Chugach electric association

I was impacted by Covid and filled out their financial hardship form in the end of 2020. I went in their office in person with my family and was explained how the form works and filled it up and signed it. I was also able to pay my account that day but I wanted to have a safety net with the form in case of months where I am unable to pay.
Now is March 2021 and I just called them to double check if the form is still valid since it was last year and I wasn t told if it expires. The customer service lady on the phone said there is no form on file for me, and I never filled it out. There was some notes about me going there in person BUT not filling out the form, which is absolutely an unpleasant surprise. I mean this is a financial hardship paperwork , it s probably not a good idea to make mistakes with it like that.

Just heads up for those of you that might have been impacted by Covid and have filled out the paperwork but have not really needed to go behind with your bills. If that s your case- do call them to make sure they have it on file. I never checked until now because the man who was working that day and helped me fill it out told me that I will continue getting the same type of letters and even phone calls in regards to my electric bill since their system is automatic and sends messages etc out without indicating that paperwork has been filled out.

Anyways I am a bit upset at this point but at least thankfully I have not had to go behind on my electric bill more than 1 month at a time

This is why I give them 3 stars, because they are still nice enough to explain on the phone but it s absolutely insane they didn t put the paperwork in their system. How about if I was a person who actually is counting on this paperwork and had no means to go back to their office if I am in a financial hardship and had no car or money for a bus ticket- would they leave me without power in the middle of winter just because they can t keep up with their paperwork ? Who knows ???

Thanks for reading

They double billed me after assuring me I wouldn't be double billed, now I have to call in and get a refund which I have been told I probably won't get

The lady that is customer service has always been really helpful to me. When I had trouble paying on time she helped me get a extention

You miss a payment, and you need to come in to the physical address to pay your bill, and you are only open from 8-5 Mon-Fri. I hate to be "that person" but this is one of the most classist things I have seen. Do you really think that people who are paying for electric, people who work full time jobs, people with transportation issues, people who are already struggling to make do, can do this? This procedure is designed to put the lower class into debt, and it is disgusting. And it's not like we have any other options to choose from. Chugach Electric says "Providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity through superior service and sustainable practices, powering the lives of our members." absolutely not. SAFE by forcing people to time off of work, and losing money that they don't already have just to pay a bill in person? RELIABLE by forcing people to only pay their bill in person which is obviously only convenient for the pocket of the Chugach Electric company? AFFORDABLE by forcing people to leave their jobs just to pay more money that could just be paid online? SUPERIOR SERVICE compared to "all of the other electric companies we can pick from"? SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES by being the monopoly of an electricity to a city mostly comprised of the lower class? I guess they're pretty SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES for Chugach Electric to not use up electricity if the people who couldn't pay them in person don't have a home to pay for electricity. POWERING THE LIVES OF OUR MEMBERS which your members include the working class that can't make it to your out of the way office because they are already short on time and money. Chugach Electric, if you were really trying to do ANY of the things that you say you are doing, you could start by letting people pay online, whenever, and wherever they can.

Called today to change names on an electric bill. I spoke with Joy she was very helpful and offered additional resources, unprompted that will really help me in the future! It was a quick and easy call as well no long wait on hold.

Wish there was an alternative for power here in Anchorage.

The worst customer service and by far the worst utility in Anchorage. Forced to use them because of no alternative. Makes sense why they could still be in business and have such a low rating. They do not care. I would rather pay a hamster to run on a wheel for power then to use these guys.

Extra star for providing our power...even though it all too often goes out. Work had to be done on a transformer pad just out back within view of our condo. First in 2019, and while in the process, 3 tall trees were killed. The trees still stand today dead on the bottom, with 2 still struggling to survive on top. Chugach Electric's recent blunder happened just yesterday when they had to come out yet once again to work on the same transformer pad. Apparently, instead of taking the marked, paved entrance to the park, their mini excavator was taken across the grass thereby severely damaging it. As members of the board, we now have to pursue a case in order to get Chugach to cover the cost of having the lawn repaired. Way to go Chugach. Hey, at least they posted a warning on our door regarding the power outage that would have to take place in order to work on the transformer pad. Unfortunately, the power went out one hour before the time listed. Pitiful customer service.

They turned off my electric with no notice then added my grandmas debt to my account without my permission and when I asked them to remove my grandma from my account they said they won t until her past due balance is paid If I knew of any other electrical company I would switch

The payment portal is terrible, to call in to pay is just as bad. I m going back to a paper bill.