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< Back Five Ways to Safeguard Your Home’s Efficiency This Season Dec 2, 2024 As temperatures continue to drop and the days grow shorter, there’s often a natural inclination to create a warm and cozy haven at your home. Unfortunately, staying inside more often means increased use of heating equipment and electrical items. Prince George Electric Cooperative is offering five ways to safeguard your home’s efficiency this season: Dress for the weather. When you're at home, dress in warm clothing in the winter to stay comfortable without making your heater work harder. Use natural light when possible. Passive heating uses the sun’s natural heat to warm up your home. Air seal your home. Sealing cracks, gaps, and leaks and adding insulation can help you save on home heating costs. Lower the Temperature on Your Thermostat. The Department of Energy says you can save energy costs in the winter by setting your thermostat between 68 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re home—and even less when you’re away. Heat loss happens more slowly when the temperature inside your house is low, the department says. Lower Holiday Lighting Costs. Use light-emitting diode (LED) holiday light strings to reduce the cost of decorating the home for the winter holidays. Previous Next

< Back Hurricane Season: Keeping you and your family safe Jun 7, 2024 The Atlantic Hurricane Season is upon us and Prince George Electric Cooperative wants to make sure that when the worst happens, you and your family know what to do before, during, and after a storm. According to ready.gov , members should know the following: Before A Hurricane Make an Emergency Plan: Make sure everyone in your household knows and understands your hurricane plans. Include the office, kids’ day care, and anywhere else you frequent in your hurricane plans. Know your Evacuation Zone: You may have to evacuate quickly due to a hurricane if you live in an evacuation zone. Learn your evacuation routes, practice with your household and pets, and identify where you will stay. Recognize Warnings and Alerts: Have several ways to receive alerts. Download the FEMA app and receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five locations nationwide. Review Important Documents: Make sure your insurance policies and personal documents, such as ID, are up to date. Make copies and keep them in a secure password-protected digital space. Strengthen your Home: De-clutter drains and gutters, bring in outside furniture, and consider hurricane shutters. Get Tech Ready: Keep your cell phone charged when you know a hurricane is in the forecast and purchase backup charging devices to power electronics. Gather Supplies: Have enough supplies for your household, include medication, disinfectant supplies and pet supplies in your go bag or car trunk. You may not have access to these supplies for days or even weeks after a hurricane. During A Hurricane Pay attention to emergency information and alerts. If you live in a mandatory evacuation zone and local officials tell you to evacuate, do so immediately. Determine how best to protect yourself from high winds and flooding. Take refuge in a designated storm shelter or an interior room for high winds. Go to the highest level of the building if you are trapped by flooding. Do not climb into a closed attic. You may become trapped by rising flood water. Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Turn Around. Don’t Drown! Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away. Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/ PrinceGeorgeElectricCooperative/ to stay informed about outages and additional storm information. Download the PGEC SmartHub app from the Apple Store or GooglePlay and keep our outage reporting number handy: 804-834-2424. You can also text OUT to 855-939-3608 when you register. Bookmark our live outage map at pgec.coop/outage-map to see a real-time look at power outages across our service territory. Returning Home After a Hurricane Be careful during clean up. Wear protective clothing, use appropriate face coverings or masks if cleaning mold or other debris . People with asthma and other lung conditions and/or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or mold growth that can be seen or smelled, even if these individuals are not allergic to mold. Children should not help with disaster cleanup work. Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. If it is safe to do so, turn off electricity at the main breaker or fuse box to prevent electric shock. Save phone calls for emergencies. Phone systems often are down or busy after a disaster. Use text messages or social media to communicate with family and friends. Document any property damage with photographs. Contact your insurance company for assistance. For a full list of resources and tips, be sure to visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes . Previous Next

