Membership Fee
Each member-owner contributes a $25 membership fee, which is fully refundable when you leave the system.
New Account Initiation Charge
A $20 connect fee is made for processing an application and initiating new service – whether it’s at a location that already had service, or a new home, office or other building.
Security Deposit
You may be required to make a deposit before we turn your power on if your credit does not meet the cooperative’s requirements. If you wish, we can perform a utility credit check which may result in that deposit being waived.
Late Fee
A 5% late fee will be added to your account if you don’t pay your bill by the due date.
Trip Charges
Anytime you request a Tri-County Electric Co-op employee to visit your property for a standard operating practice – connection, reconnection or investigating a report. There is no charge when we’re investigating or restoring an outage.
- Regular working hours: $50.00
- After hours: $80.00
Service Charges
- After hours reconnection: $50.00 connection fee plus the $80.00 trip charge
- Disconnect for nonpayment: $20.00
- Reconnect for nonpayment: $20.00
Meter Tampering
Tampering with your meter, or any other equipment owned by Tri-County Electric Co-op, is not only dangerous – it’s against the law. If someone is found to have gained unauthorized access to meters or the equipment that supplies power to them, we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.
When meter tampering, equipment tampering or trespassing to gain access to Tri-County Electric Co-op owned equipment or easements is suspected or found, the member will be charged a $2,500 tampering fee and charged all costs associated with replacing or repairing damaged electrical equipment and other direct costs of restoring electrical service.
AMI Meter Tampering
For tampering with an AMI meter, the member will be charged the following fees:
- Meter charge: $150
- Trip fee: $150
- Tamper fee: $2,500
- Estimated electric use
- Any damages to facilities plus actual costs
View the Meter Tampering/Theft of Power Policy.
Meter Test
If you ask us to test your meter, we will charge $50 for the trip. There is no charge to test the meter. Any additional requests over a four-year period will result in a $15 meter-test charge plus the $50 trip charge, however, the $15 will be refunded if the meter fails to meet accuracy standards set by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Return Check
If your check is not honored, we will charge a $20 returned-check fee, and if you have two or more returned checks in 12-month period, you may be required to pay your bill in cash, money order or certified check.