Billing Plans

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Sign in to My Account to enroll for Pay As You Go Billing
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What is this program and why is it different from other payment programs?
Currently, our customers use utilities for 29 to 33 days and then get a bill that is due 4 weeks later. Since you don’t know how much that bill is during the month, sometimes the amount due comes as a real surprise. In addition, many customers also have to pay and maintain a deposit on their account. With Pay As You Go the surprise and the deposit are both gone. Instead, you pay for your utilities just before you use them, just like you pay for gasoline, cable service, your cell phone, or groceries.
How Does It Work?

Just like putting gas in your car – with Pay As You Go, you pay for your electricity first and then use it. Customers create an initial credit on their account of at least $25.00 including unbilled charges at the time of setup. Lakeland Electric will provide electricity and other utilities as long as there is a credit balance on the account. Customers can add funds to their account whenever they choose and for whatever amount they wish. Customers can also set up an automatic bank draft for their account that will periodically add funds based on their settings.

Who is eligible for this program?

The program is available to all residential customers on the standard price plan, except for medically essential accounts. By participating, customers become more aware of their electricity usage and could end up saving money. However, it requires the customers to pay attention to their account. Just like a car that can run out of gas, your electricity account can run out of electricity. Customers who frequently rely on payment extensions or Delay Days may not want to participate in this program.

If you are interested in this program, please call our Customer Service Representatives at 863-834-9535 and ask them to provide you with a suggested minimum payment to get your account started. They will factor in how much you have spent on a monthly basis in the past, how often you receive your pay check, the daily, prorated charge for other utilities (garbage, water, etc.), as well as unbilled charges or service fees.

What fees will I have to pay if I enroll in the Pay As You Go Program?

There are no deposits or late fees for this program. If you run out of money on your account and your electric service is turned off, the outstanding balance, a service fee, and a minimum credit of $25.00 are required on the account for reconnection. To manage your account, just click “Manage My Account” and log in.

How do I enroll in the program?

Just contact us at 863-834-9535, no application is required to open or transfer an account. For existing customers with deposits on their account, the deposit funds will be applied to their account balance. Any remaining deposit funds in excess of the balance due will be credited to the customer’s account during the Pay As You Go setup process.

Will I get a monthly bill if I am a Pay As You Go customer?

As a Pay As You Go customer, you will not be issued a monthly statement. There is a monthly “true up process” that will increase or decrease the Pay As You Go credit for those customers who have other utility services that will be prorated during the month. Customers are encouraged to login to Lakeland Electric’s “Manage My Account” online to view how much money they have left on their account. Customers will also be able to view their monthly and daily electricity consumption data, payment and low balance notification history, Pay As You Go balance remaining, and the number of days of credit remaining based on your average daily cost.

Is a deposit required to be a Pay As You Go customer?

There is no deposit required when you open a new Pay As You Go account. If you are an existing customer and have a deposit on your account, your deposit funds are applied to your account balance. Any remaining deposit funds in excess of the balance due, will be credited to your new Pay As You Go account. No new deposit is required when you transfer to a Pay As You Go account once you resolve your outstanding balance.

Will I be disconnected if my Pay As You Go account runs out of money?

Once the account reaches a balance due of $1.00 or more (the customer owes Lakeland Electric $1.00 or more), a disconnect order will be generated. If your service is disconnected, you will have to pay the outstanding balance and a service fee and have a minimum credit of $25.00 on the account. Once you have a minimum credit of $25.00, the reconnect order will be issued.

What kind of equipment do I have to have in order to be a Pay As You Go customer?

Your home must have a smart meter, you must have internet access so that you can view your account via “Manage My Account”, and you must provide at least two of the following methods of communication so Lakeland Electric can keep you advised of your account balance: i. Mobile phone number for SMS text or voice messages ii. Email address iii. Land line phone number with voicemail capability

How will I be notified if my balance is getting low?

Each Pay As You Go customer is required to indicate a low balance on their Pay As You Go account, noted in the previous question above. Lakeland Electric uses the number of days remaining to determine if the Pay As You Go account should be notified. When the days of credit remaining reaches the individuals threshold set on the account, a notification will be sent that morning and every day following until payment is made that puts the credit above the threshold amount. Lakeland Electric will notify you if your balance is getting low using the methods of communication (email, voicemail, text messages) you have provided us (see the previous question.)

