Portland, Tennessee Blog

I have to say that for the most part I don't think that my bill is very high. When we lived in the Nashville area, we used to have NES and they were sky high. About a year ago we used to live in a 1220 sq ft home on College St. and our bill was never much. Now our new home is around 1740 sq. ft. and amazingly it has not been much higher. In fact, Jessica, I am wondering if we used to live next door to your in-laws.

hugs you is right i just tried to call the folk at cumperland elecric membersip corperatiaoin becuase i lives alone nad i used to not but now i do and the accnt has to be n my name becaue i use to be living wit somebody else but now i dont i call them and after THIRTY FIVE MINUTES of tryin to get to a damn person not a machne i got put on hold and no one ever picked up i mean no noe answered and some english or somethin woman came on and hollered sumthin about everybody who works at the cemc place being busy "helping oter customers" that is a lie that is crap that is not true i was on hold for no less then TWO AND A HALF HOURS before being disconnect!!!!!!!!11111111!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 the phone just went dead!!!!!!!!!111111111111

PORTLAND NEEDS TO WORK ON IT'S PORBLEMS LIKE THESE IF IT WANTS TO EVER ATTRACT NEW COMERS!!!

Wow. I have never had to deal with CEMC personally, other than the times I drop off my bill,but hearing all of these situations make me angry that they treat people that way! I am amazed at how different electric bills are in general,not really because of the company,but just how they vary from home to home..we lived in an 800sqft apartment and paid about $57 a month in the summer and about $100 in the winter...my inlaws,who live in a 1350ftsq home pay $115 in the summer and about $150 in the winter and my mother, who just moved here this spring into a 1267sqft home only pays $54 dollars a month...we haven't recieved our 1st bill for our new home,but at 1587sqft, I'm a little worried now!

It's not Portland that's doing it to them. It is CEMC that the main office is in Clarksville,Tn. Also I do not work for CEMC but I think you should blame Portland for the mis-hap. That's why CEMC spends money to send out bills to make sure the people have the money on that date period!!

Not to change the subject, but what does everyone think about the increase in cost for Portland utilities?

I too was surprised at the cost of electricity in Portland when I moved up here a little over a year ago from Nashville. In Nashville, my husband, my daughter and I lived in a 2500 sf duplex, which had a huge kitchen, living room, etc., and it was an older model home, built in the early 70s I think, and we only paid about $125/mo for our electricity. Now, we live in a 1300 sf house (almost half the size of our former residence) in Portland, built in 2000, and we pay nearly $200/mo, and we have had an occasion bill reaching nearly $300 in the very cold of winter or heat of summer. Go figure? I don't understand how this could be. We have no more or no fewer people living together in the same house, so those dynamics obviously haven't changed. Furthermore, we are conscious about conserving energy, keeping lights turned off when not using them, etc. I seriously get a sick feeling when opening my electric bill because I never know what I am going to get slammed with. I feel helpless because there doesn't seem to be a whole lot I can do about it. It's definitely frustrating, to say the least.

NO, I don't work for CEMC either. I have been a customer of CEMC for over 20 yrs & I have not always been able to pay on time. I would have to pay a late fee. I would balance my budget & pay this bill & maybe not go out to eat or do without something to make ends meet.
I not once had to ask for an extension or had my service disconnected. I have seen some pretty hard financial times but I have always paid my utilities & house & car pymt on time or late. People don't realize this, but your payment record on your utilites is a big part of your credit history. If you are disconnected a lot, you can't get any credit. No one wants to take a risk on you. I hope things work out for you & I'm sorry that CEMC wasn't up to your standard of service. We all disagree with companies at some time or another & that's what makes up each an individual human being. Letting your views known is what this "Blog" is all about. GOod luck to you in the future!

