Contact Us: 719-384-2551 | (800) 332-8634
Frequently Asked Questions
Your quick reference for answers to common questions about our products, services, policies, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions from our members. We have provided clear and concise answers to help you better understand our services, processes, and policies. If you do not find the information you need, please contact our office at 719-384-2551 or 800-332-8634 for further assistance.
A Cooperative is a non-profit business that provides electric service to its member/owners. This differs greatly from the investor-owned utility that is in business to earn money for investors.
Each Cooperative member has the right to direct representation on the Cooperative's Board of Directors. Board members serve three-year terms and ballots are cast by mail. Each member also has the right to participate in the annual business meeting. Any member may run for director by being a bonafide resident of the district he or she wishes to represent and by having a petition signed by at least 15 members of the association within the district for which the person is nominated.
Southeast Colorado Power Association is operated on a non-profit basis; any funds remaining at the end of the year are assigned to the membership as CAPITAL CREDITS. These credits are assigned on a pro-rate basis: that is, proportionate to the amount paid for electric service during the period the credit was accrued.
Patronage Capital (capital credits) is used by your cooperative to make loan payments, to establish necessary reserves for financing or plant replacements, storm damage and other contingencies, and for other purposes. When the financial condition of the cooperative permits, capital credits are refunded in the same order in which they were paid; that is first paid in will be first paid out. The amount of patronage capital paid by you is shown as a credit on patronage capital credit records established in your name and made a permanent part of your account. SECPA has retired Capital Credits up to 1984 and future years will continue to be retired as approved by the board.
A security deposit is required to protect the Cooperative from losses due to unpaid final bills. As mentioned previously, Cooperative members share margins; adversely each member also shares losses. Deposit amount is determined by board policy and is based on member credit rating. From time to time, additional deposits may be required based on payment history/risk.
The deposit amount is determined by the members credit rating as determined by a credit rating agency and by board policy. Having good credit history with other utilities factors into the credit rating issued by the agency.
Basically, these forms are for the Consumer's and the Cooperative's protection. Our attorney requires specific information in the event collection procedures become necessary and the Internal Revenue Service requires specific information for capital credit records.
Why is my stock pump and/or fence charger taxed, but my house isn't?
The State of Colorado, counties, etc. determine what is charged sales tax and what is taxed may vary between the two. Residential services are currently exempt from State sales tax but other services are not.
Demand is the amount of electricity drawn from an electric system at a given time, measured in kilowatts.
Demand charge is a charge for electricity based on the maximum amount of a system's electricity a customer demands.
Demand meter measures and records the maximum demand of electric usage over a specified period of time. Normally demand meters are installed on services such as Large Power.
Demand charges are necessary as we are billed demand charges from our power supplier along with energy charges. We try to recover these costs from the consumers who create the demand.
The main reason is because of density. Southeast only has 1.8 customers per mile of line, whereas investor-owned utilities have approximately 35 and municipals around 45.
The areas served by each utility have been determined and certificated by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. SECPA has an obligation to serve members within its certificated territory.
Rates are based on a Cost of Service Study. Costs and size of facilities can vary between rate classes and the rates cover costs other than just energy costs from our power supplier. Rate design can also be a factor. Access charges, HP charges, etc. affect the ultimate kWh charge.
There can be any number of reasons. Incorrect meter readings, the number of days of usage, additional equipment, extreme temperatures, etc. just to name a few. If you feel your bill is abnormally high, contact us so we can perform an analysis of the service.
Board policy requires a member continue to pay the monthly minimum access charge for a service if they wish to keep the service at that location, even if the service is not currently being used. If a member no longer wishes to pay the monthly minimum, they can sign a retirement authorization to remove the service.
Each month residential customers are billed an access charge. The access charges insure that each member help pay the fixed costs involved in providing electrical service. If the access charge were not required, the per kWh and per kW charges would have to be increased to compensate for the loss of the access charge.
It can be difficult to determine exactly where the electricity that powers your lights is generated. To provide reliable service, a large interconnected grid is used throughout the western United States. Electricity is added to the grid at many different generating stations and can be delivered to customers from anywhere on that system, making the exact point of origin nearly impossible to identify.
While the specific source cannot be pinpointed, the cost of electricity is influenced by several factors, with the cost of generation being the most significant. Southeast Colorado Power Association purchases its power from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.
Lights may blink when a tree limb brushes against a high-voltage line or when a foreign object comes into contact with energized equipment. When this happens, electricity is diverted from its normal path and the system briefly interrupts the flow of power to protect the line, which appears as a momentary “blink.”
Lightning is another common cause. Even a strike that occurs several miles away can cause protective equipment, such as a recloser, to operate and result in blinking lights.
In the past, these brief interruptions often went unnoticed. Today, with computers, LED clocks, and other sensitive electronics, they can be more disruptive. Many newer appliances include backup batteries to handle short outages. For critical computer use, a U.P.S. (uninterruptible power supply) is recommended to prevent data loss, and surge protectors can help protect electronic equipment.
If you experience excessive or frequent blinking, please notify Southeast Colorado Power so the issue can be investigated.
Please contact the main office of Southeast Colorado Power Association at 719-384-2551 or 800-332-8634 and ask to speak with the Staking Engineer.
To get the service put into your name, please contact our office at 719-384-2551 or 800-332-8634, and we will send you the appropriate paperwork to complete.
A State Inspection is required before a meter can be installed because state law mandates that new meter loops be inspected prior to connection. More importantly, this inspection helps ensure everyone’s safety and protection.
Meter loops cannot be installed on transformer poles mainly for safety and liability reasons. In addition, placing a meter loop on a transformer pole would put it too close to our primary voltage lines, creating an unsafe condition.
Power restoration can take time primarily due to the distance crews must travel, with some areas of our system located more than two hours from the nearest warehouse. In addition, weather and road conditions can also affect how quickly crews are able to respond to an outage.
The Colorado State Electrical Board requires a licensed electrician and our employees are not licensed electricians.
A humming yard light is usually caused by the ballast inside the fixture, though in some cases it can be due to a vibration from the light or its mounting.
Single phase is an electric circuit that consists of one alternating current. Three phase is an electric circuit that consists of three alternating currents (used for larger services).
Electric meters are more accurate than a watch or clock. The cooperative and the Public Utilities Commission consider them to be accurate if they are within 2% plus or minus when tested.
Call one of our offices and they will send you the proper paper work or stop in our nearest office.
Whenever a change of occupancy or of legal responsibility takes place on any premises, notice of such change must be given to the office within a reasonable time prior to the date of change, or the outgoing member will be held responsible for all services supplied until such notice has been received by the cooperative office so that arrangements can be made.
It is also important to keep your current address updated with SECPA, even if you are no longer a member so you can receive Capital Credit notifications and retirement checks.