In the eight Western Tennessee counties served by Gibson Electric Membership Corp., a member can pay as little as $40 for electric service – and continue to pay as much as they want whenever they want – in Gibson EMC’s Pay-As-You-Go program.

That’s the minimum that Gibson EMC asks customers to pay as part of that pre-pay electric service program and, as their balance winds down for only four or fewer days of power, members are alerted via E-mail or in-home display to increase their balance.

No monthly bill.

Members can monitor and manage their balance in order to avoid disconnection. And because they are paying in advance, these members can avoid paying the traditional deposit required for service.

That’s the reality for 34,674 Gibson EMC members in Gibson, Obion, Lake, Dyer, Lauderdale, Crockett, Haywood and Madison counties.

Why not in Shelby County?

Shelby County does not have the advanced metering infrastructure that Gibson EMC does. Gibson EMC has 100 percent advanced metering; the pilot program began in 2005 and was fully implemented in 2007.

Through advanced metering, members have access to detailed information that can improve their energy awareness and efficiency.

Members still have the option of traditional billing, along with its deposits, but about eight out of every 10 new members choose Gibson EMC’s Pay-Go program.