Paying your electric bill on time each month is crucial for every SMECO customer. An on-time payment prevents late fees, service interruptions, and other potential issues. Fortunately, Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) offers numerous quick and easy ways to pay your bill online, by phone, by mail, or in person. This guide will walk you through the various bill payment options available and tips for ensuring smooth bill payment each month.
Online Bill Pay Options
The easiest way for most SMECO customers to pay their electric bill is online SMECO offers two main online payment options
Pay Bill Now
This option on SMECO’s website allows you to make a quick one-time payment without logging in You’ll need your 13-digit account number and payment info, Payments made after 4PM will process the next business day,
Account Manager
Account Manager allows you to log in to view your bill, payment history, energy usage, and other details. You can opt for autopay, schedule future payments, store payment info, and more. It’s the most robust online payment option.
SMECO accepts online payments via credit/debit card and digital wallets like Apple Pay Google Pay PayPal, and Venmo. Just be aware that overpayments via third-party apps won’t be refunded by SMECO.
Alternative Ways to Pay
If you prefer not to pay online or want other options, SMECO offers these additional payment methods:
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By phone: Call 1-888-440-3311 anytime 24/7 to pay by credit/debit card or check.
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By mail: Send a check or money order payable to SMECO at P.O. Box 62261, Baltimore, MD 21264-2261. Allow 5-7 days for processing.
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In person: Visit either SMECO office during business hours – 15065 Burnt Store Rd, Hughesville, MD or 23365 Hollywood Rd, Leonardtown, MD.
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AutoPay: Enroll in autopay through Account Manager to have payments automatically deducted from your bank account each month.
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Budget Billing: Spread your costs evenly over the year with SMECO’s Budget Billing program. Your payment stays the same each month based on your average usage.
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Payment Arrangements: If you’re struggling to pay, call SMECO to set up a payment plan that works for your situation.
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Payment Assistance: Payment assistance programs like EAP and MEAP can provide bill help if you meet low income requirements.
No matter how you choose to pay, be sure to allow enough processing time for payments to avoid late fees. Online and phone payments made after 4PM will process the next business day. Mailed payments require 5-7 days.
Tips for Paying Your SMECO Bill
Follow these tips each month to make bill payment fast, easy, and headache-free:
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Enroll in paperless billing to receive and view bills electronically rather than by mail. This ensures quicker delivery.
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Review bills promptly when received so you can address any issues right away. Don’t wait until the due date.
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Set payment reminders on your calendar and/or phone to avoid forgetting and paying late.
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Sign up for Account Manager to access your balance and payment history 24/7. The mobile app lets you pay on-the-go.
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Automate payments with AutoPay or Bill Pay through your bank for one less thing to remember each month.
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Pay a few days early to account for processing time and avoid late fees if paying by mail or third-party apps.
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Contact SMECO immediately if you anticipate payment issues, outages, or other account problems. Don’t wait until after the due date.
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Provide updated contact information so SMECO can reach you about any account issues promptly.
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Check Account Manager regularly for usage trends to avoid billing surprises and make informed energy decisions.
Paying your SMECO bill doesn’t have to be a chore each month. By understanding all your payment options and establishing good payment habits, you can take the stress out of bill payment and maintain seamless electric service. Reach out to SMECO anytime if you need further bill pay assistance.
Do You Pay Your Bill Online?
- Third party sites may charge a fee
- Customers who make an overpayment when using a third party site will not receive a refund from SMECO
- To initiate a correction, the customer must contact the third party payment site
- Use a check, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover – You can also check your account balance and date of your last payment, free of charge
- Direct Pay is available 24/7 – Just call (866) 528-7757
Mail bill payments to:
SMECO PO Box 62261 Baltimore, MD 21264-2261
The customer service centers at the SMECO headquarters in Hughesville and the Leonardtown office are open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except for holidays.
Hughesville Customer Service Center 15065 Burnt Store Road
Leonardtown 23365 Hollywood Road
- Pay your SMECO electric bill at any Walmart with an additional fee as low as 88 cents
- Just take a copy of your bill to any Walmart MoneyCenter or Customer Service Desk
- Please allow three business days for the payment to post
- You can pay in cash or with a PIN debit card (no checks or credit cards)
- Any banking or payment item returned to the co-op unpaid by a customer’s bank will incur a charge
- This applies to payments received for electric bills, customer deposits, reconnection fees, or any other charge paid to the co-op, and includes payments made utilizing third-party bill-paying services
- The charge will be added to the customer’s account
- A customer may request a waiver of the returned item charge if no such waiver has been given in the past 11 months
If you need assistance paying your SMECO electric bill, there are a variety of assistance programs available.
- A customer who is unable to pay for electric service in accordance with SMECO’s billing practices may, under certain circumstances, negotiate an alternate payment plan
- The alternate payment plan will take into account the customer’s circumstances, financial condition, and payment history
- Arrangements for alternate payment plans can be made in Account Manager, in person, or over the phone (888) 440-3311 – Payment arrangements must be made before the termination date
- The plan negotiated will be noted on the customer’s account record at SMECO – If the customer fails to meet the obligations agreed upon, SMECO may initiate turn-off procedures without further notice for a past-due balance
How to Pay by Text
FAQ
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