you are sure everything going to your meter is turned off and your meter continues to turn, then please contact our office.
- If you have underground cable going from the meter into the house, you could have a short in this cable. After you do the above, if your meter continues to creep, turn the power off in the box under the meter. If this stops your meter then your trouble is in the underground wire.
- Turn off all your circuits by pulling the fuses or turning your breakers off, and then turn them back on one at a time. As you turn one back on, go check your meter and see which circuit seems to be making your meter turn the fastest. Then see what appliances are on this circuit and check them out.
- Check your pump. See if it is running excessively or if it is coming on when you have not had the water running. A water leak will run your bill up especially if it is on the hot water line and if you have an electric water heater. Have leaky faucets repaired.
- Check your water heater and see if one of your elements is out. Sometimes the lime build-up will rupture the element but it will continue to work. It will have a short, which will increase your bill.
- After you have not used your dryer for several hours, open the door and see if it is warm inside. Sometimes they will malfunction and the heat will come on when it should not be.
- Notice your refrigerator and deep freeze. Is the door closing completely? Is any one of these appliances running excessively?
- Is anything shocking you? If so check it out. Check all extension and appliance cords and see if they are warm to the touch or if you can smell an odor coming from them. If so, stop using them or have them replaced.
- In the winter, heat tapes, heat bulbs or electric heaters in your pump house or on your water pipes will make a big increase in your bill.
- Your appliances that use the most electricity are electric heat, air conditioning, water heater, dryer, automatic defrost refrigerator or deep freeze and electric range. The blower on your furnace or stove will also increase your bill in the winter. Fans may increase it in the summer.
- Read your meter each day (every 24 hours) and keep a record of your daily usage. Notice the weather conditions if you use more on a cold day or more on a warm day. Notice what appliances are used each day and if they cause your usage to go up. Do this until your bill goes back to normal and you will know you have found your problem.
- If you still think your bill is too high and after checking all of the above suggestions you are unable to find the problem, you can pay $30.00 and we will send your meter in to a meter-testing laboratory for testing. You will be advised from the laboratory if your meter registered fast or slow. If your meter is 25% fast, you will get back the $30.00 plus 25% on your last three months’ bills. Whatever percent your meter is fast, that is the amount you will get back on your last three months’ bills.
We are dedicated to the best service experience. If you feel like your bill is not right, let us know and we will come check your equipment for free.
Rewiring can convert an inadequate, out-of-date system to safe, convenient, energy-efficient electric service. And rewiring often COSTS LESS than a series of additions to an older system.
Gascosage Electric Cooperative has a continuing right-of-way program that consists of “tree trimming crews” that cut and trim trees around electric lines. The foreman of these crews tries his best to contact each landowner before cutting or trimming begins on the property. As you know, this is not always possible due to work schedules, school, vacations, etc. We ask that you be aware that the foreman will be trying to meet with you when the crews get close to your property to discuss the right-of-way involved.
Gascosage Electric Cooperative asks the crews to cut all trees that are within the vicinity of electric lines because a cut tree is no longer a concern for power outages and property damage. Cut trees also eliminate any future trimming expense. One of the largest expenses of the Cooperative is the cost of cutting or trimming trees near power lines. One of the major causes of power outages is uncut trees or fallen tree limbs. Tree limbs contacting the electric lines are not only unsafe but they also cause blinks and line loss. A tree near a power line is a never-ending expense that has to be trimmed every three to four years.
NO! Sign up for our paperless billing through your Smarthub account!
Once you are approved for this plan, we will determine your average monthly kilowatt-hour use based on your most recent 12-month history. You will be billed that amount every month. At the end of the year, we will determine your actual use, compare it with your budget-billing amount and adjust your bill accordingly. Contact us to apply for budget billing?
This prepaid program allows you to choose how much or how often you want to pay before you use the electricity.
- SmartHub makes it convenient and quick for you to get information on-the-go right from your iOS or Android device! Energy Tracker links you directly to SmartHub where you can:
- View your hourly, daily and monthly electric usage.
- Receive an email when you reach usage thresholds.
- Quickly pay your bills.
- Receive bill reminders.
- Get outage information.
- Report an outage.
- Connect with social media.