NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Nashville Electric Service unveiled its plan for customers with an outstanding balance during these uncertain economic times.
NES has extended pausing disconnections for nonpayment through July 31. This will also include waiving late fees and absorbing credit card fees.
Since March, NES said it has canceled 23,000 disconnection orders, waived more than 280,000 late fees totaling in $1.9 million and absorbed $347,684 in credit card fees for customers.
On top of the impact of COVID-19, Nashville experienced two historic weather events in the last four months, a deadly EF-3 tornado and a derecho storm that knocked out the power to more than 130,000 customers, the worst outage in NES history.
The company created a 12-month extended payment plan for customers who are behind on payments and may have trouble catching up, which will begin on July 1.
Anyone with an overdue electric service bill will automatically be enrolled in an installment plan with no interest. NES will break down past-due balances into 12 even monthly payments which will appear on each monthly bill. Customers who keep up with their payments going forward will be assured continued service, NES said.
The total balance of past-due payments can be paid in full at any time.
"NES is equally committed to powering Nashville and ensuring our customers’ well-being, especially when disaster strikes, and customers are faced with challenges. We want all customers to know about the extended disconnection date, the 12-month extended payment installment plan and assistance available,” said Sylvia Smith, vice president of customer services, NES. “Even with this assistance, we realize some customers may still have difficulty paying their power bill, and the last thing we want is for a customer to have power disconnected. We are here for you and we want to hear from you. Reach out to us to let us help you navigate through payment options.”