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Our crews are on call and will respond 24 hours a day to restore service as quickly as possible. Call PGEC at 804-834-2424 Remember: Stay Away From Downed Power Lines! Outage Restoration Checklist: When an outage occurs Check fuses or breakers in your electrical panel box. If fuses or breakers are OK, call PGEC at 804-834-2424. Turn off all electrical appliances that were on when the outage occurred, especially air conditioners, heat pumps, or other large electric appliances. You will want to leave a light on so you will know when your power has been restored. Stay away from downed power lines and broken utility poles. Please note the location of the downed line or pole and call PGEC immediately. Even lines that look harmless can be dangerous. If your power is still out once your neighbors' homes have been returned to service, you should not hesitate to call the cooperative again. Don't keep checking your refrigerator and/or freezer. Food will keep much longer if the doors are kept closed. If it appears the outage could be for an extended time period, cover your refrigerator and/or freezer with a heavy blanket. Restoring Power Restoring power after a major outage involves much more than simply throwing a switch or removing a tree from a line. Follow the steps below to see how PGEC restores power. High Voltage Transmission Lines Transmission towers and cables that supply power to transmission substations (and thousands of members) rarely fail. But when damaged, these facilities must be repaired before other parts of the system can operate. Distribution Substation A substation can serve hundreds or thousands of consumers. When a major outage occurs, line crews inspect substations to determine if problems stem from transmission lines feeding into the substation, the substation itself, or if problems exist further down the line. Main Distribution Lines If the problem cannot be isolated at a distribution substation, distribution lines are checked. These lines carry power to large groups of consumers in communities or housing developments. Tap Lines If local outages persist, supply lines (also known as tap lines) are inspected. These lines deliver power to transformers, either mounted on poles or placed on pads for underground service, outside businesses, schools, and homes. Individual Homes If your home remains without power, the service line between a transformer and your residence may need to be repaired. Always call to report an outage to help line crews isolate local issues.

< Back Energy Scams Unmasked: What you need to know May 9, 2025 Consumers with water, gas and electricity connections have long been targets for utility scams. As your trusted energy provider, Prince George Electric Cooperative is diligent about protecting you from energy scams, whether a financial loss or leak of your personal information. Scammers are more sophisticated than ever before, and they understand our increasing reliance on technology. With their sharpened digital knives, scammers have adapted their tactics to trick unsuspecting consumers through a variety of methods. PGEC would like to share updates on some of the latest utility scams, as well as tips to help you stay safe from even the craftiest scammers. RECENT UTILITY SCAMS Scammers typically disguise themselves — either physically or digitally — as utility employees or representatives to steal consumers’ money or personal information. A common trick is to claim a consumer’s bill is past due and threaten to disconnect service if payment isn’t received immediately. Scammers approach consumers through a variety of means, including phone calls, text messages, emails and even in-person visits. However, the digital line of attack is increasingly more common. For example, new capabilities disguising caller ID or “spoofing” can make the phone number you see on caller ID appear to be from a trusted source. Spoofing makes it easier for scammers to deceive you because it’s more difficult to immediately verify the call. Another recent scam uses fraudulent websites that are identical to a utility payment webpage — and what’s worse, these pages are often promoted on search engines to trick consumers into clicking and making a payment. Another recent scam involves phone calls, text messages or emails claiming you overpaid your electric bill and will receive a cash or banking refund. This offer may seem too good to be true, and it is — it’s likely a scam aimed at stealing your personal information. SPOTTING A SCAM There are several red flags you can watch to identify an energy scam. Scammers often use high-pressure tactics to create a sense of urgency, like claiming your electricity or other services will be disconnected if a payment isn’t made immediately. Additionally, scammers may ask for unusual payment methods such as gift cards or cryptocurrency. If someone is pushing for an unusual payment method, it’s likely a scam. You’ve probably noticed that many digital scams, like emails or text messages, include poor grammar, spelling errors and odd email addresses. These are red flags, so when you see these dodgy forms of communication, consider it a potential scam. WHAT PGEC WILL (AND WON’T) DO PGEC will never demand an instant, immediate payment and threaten to disconnect your service without prior notice or warnings. We strive to resolve challenging situations and work with our members to avoid disconnects. We will never ask for your Social Security number or banking details over the phone or through email. We offer several secure payment options, including in-person, via our website ( pgec.coop ), or scheduled payments with AutoPay and bank draft via the SmartHub mobile app. AVOIDING SCAMS Whether in-person, over the phone or online, always be suspicious of an unknown individual claiming to be a co-op employee requesting banking or other personal information. We will only send you text messages if you have opted in for important alerts like outage updates. If you’re ever in doubt about a potential energy scam, just give us a quick call at 804-834-2424 so we can assist. We want to help protect you and our community against utility frauds, and by letting us know about potential scams, you can create the first line of defense. We encourage you to report any potential scams so we can spread the word and prevent others in our community from falling victim Previous Next