I dont work for CEMC customer service, but a couple of yrs ago, I did have a bill that showed I did not pay. I called the customer service, they were nice and explained I needed to get the cleared check and take it to the local office. I did as I was told, the matter was cleared and CEMC even paid the fee for the check from the bank. If a cut off notice was recieved, then the bill was already late by a few days. I run a busniess with many customers. When I mail out the bills, I include a statement for when the payment is due and if not recieved by then, a late fee is applied. I have had to apply the fee before and I never have a customer complain. Usually I get an apology letter for being late. CEMC would not cut your service the day after your final due date. You will get a notice that gives you a few more days. When I get my bill, I belived we have about 25 days to pay before it is late.

Hey we Are not looking for a hand out we just needed 2 days but its okay we were raised to be surviors and have faith in the lord and thats what we are doing.As far as my internet service my x-daughter pays it for my disabled child so it helps her learn.Im a single parent looking after my parents and have a child that needs extra attention and i think ive been doing pretty good in doing that.I was just bringing this to the attention on how cemc is that there are times people do need extendtions people that do hold good standing accounts.We are just trying to survive in the world to live and im asure im not the only one who needs sometimes just 2 days too extended for payment of a bill.So everyone calm down we got thru it and all is well.Thanks to all who responded.May cemc try to find away to help these customers that do have good standing accounts that things do happen beyond our control.Hugs to all.God Bless Each And everyone of you.

To David and Jeff: Do you two work for CEMC in the customer service dept?????

I am so sorry that such a thing had to happen to someone...particularly someone w/the medical needs as your parents. CEMC, or any other utility co., has the technological ability to track the billing and payment records of all of their customers. Therefore, I would think that they could track how often a customer makes a request for an extension on the due date of their bill. Certainly the utility company could manage to allow a customer,under extinuating circumstances, to be late a day or two. I contribute an extra $1 per month (as I am sure many others do) to help out with just this type of situation. If needed, CEMC could take the customer's payment from that fund and reimburse it when payment is received from the customer. I think that it is the unilities' responsiblity to find ways to help it's customers in times of hardship. We are forced to buy our utilities from specific companies, we can not just decide to take our business elswhere, so the customers and the utility companies need to work together to help its residents when needed. Tracking a customer's account certainly tells them when we are late, I'm sure they could track the number of times a customer requests extra help, delay in payment or whatever. Set a limit on the number of times each year a customer can receive this kind of help. Everyone, at one time or another in their life, needs a little help and I, for one, don't have a problem seeing someone get a little extra help occasionally. Abusers can quickly be recognized and cut off. We all have bills to pay, but we all have hard times, sickness, etc. at some point and I don't want my day to come and have someone think that I just don't pay my bills or am a poor money manager. That would be unfairly judging me and I try not to do that to others.

Just like you said welcome to life and with life comes things that some people can not control. I dont think anyone said not to pay their bills but life does throw us curves and two days extra or in some cases even a day would be nice to have.I pay my bills ever month and go to work everyday so Its not always someone trying to get a free ride.I have just found them rude. I understand that there are a lot of people who give them the run around but there should be some kind of pervision not every month but once in a while.

I agree--if I don't pay my bill they would cut it off. What if everyone told CEMC the same thing you did -- no bills to get paid!!! I think when you get your electric turned on you sign an agreement to pay by the deadline! Welcome to what the rest of us call "life" & everyday problems. Your problem is not everyone elses' problem. we all have them Sorry!

Hugs, From reading your comment, it sounds like you have or your parents have waited till the last minute argue the payment. If your parents moved back here, why were they papers not brought with them? Not smart to leave your documents in another state. At some point it may be necessary for your parents to consider alternative care, i.e. assisted living center or nursing home. You made the comment that you were done the same way about your late bill. Maybe you should use the money you pay for internet access to pay your elec bill. We have to get our prioreties in line. CEMC has to pay an electric bill also. They buy the electricity from TVA. TVA does not want them to be late on payment, so why should you? You are wrong for blaming the City in this matter when it has no control. Also Texas has no control over it electricity, so do not give them credit.

There can never be competition on electricity. How would a competitor come in and install their poles and lines. It would not make sense for that because they are not going to run all the equipment down a road for one house. These coops were given territories to supply so there would not be 2, 3, or 4 companies running their own poles down the roads and across our properties, making the land look disgusting. CEMC owns all the poles and lines as does every other coop in its territory. They are responsible for maintaining everything.

