Financial Assistance Resources
We recognize the significant impact COVID-19 has had on the financial well-being of families and business. If any consumer-member’s ability to pay their bill has been impacted due to the coronavirus, we encourage them to reach out to us as soon as possible so we can assist them with getting caught up. We will continue working with members to set up payment plans and connect them with community assistance organizations.
January 18, 2020 Update – Co-op Election Plans
At the January 15, 2021 Board of Directors meeting, the board voted to forgo a traditional in-person annual meeting in light of public health orders restricting gatherings and an existing waiver granted by the State of Missouri. The Missouri Department of Agriculture has previously requested and received gubernatorial approval for waivers to Subsections 2 and 7 of Section 394.120, which would allow for the rural electric cooperatives to meet and vote as deemed necessary.
The Board of Directors has approved holding the election for board candidates and by-law changes using a combination of electronic and mailing methods in 2021, mirroring the process used in 2020. Last year, this method resulted in record-breaking participation among PCEC consumer-members.
This will ensure all consumer-members have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process that defines the cooperative business model. Members interested in running for the Board of Directors must contact Angie Kinard (angiek@pcec.coop) by February 12, 2021.
August 4 Update – Positive COVID-19 Tests
PCEC was informed over the weekend that two employees have tested positive for COVID-19. The affected employees do not work in areas of the co-op’s facilities accessible to the general public and have not interacted with our membership. Following guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Clay County Health Department, the employees who tested positive are self-quarantining and their work areas have been sanitized.
Since the start of the pandemic the cooperative has taken consistent measures to protect employees and members alike from exposure to COVID-19, including implementing procedures for frequent sanitization, temporarily moving to remote work, requiring masks in common areas, installing plexiglass barriers and emphasizing the importance of social distancing to employees.
July 27 Update – Mask Requirements
In accordance with local health department orders, masks are required when entering Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative’s facilities. Although our offices are open to the public, we encourage anyone who can to continue using contactless options for co-op business. Thanks for your cooperation as we all work to keep each other safe and stop the spread of COVID-19.
May 21 Update – Business Meeting Election Changes
The Board has decided to cancel the special business meeting that was to be held at a future date due to uncertainties on when mass gatherings will be permitted by state and local health officials. The Missouri Department of Agriculture requested and received gubernatorial approval for waivers to Subsections 2 and 7 of Section 394.120, which would allow for the rural electric cooperatives to meet and vote as deemed necessary. Only one candidate from each district has come forward through the formal nomination process, which was completed before the pandemic. Platte-Clay’s Board has approved holding the election for Board of Directors candidates and by-law changes using a combination of electronic and mailing methods. This will ensure all consumer-members have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process that defines the cooperative business model. Watch for more information on this page, in the newsletter and social media for forthcoming information on how you can vote in the year’s co-op elections.
May 7 Update – Office Reopening Plans
Our offices will reopen on Monday, May 11 with additional safety measures in place to protect the health of our community. Although members will be able to interact with the co-op in our lobbies and drive-thru starting next week, we encourage anyone who can to continue using contactless options for co-op business.
Payments can always be made over the phone by calling 816-628-3121 or by logging into the billing portal found on www.PCEC.coop. Members can also place payments in the drop boxes located at PCEC offices.
Anyone who enters a Platte-Clay facility will be asked to follow the Center for Disease Control’s latest social distancing guidelines. In addition to following social distancing, the co-op has also installed plexiglass barriers at member service stations and instituted an office sanitation procedure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Crews will continue to work in isolated groups to reduce the risk for exposure and ensure the cooperative can continue necessary power line repair work.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate these unprecedented times. Despite the challenges our communities are currently facing, our focus remains on delivering safe and reliable power to all PCEC consumer-members.
April 28 Update – Capital Credits
The Board of Directors has approved a record-setting return of $2.7 million of capital credits to PCEC consumer-members for 2020. Capital credits are each consumer-members’ share of the co-op’s excess revenue.
Last year, Platte-Clay switched to an Auto Apply system for capital credits with the goal of making the process easier and more secure for members. In order to protect the health of our consumer-members and give them access to their refunds quicker, capital credits are being applied as May bill credits for all active accounts. This decision followed the cancellation of the annual meeting due to concerns and restrictions related to COVID-19.
March 23 Update – Remote Work, Business Travel
Starting Tuesday, March 24, the co-op will move non-essential employees to remote work and suspend business travel. PCEC offices will remain closed to the public, and drive-thru and warehouse services will cease for the time being. Payments can still be deposited at the dropboxes located at the Kearney and Platte City offices, completed over the phone or through the online billing portal.
Dispatch operations will continue with crews deploying remotely to outages as they occur. Linemen will work in isolated, two-person crews to reduce the risk for exposure and ensure the cooperative can continue necessary power line repair work.
March 21 Update – Annual Meeting
Following guidelines from the CDC and local public health officials, we’ve made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel the traditional plans for our annual meeting. A special meeting will be held in its place later this year on a date to be determined.
March 18 Update – Youth Tour Final Competition
A directive from the Clay County Health Department to not hold gatherings including more than 10 people has led us to make the decision to cancel the Youth Tour final competition originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 25. Finalists have been notified and we are working on an alternative way to conduct the competition with no in-person event.
March 16 Update – Office Closures, Disconnects and Late Fees
On March 16, Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative announced it voluntarily suspended the disconnection of services for nonpayment and late fees as the communities the co-op serves face challenges related to COVID-19. The decision applies to both residential and commercial consumer-members.
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The co-op will additionally be closing its offices to members of the public effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020. These precautions will remain in effect until further notice.
Co-op personnel will be available by phone and email to respond to any inquiries from members and crews will continue to respond to outages as they occur. Members are encouraged to make payments and check their account status through the online billing portal on www.PCEC.coop.
The drive-through window at the co-op’s Kearney office will remain open at this time and payments can be deposited in the dropboxes at both Kearney and Platte City office locations.
These steps are being taken in an abundance of caution to protect the health and well-being of co-op consumer-members and employees alike.
PCEC will continue to monitor this situation and utilize the latest guidance from public health officials as the co-op makes decisions related to its annual meeting and other events in the coming months. Platte-Clay is committed to continuing to deliver safe and reliable energy to the Northland through this difficult time.