Shout out to our local power company Volunteer Energy Cooperative: VEC is a shinning example of companies response to supporting their customers regarding the effects of COVID19 on our local devastated economy and businesses, the effects of unemployment and the recent tornado damage that was inflected on our area just a week ago. I received a letter from VEC on Friday 4/17/20 that was dated 4/11/20 (6-days earlier) that my power was to be turned off the next day( today 4/18/20) because I missed the March payment. Yes the horrible person I am during the month of March I admit I became a bit distracted trying to keep my employees employed my business afloat and missed my March VEC bill one of 2 that I have missed in over 11 years and 9 months of being a customer. Not only was my power to be cut off the very next day I received the letter, but their customer service center was not open and there was no one to talk to and the letter stated that they are in the process of contacting the 3-credit bureaus to notify them of what a dead beat that I am. I was also threatened with; a 30$ collection fee,a $30 reconnect fee and $100 after hours reconnect fee. It is good to know in these difficult times that VEC is a utility company that is so sensitive to the conditions that we as citizens and customers are going through. To those of you who have lost your homes due to the tornado, or your job due to COVID19 and are customers of VEC expect no mercy, forgiveness, understanding or empathy. But do expect to have; your power turned off, penalty charges accessed to you, collection proceedings against you and your credit ruined if you overlooked or missed a payment. I say to all VEC customers we need to lobby to get the laws changed so we can get EPB service as an alternate provider. Solar panel companies your target market now needs to be VEC customers. Beware there is a boogie man in the bushes outside your house by the electric meter and it is called VEC. read more