Can I set my own “low balance alert” or is there a standard amount set by Lakeland Electric?

Yes, each customer can set up their number of days remaining thresholds, as long as they do not fall below the minimum days as defined by Lakeland Electric (i.e. text – 2 days, interactive voice mail – 4 days, email – 7 days)

How often will my account be charged for the electricity I have used?

Your account will be charged daily for the amount of electricity you have consumed based on the reading provided by your Smart Meter. It should be noted that Pay As You Go accounts do not update during the weekends. Once the account is set up and the money is loaded into the account, it starts being used immediately, just like the gas in a car. So we strongly encourage customers to monitor their account on the Lakeland Electric website (www.lakelandelectric.com and click on “Manage My Account”) EVERY SINGLE DAY. By doing this, you will see when and how you are spending your utility dollars and change your habits to save money on your bill.

How will I pay for the other charges that are included on my Lakeland Electric bill (customer charge, sewer, water, refuse, etc.)?

The other utility charges billed on the Pay As You Go account will have a prorated amount taken out daily. The Monthly true-up process will adjust the Pay As You Go credit up or down based on actual usage of other consumption-based charges (water and wastewater)

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What is Average Billing?

Do fluctuations in your monthly utility bill have you stressed out? Are you tired of guessing what your utility bill will be? Do you dread the summer months knowing your cooling costs are going up?

If yes, then Lakeland Electric's Average Billing Plan might be right for you.

Unfortunately, we can't do anything about our hot and humid summer weather. However, we can average your billing amounts based on the last 12 months of your usage. This will smooth out the fluctuations between summer and winter bills. On Average Billing, you'll know exactly what your utility bill will be each month.

Eligibility:

  • You must be a residential or small commercial customer.
  • Your account must be in good standing and owe no balance.
  • Shift to Save and Demand price plan customers are not eligible for Average Billing.
  • Enrollment in the Average Billing Program is not recommended on an account with less than 12 months of service at current service address.

How to enroll:

  • Use our easy online form.
  • Customer Service at (863) 834-9535.

Once enrolled:

  • Account must be maintained current to continue in Average Billing.
  • Average Billing customers are not eligible for payment arrangements.
  • Late fees apply.

Considerations:
If your use of water and/or electricity changes from the previous year, we will collect or credit the difference on the 12th bill. This is known as a "true-up."

For example, if you use $150 more in electricity than you did last year, you would owe that extra amount on your 12th bill. Your average monthly bill would then be increased by $12.50 for the next 12 months.

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Sign in to My Account or enroll to request a payment arrangement.
Sign In To My Account

Sometimes customers need a little more time to pay their electric bills. Our online payment arrangement allows qualifying customers to enter into a binding agreement with Lakeland Electric to extend time to make payments.

The account must have a payment history in good standing.

The account must be active for at least 6 months with Lakeland Electric.

The last payment arrangement must be at least 90 days ago.

Arrangements can be made by calling (863) 834-9535 from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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Pick Your Due Date

What is Pick Your Due Date?
Our Pick Your Due Date program offers a convenient solution allowing you the flexibility to choose a due date that works best for you. Customers who are receiving fixed social security or retirement benefits, employees who are paid monthly, or anyone wanting to better manage their budget may find benefit from this program. Pick Your Due Date is free, simple, and will not affect your billing or payment method.

Request a date that fits with your cash flow – for example, three days after you receive your paycheck. Some important points about the program:  

  1. You must select a monthly due date between the 1st and the 28th. The due date you select becomes the new date your payment is due.
  2. The new due date will apply within 1-2 bill cycles.
  3. Pick Your Due Date does not apply to previous or existing bills.
  4. Your first bill on the new due date may include fewer or more days than a regular cycle. We are unable to change a due date if the first bill after the change is less than 5 days.  

Eligibility:

  • You must be a residential customer.
  • Your account must be in good standing and owe no balance.
  • Residential accounts with solar or water services are currently not eligible to enroll.

How to enroll:  

  • Use our easy online form.
  • Or, call our Customer Service at (863) 834-9535.

Once enrolled:  

  • Your account must be maintained current to continue in Pick Your Due Date.
  • Pick Your Due Date customers are not eligible for a Payment Arrangement.