Nicole, If you were in a house with 8 people then and now they are all old enough to be on their own, that tells me TIME is the factor in your higher electric bills. Sounds like yrs have gone by between the 2 places. We all know our rates always increase and never decrease. Also, what are you using to heat your house, gas, elec, propane, what? That is also a factor. How many lights are left on, what appliances are using electricity all the time. You have to look at all this and not just blame someone else for your problems. I have a 2100 sq ft house in Portland. My elec bills are 50-60 dollars a month. We never leave lights if we arent in the room, all appliances are engery efficient, There are no cold drafts around windows or door, the house is all brick, so it helps retain heat, and we use gas to heat, but we dont let the heaters run all the time. If it is cool in the house, we may add some layers of clothes, instead of turning up the heat, bc that uses more gas and electricity. Sometimes you just need to step back and see how you can lower your own bill.

UPDATE:THEY TURNED THEM OFF

The initials CEMC Stand for Cumberland Electric Membership Cooperative. This means that they are OWNED BY THE VERY PEOPLE THEY SERVE. We are the owners. The only way to make changes in their policies and practices is to participate in the yearly elections and member meetings. WE are their owners, but they operate much like a government - unless the voters get involved at the "grass roots" level, there will be no changes. It is up to us to make the changes by electing Cooperative Trustees who truly have the consumers' best interests at heart, not the bottom line. Simply complaining to a customer service representative will get nothing done. Also, our electricity costs are affected not only by the cost of the fuel to create the electricity, but by the number of people who do not pay their bills. While there are many legitimate reasons for not paying a bill on time, such as elderly people who rely on Social inSecurity or a family dealing with a catastrophic illness, there are also many people who simply do not pay their bills either because they are financially irresponsible, have addiction problems or simply feel that the world "owes them." This is in no way a defense of CEMC and their practices. I am simply saying that since WE own them, WE have to solve the problems.

CEMC has continually shocked and surprised me with their outragious prices as well as their horrid behavior. We moved here from Gallatin, our old home was 3200 sq feet and I was raising my siblings at the time which meant 8 people total living in my home. We moved to Portland, my siblings now old enough to be on their own leaving only 4 people in my home. The house we moved into here is only 1200 sq feet. My electric bill on an average month is more than double what I payed in a larger home with more people.
I believe some competition in this area is definatly in order.

Thank you very much on wanting to know the cost and my parents its not about the money its about they cant even wait 2 days.They are willing to pay but they want even budge to wait 2 days on them to pay. Its the idea of it all.Some people dont get there checks till the 1st or 3rd of each month and its hard to live on social security.

Who are your parents and how much is the electric bill?

I pay an extra dollar a month on my electric bill. I thought that dollar was to help people that could not pay. If not, where is it being used?? You are right on about the customer service at CEMC. They are VERY rude and do not give a damn.

I am so sorry that this is happening to you. I can't see how the city of Portland has anything to do with CEMC cutting off your electricity.

CEMC is not owned by the city of Portland. CEMC is who you should be complaining about not Portland. Believe me Portland has its faults and is a bit backwards in some of its overall mentality, however this one is not the fault of Portland.

CEMC is a horrible company who has no compasion for anyone. Unfortunately there is no competition in which to turn to for electricity. Until the day comes when these companies can not monopolize like they do...this is how things will be dealt with. When the time comes that other companies can come along and compete with these obnoxious acting companies, you will suddenly see a change in their behavior and in their willingness to work with people.

I have grown to dislike CEMC so much.I had a bill in February pushing the 400.00 mark.I dont even heat with electric!I called emailed did everything I could to see if I could pay half and half.These people would not bend and one lady who I just had to hang up on before I got ugly told me to just pay the bill and stop whinning! I never got a clear answer on why my bill was so high.They just kept saying it was really cold but I dont have electric heaters. I think their customer service is something to improve on but they just do not seem to care at all. I understand and feel your frustration with CEMC...