Some meters have special equipment attached. Limiters allow NWEC to restrict the amount of electrical power that a member-owner can use at any one time and remote disconnect collars allow your electrical power to be disconnected by an employee from our office instead of by a lineman visiting your residence.
Instead of COMPLETELY disconnecting a member-owners' service in the winter, NWEC will curtail their electric consumption by installing a device that limits the amount of electrical power used at one time. This action is taken if the energy bill is past due, and there are no arrangements made for payment or a previous payment arrangement wasn't kept. When satisfactory arrangements for payment of the bill are made, the service will be restored to full capacity. If no payment or arrangement has been made within 20 days after the limiter install date, the account will be fully disconnected.
There is a $100 charge to have the limiter removed after normal working hours.
In order to maintain limited service, you must do the following:
Remove all loads from your electrical system that will exceed a total of 1200 watts (10 amps) or 3600 watts (30amps), depending on the size of limiter that has been installed. This can be done by physically disconnecting those appliances/devices or by turning off breakers or removing fuses in your service panel.
If the load exceeds the rating of the limiter, the device will operate and interrupt the electrical service.
If you wish to restore your limited service capacity, you must do the following:
- Reduce your electric load lower than 10 amps.
- Go to your electric meter base, wait two minutes, pull down, then push up on the reset button on the bottom of the current limiter.
Any tampering or damage to the service limiter or its seal is a criminal act and subject to prosecution under the Ohio Revised Code.
Some locations have a remote disconnect collar. This collar means the power is disconnected in the office, instead of having a lineman visit your residence. If those accounts with a remote disconnect collar are disconnected for non-payment, the following fees and guidelines will take place:
Disconnection/Limiting Service:
There will be an $80 disconnect fee charged to your account.
There is no additional charge for reconnection during office hours.
If reconnected outside of office hours, a reconnect charge will apply: $70 - After hours reconnect; $100 - Sunday/holiday reconnect
All balances and fees must be paid before reconnection.
Reconnection of service:
Once you have settled your account with a payment, or made proper arrangements, you will be instructed to reset your meter. There is a black button located underneath the meter base. You will need to push that and then your power will be restored to full power.