ComplaintsforSan Bernard Electric Co-Op

• Initial Complaint

  02/20/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  The bill that was $289.38 was from 12/13 to 01/13 and we had a freeze during that time around 12/22-12/25 so everyones bill went up that month because of the freeze. I believe our electric company is ripping everyone off and adding charges into the bill that is not accurate. My whole neighborhood this month got a extra 100 charge on there bill. We do the same thing everyday. I have called to resolve the issue with them but get only that we had a freeze for a few days and they have nothing else to say. I have asked around to family members with different companies and the light bill not near that much of a change or difference. They are taken advantage of hard working people because they know that they are the only light company we are allowed to use in the area which doesn't seem right either. We live in a big place with lots of options. My bill went from 180 to 280 to now 290 and they are saying we ran the heater which we didn't that much. Please look into this company because they know what they are doing.

  Business response

  03/30/2023

  Most of our members usage was up due to the cold weather we had at the end of December.  This uptick in usage was one factor in bills being higher than normal.  The second factor was the price of natural gas. Throughout the second half of 2022 gas prices were at an all time high, $7 - $9 a MMBtu.  This type of pricing drives up the cost of energy and is pass through cost on our memberships bill.  This is line itemed on our bill as the G&T (Generation and Transmission) Charge.   SBEC does not receive any revenue through this expense, it a pass-through charge so SBEC can pay their power bill to their energy provider. 

  Just to note, natural gas pricing has come down the 1^st quarter of 2023 and has allowed us to reduce our current G&T Charge.

  SBEC compares rates with other cooperatives, municipalities, and independently owned utilities across the state monthly.  While our rate may be at the higher end of the scale, it is not out of line with other utilities.

  Thanks,

  Customer response

  04/06/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Regards,
  
  *********************

• Initial Complaint

  09/12/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I hired San Bernard Electric to come out to my property and put in new supplies to be able to run electricity to a tiny home for my ************* They sent a field person out to inspect and view the needs of the property. We explained what the electricity is being used for and what it will be running to. They sent me a work order after being explained that what they said would be suffice. I signed the work order and paid over $3000 for the work to be done and after being told that this is what we needed by their company. It was installed and then had an electrician come in to tie the tiny home into the electricity that San Bernard installed. The electrician then explained to us that what was installed is not accurate and not near enough for what we need. I have been calling San Bernard everyday for a week now and just keep being told that someone will call me back. I now for the first time have been actually been able to talk to someone about the situation. ****** at San Bernard then said that it will cost us another almost $1900 for them to come and fix and put in what they wee supposed to do in the first place. I told them that this should've have been done in the first place. Everyday people are not electricians or an electric company and that were explained what it was needed for and they told us what was needed. He then begin to tell me that I signed the work order. Of course I did because San Bernard is the professional and are the ones who told us that this is what was needed. I am not the professional that is what we paid them for. Now the supplies that they put in are worthless and cannot be used in any many. I am now out of $4000 for supplies and now they are telling us they cant do anything unless we give them another $1900 to correct what should have been there in the first place.

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