Payment Options
MEC offers a number of different payment options to its member/owners for their convenience:
Pay Online
Pay online using SmartHub with a credit or debit card. In addition to paying the bill online, members can view billing history, monitor energy usage, receive notifications via email or text message, report outages, track outage restoration progress, and check MEC’s news feeds. Log in to SmartHub or use the Pay Now site with your MEC account number.
Automatic Credit Card Payment
Automatic Credit Card Payment allows monthly electric bill payments to be automatically charged to a credit or debit card. Sign up for Auto Pay through your SmartHub account.
Electronic Funds Transfer
Electronic Funds Transfer allows electric bill payments to be automatically withdrawn from a checking or savings account.
In Person
Pay in person at the MEC headquarters. A cashier is located inside during working hours, Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. MEC is closed Fridays, weekends, and holidays.
MEC Headquarters
16755 Finley Butte Road,
La Pine, OR 97739
Payment Kiosk
Payment Kiosk located at the entrance of the MEC headquarters facility, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Members must have the account number, name on the account, and telephone number.
Payments can be made by cash, credit, or debit card. The payment station does not have the ability to provide change. Payments made in excess of the bill will be credited to the account.
Drive-Up Payment Depository
Drive-up Payment Depository located in the parking area at the MEC headquarters facility, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Drop Boxes
Drop Boxes are located inside Washington Federal Bank in La Pine and Sagewood Grocery in Christmas Valley. Payments can be made with cash, check, or money order at these locations.
By Phone
By Phone – Call (541) 536-2126 or (800) 722-7219, option 2. The system prompts for an account number and will provide the account balance and instructions on how to pay with a credit card or debit card. The system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
By Mail
Pay by mail using a check or money order in the self-addressed envelope enclosed with the bill.
A Prompt Payment Discount is available to all members who pay their electric bill in full within 10 days of the billing date. By doing so, a 1% credit is applied to the next month’s electric bill.
Billing Options
Deposits
A credit check is performed to determine if a deposit is required. If required, it will be 2 or 3 times the highest monthly bill for that service location’s previous 12 months’ historical usage.
Standard Billing
Power is used and then billed the following month. If the account becomes past due or is disconnected for nonpayment, late, disconnect, and reconnect charges apply.
Payment Due Date
The payment due date will be the 20th day after the bill date as referenced on your bill.
Payment Due Payments
Your account will be considered past due if your payment is not received before your next billing statement is processed. Accounts that are past due will be charged a late fee of 1.5% or $5, whichever is greater.
5 past dues within the past 12 months, and a disconnect notice for non-payment, or an actual disconnect, will require an up-to-date security deposit, which will be added to the past due amount.
Prepaid Billing
Prepaid Billing puts you in control. You can pay as little or as much as you wish, whenever you want. Best of all, with Prepaid Billing there is no deposit required and no credit check, no late fees – no more surprises on your monthly bill.
MEC members currently on Prepaid Billing report a high level of satisfaction with the program, and statistics indicate that participants in prepaid utility programs tend to reduce their consumption because they are more aware of how they are using their Energy.
2026 Prepaid Billing True-Up Dates
January 19th
February 19th
March 23rd
April 27th
May 21st
June 18th
July 20th
August 20th
September 21st
October 22nd
November 19th
December 21st
Prepaid Billing Terms and Conditions
New and existing members are eligible to participate in the Prepaid Billing program. To begin service, members are required to pay any applicable fees and establish an initial prepaid credit balance of $25.00. Existing members with billed or unbilled account balances will have any deposits applied and must either pay the remaining full balance or it may be put into a prepaid arrangement.
How the Prepaid Billing Plan Works
The Prepaid Billing program allows members to actively manage and control their electricity usage. Under this program:
- Security deposits are not required
- Late fees do not apply
- Disconnect or reconnect fees do not apply
Prepaid billing works similarly to purchasing fuel for a vehicle, you pay for it before it is used. Members may add funds in any amount, provided there is a credit balance to cover the daily billing. Prepaid billing does not generate a traditional monthly bill. Instead, usage is billed daily, and a monthly “true up” statement is produced. This statement is available for viewing through the SmartHub online portal.
Fees and Charges
All current fees, rates and charges applicable to standard billing will apply to prepaid billing account.
Prepaid billing is calculated daily and includes the following charges:
- Energy charges: Total kWh used each day.
- Demand: kW – Is based on previous months demand, divided by the number of days in the billing month and charged daily. If actual demand exceeds this amount, the daily charge will be recalculated using the new demand.
- Facility Charge: $1.17 a day/$35.00 a month additional charges may apply if the member receives additional services, such as a yard light or the City of La Pine franchise tax.
Payment
After establishing an initial prepaid credit balance, members may make payments using any of the following methods:
- SmartHub application
- Midstate Electric website – Pay Now Site
- Automated phone payment system
- In-person payment at the office
- Using the Kiosk at the office
Prepaid accounts are not eligible for credit extensions.
Notification
Enrollment in Midstate’s online portal, Smarthub, is required. Members must provide a valid email address and phone number to receive notifications.
Low balance and disconnection alerts are managed through SmartHub. It is the member’s responsibility to ensure all contact information remains accurate and up to date.
Disconnection
Prepaid accounts are billed daily. If the account balance falls into a negative status, electric service is subject to disconnection beginning at 10:00 am PST during normal business hours (Monday through Thursday), excluding holidays.
To restore service, the member must make a payment that covers:
- The full negative account balance, plus
- A minimum of $10.00 in additional prepaid credit
Restoration of service will typically occur within one hour of payment receipt.
Cancellation
Members may convert their prepaid account back to Standard billing at any time, an up-to-date security deposit and transfer fee may apply.
If service is terminated at the members request, any remaining prepaid credit on the account will be refunded.
Budget Billing
If you have been a member of Midstate Electric for 12 months or more, you may qualify for the Budget Billing Program. With this program, your budget payment will stay the same all year long, thus helping to minimize the impact of winter bills.
How it Works
Budget Billing adds your last 12 month’s electrical usage together to arrive at an estimated electric bill.
The estimated electric bill is then divided by 12 to calculate your monthly budget bill amount.
Budget accounts will recalculate in November, although accounts with larger balances may require more frequent review.
You also have the opportunity to save 1% by paying your bill within 10 days of the billing date.
What Type of Billing is Right for Me?
| Standard | Prepaid Billing | Budget Billing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member Fee | | | This option is for members who have had service for 12+ months. *Members on Prepaid Billing cannot be on Budget Billing. |
| Transfer/Reconnect Fee | | |
|
| Credit Check | | None | |
| Security Deposit | (Based on credit check results) | None | |
| Late/Disconnect/Reconnect Charges Could Apply | | None |
For more information, please call our Member Service Department at (541) 536-2126 or (800) 722-7219, option 3.