SVEC disconnects starting March 15

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - The Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative alerted members who have outstanding balances that as early as March 15, SVEC will resume disconnecting service for nonpayment.

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, SVEC has not disconnected residential members for nonpayment. The cooperative says it has encouraged members to pay what they can, when they can.

Payment agreements for members with outstanding balances will be offered until SVEC begins disconnecting service. Preston Knight, with SVEC, said they have about 5,000 residential members with outstanding balances, which could put them at risk of service disconnection next week.

“Anybody that has a past due balance, try to pay it,” Knight said. “There’s a number of ways to pay the bill or give us a call and we’ll work with people as necessary to make sure they keep their lights on.”

SVEC will be among the last utilities in Virginia to re-institute service disconnection.

With prices rising in many industries, Knight said members should not see any immediate changes in their bill, but it could impact them in long term.