August 1, 2020:
As the pandemic continues, EECA members are still encouraged to use electronic means of doing business whenever possible to reduce the risk of exposure. To minimize health risks for consumer-members and employees, Egyptian Electric Cooperative has again closed front lobby access due to rising positive COVID-19 cases in Jackson and surrounding counties. EECA will maintain drive-thru service during business hours and is rotating and reducing onsite works staff and taking additional internal precautions, including:
Requiring employees to wear masks inside our office building, garage and warehouse, and reducing visitor access inside.
Sanitizing workstation touchpoints between front counter transactions.
Making available face masks, gloves and sanitizing products to all employees.
Enhancing daily cleaning, disinfecting procedures and social distancing throughout all departments, including added distance between employee workstations.
Most services can still be handled remotely, reducing the need to visit our office. Members are highly encouraged to conduct co-op business through our website, mobile app or over the phone. Our Member Services Department is available daily and can be reached by email at info@eeca.coop or by calling 800-606-1505. Members may pay-by-phone 24/7 at 844-759-3977, visit a kiosk location, MoneyGram Express Payment location, or download the SmartHub mobile app from their device’s app store. For all methods of payment visit eeca.coop.
July 1, 2020:
Egyptian Electric Cooperative (EECA) will resume normal operations and reopen lobby for business on Monday, July 6. We are taking special measures to protect visitors and employees as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
As the pandemic continues, EECA members are still encouraged to use the co-op’s drive-thru service or other electronic means of doing business whenever possible to reduce the risk of exposure.
“We’re requesting that our consumer-members follow the recommended social distancing guidelines within our offices,” says Shane Hermetz, Executive Vice-President/General Manager. “We ask all visitors to follow instructions as posted on lobby signage and floor markers for your safety and others.”
Egyptian Electric Cooperative continues to closely monitor the latest developments regarding COVID-19 and is following recommendations from local and state officials, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
To minimize health risks for consumer-members and employees, Egyptian Electric Cooperative is taking additional precautions, including:
• Adding social distancing markers to our lobby floors to help keep visitors at least 6 feet apart.
• Adding sanitizing stations in the lobby.
• Sanitizing workstation touchpoints between front counter transactions.
• Requiring employees who interact with the membership face-to-face to wear masks and wash and/or sanitize hands frequently.
• Distributing face masks, gloves and sanitizing products to all our employees.
• Enhancing daily cleaning, disinfecting procedures and social distancing throughout all departments, including added distance between employee workstations.
Most services can still be handled remotely, reducing the need to visit our office. Members are highly encouraged to conduct co-op business through our website, mobile app or over the phone. Our Member Services Department is available daily and can be reached by email at info@eeca.coop or by calling 800-606-1505. Members may pay-by-phone 24/7 at 844-759-3977, visit a kiosk location or download the SmartHub mobile app from their device’s app store. For all methods of payment visit www.eeca.coop.
June 8, 2020:
Although our lobby is still closed, our DRIVE-THRU is now OPEN! To minimize health risks for consumer-members and employees, we are taking additional precautions:
• Member Services Representatives will sanitize workstation touchpoints between transactions.
• Distributing face masks, gloves, and sanitizing products to all our employees.
• Enhancing daily cleaning, disinfecting procedures and social distancing throughout all of our departments, including added distance between employee workstations.
Most services can still be handled remotely, reducing the need to visit our office. Members are highly encouraged to conduct co-op business through our website, SmartHub mobile app or over the phone. Our Member Services Department is available and can be reached by email at info@eeca.coop or by calling 800-606-1505, M-F 8-4 daily. Members may pay-by-phone 24/7 at (844) 759-3977, visit a kiosk location or download the SmartHub app from their device’s app store. For all methods of payment visit our Ways to Pay.
March 20, 2020:
In response to Governor Pritzker’s order to Shelter in Place, EECA has modified its business model.
Until further notice, our office, including the drive-up window, will be closed. We strongly encourage members to follow the Governor’s Shelter in Place order. Members are encouraged to utilize methods of payment such as the following:
- SmartHub – available for both Apple and Android smart devices.
- Pay Now on our website – eeca.coop.
- Usage of one of our three payment kiosks – locations in Carbondale, Sparta or outside of our Murphysboro office. We would suggest confirming that the businesses are open before attempting to utilize the inside kiosks.
- By telephone – Our 24/7 automated phone system at (844) 759-3977 to make a payment or report an outage.
In support of the Shelter in Place directive, payments sent by mail or deposited in our drop box are discouraged. Payments of this type will be accepted but not guaranteed to be processed in a timely manner due to these circumstances. Also, to keep members safe from cyber thieves, payments by phone with a Customer Service Representative will not be allowed during this time.
We will continue to be available by phone at (800) 606-1505 to assist you during regular business hours. All essential services will continue. Our team of dedicated employees will continue to work on your behalf. Most employees will be working remotely, while few employees may remain in the office, when possible.
We will continue to adapt our business to address any challenges that are yet to be determined. We will continue to keep you updated and communicate via SmartHub alerts, our website, and social media (Facebook and Instagram). We greatly appreciate your patience during these times of change.
March 16, 2020:
In an updated response to adapt to the changing world around us, EECA continues to monitor the COVID-19 virus outbreak. This event has triggered our Emergency Response Plan. In order to keep our employees, members and general public safe, it is time to adapt our business to align with the guidelines of the CDC and the WHO.
To that end, our front office will be closed to the general public, effective immediately, and until further notice. Transactions can be made through our drive-thru window until Wednesday, March 18 at noon, where we will close our office completely to face-to-face transactions and will cancel any standing appointments.
Furthermore, in accordance with the directive given by the Illinois Commerce Commission, EECA will be suspending disconnection of electric service for non-payment and will also be waiving all late fees until May 1, 2020.
All essential services will continue. Our team of dedicated employees will continue to work on your behalf. Some employees will be working remotely, while some employees will remain in the office including operations for outage response, engineering for locating and member services for member assistance.
We will be available by phone at (800) 606-1505 to assist you but payments over the phone will be limited. We encourage you to utilize our alternative methods such as the SmartHub app, Pay Now on our website – www.eeca.coop, mailing payments, or dropping payments in our exterior drop box. Payments can be made at our kiosk locations in Carbondale, Sparta (when their facilities are open) or outside of our office in Murphysboro. You can also call our 24/7 automated phone system at (844) 759-3977 to make a payment or report an outage. Click Ways to Pay to view the complete list of methods.
We will continue to adapt our business to address any challenges that are yet to be determined. We will continue to keep you updated and communicate via SmartHub alerts, our website, and social media (Facebook and Instagram). Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.