< Back Prince George Electric Co-op celebrates 2024 Summer Intern program Sep 20, 2024 Prince George Electric Cooperative had the pleasure of hosting two local students during its summer internship initiative. The co-op recently celebrated their 2024 summer interns, Mandy Lancaster and Ashton Holt. Mandy joined the co-op family in May as an IT intern. She is a 2020 graduate of Tidewater Academy in Wakefield and is currently pursuing her BS in Cybercrime at Old Dominion University. She says that the most beneficial part of the experience was the multitude of equipment and different platforms she learned about and worked on. “The intensity of the network infrastructure side of the company was so cool to learn and gather new information about.” Ashton joined the co-op family in June as a utility intern. Ashton is a recent graduate of Thomas Dale High School in Chester and plans to attend Virginia Tech University’s Agricultural Technology Program this fall. For Ashton, the co-op’s work environment stuck out most for him. “Everyone was super nice and very understanding as I learned the ins and outs of the business. It was not what I expected but in a good way. Being able to talk to experienced work professionals gave me insight into a different world.” “I would like to sincerely thank both Ashton and Mandy for their hard work this summer being a part of our team,” said Sarat Yellepeddi, the co-op’s president and CEO. “Embracing the values of hard work and dedication and being able to see those values demonstrated in a real work environment is an invaluable experience that I am glad we were able to provide.” For more information about intern and other youth opportunities that the co-op provides, be sure to stay tuned to our publications and social media platforms. Previous Next

Paperless Billing Home Account Management Billing Budget Billing Paperless Billing PrePay Ways to Pay Payment Assistance Help PGEC reduce its carbon footprint by signing up for paperless billing. Did you know for every 1,000 members who sign up for paperless billing, over 12,000 envelopes, 24,000 sheets of paper, and $5,000 in postage are saved each year? Check out how paperless benefits you and your Cooperative. Click below to sign up! If you are not currently signed up for online account access with SmartHub, CLICK HERE If you have an existing online account with SmartHub, CLICK HERE Paperless Benefits View your electric bill anytime with 24/7 access to your secure online information. Receive an automated e-mail notification when your monthly electric bill is ready. Easily review your electric usage, payment, and billing history. Pay your electric bill online for free. The following payment options allow for paperless billing: online bill payment through SmartHub, automatic bill pay (bank draft), recurring credit card payments, or bill pay service offered through your bank. If you have any questions about going paperless, please call us at 804-834-2424.

< Back August: Energy Efficiency tip of the month Aug 19, 2025 Small changes can make a big impact when it comes to your energy bill. This month's small change involves your cooling system's filter. Replace your cooling system’s filter regularly to maintain strong airflow and boost energy efficiency. A clean filter means your system doesn't have to work as hard, saving energy and lowering your utility bills. Factors like allergies and pets in the home can impact how often filters should be replaced. Check the filter every month and replace it as needed. Changing filters regularly also reduces wear and tear on your cooling system, helping extend the life of the unit. Previous Next

< Back Declutter your life one bill at a time with paperless billing Oct 26, 2023 It’s been eight years since member Cathy O’Donnell began her mission of decluttering her home with Prince George Electric Cooperative’s paperless billing. According to Experian Data Quality, the average person received almost 17 pieces of mail per week in 2021. This means that the average person would receive nearly 70 pieces of mail each month. For O’Donnell, that number was way too high. “We did not need the extra paper in our house,” she explains. Since 2015, she has intentionally reduced the pieces of mail arriving at her mailbox one by one by signing up to receive her bill via email each month. “We get an email when the bill is ready and it lets us know how much the bill is,” she says. “We also have SmartHub so we can see our daily usage. We are also set up on AutoPay so we know the amount that will draft on the due date.” The cooperative encourages members to join O’Donnell in taking advantage of its paperless billing option. Sign up via the SmartHub app today! Previous Next

We understand how busy life can get and managing your account can sometimes feel complicated. With our new SmartHub tool, it won’t be. We believe you deserve to have a tool that allows you to save time and money while giving you complete control to manage your entire account at anytime from anywhere. PGEC would like to introduce you to SmartHub, a service which allows you instant access to your account online or through our mobile app. More than 8,000 members have downloaded SmartHub. Features like billing and payment options, usage monitoring, and alerts and notifications will help put you in control of your account. Let’s take a look at some of those features. Round Up for Education Help local teachers purchase supplies and educational materials for their students by having your monthly bill rounded up to the next whole dollar with the extra pennies set aside for use by teachers of the area school of your choice. Sign up via SmartHub through Contact Us>Report an Issue> and then choosing Round Up Request in the Reason for Inquiry drop down box. Billing and Payment Options No more waiting for your bill to arrive in the mail. You can now view and pay your bill at anytime from anywhere. We believe finding time to pay your bill should be easy and convenient. You will save time with SmartHub AutoPay by setting up monthly automatic payments to eliminate the possibility of a missed payment or service disconnect. By activating the SmartHub Paperless Billing option, you can stay organized and access your bill online or through the mobile app. Help reduce your carbon footprint and never misplace your paper bill again! Usage Monitoring Like you, we realize how frustrating it can feel to open your paper bill at the end of the month to a higher-than-expected amount. Save money with SmartHub Usage Monitoring by eliminating the guess work and instantly accessing your monthly usage to make the right decision about your account. Alerts and Notifications Utilizing SmartHub allows you to stay up to date on important account notifications and outage communication with the Alerts and Notifications feature. You deserve to have real time updates in the event of an outage or service interruption without being left in the dark. You can get registered by visiting SmartHub . Activate features such as Usage Monitoring, Auto Pay, Paperless Billing, Alerts and more. Imagine the time and money you will save by having instant access to your account, not needing to place a call to make a payment, get a question answered, or get an update in the event of a service interruption! Imagine opening your bill and seeing an amount that is lower than you expected! SmartHub will help you save time and money by managing your account anywhere at anytime. Visit SmartHub to get registered today!

Our crews are on call and will respond 24 hours a day to restore service as quickly as possible. Call PGEC at 804-834-2424 Remember: Stay Away From Downed Power Lines! Outage Preparation Generator Safety Generators can be an invaluable source of power following a major storm. Safety considerations should be first and foremost when purchasing and installing a generator both for you and your family and for lineworkers. Please follow these guidelines: Never connect a generator directly to the electrical system of any building without the installation of a double-pole, double-throw transfer switch as required by the National Electrical Code. Always ground the generator's electrical system adequately to avoid electrocution. Always operate a generator in a clean, dry, well-ventilated area to avoid electrical shock and carbon monoxide poisoning. Never use worn, damaged, undersized, or ungrounded extension cords with a generator. Place the generator on a low-conductivity surface such as a concrete slab before operating. Never exceed the load capacity of a generator by attaching too many items or items with very high load ratings. This could result in a fire. Never attempt to refuel a generator while it is running or hot. Turn the engine off and allow it to cool before adding fuel. Have a fire extinguisher in the immediate area certified to handle fuel fires Before You Lose Power During an Outage Planned Outage Hurricane Resources During an Extended Outage Lightning Safety Additional Resources

PGEC in the Community ROC Solid Partnership Round Up for Education Youth Programs & Scholarships VMDAEC Scholarship Youth Tour Adopt-A-Highway Program Round Up for Education Help local teachers purchase supplies and educational materials for their students. Have your monthly bill rounded up to the next whole dollar with the extra pennies set aside for use by teachers of the area school of your choice! Just provide the following information: Name on Account, Account Number(s), School for Donation and Phone number. Ways to contribute: Sign up via SmartHub Sign up via email: Email the above information to info@pgec.coop. Sign up via mail: Complete the member sign up sheet and mail to P.O. Box 620, Waverly, VA 23890. Round Up Program Policy List of Approved Materials Reimbursement Voucher