March 23, 2020

Palmer, AK – To ensure the safety of our employees and our members MEA has taken several measures (listed below) to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and is following all mandates and recommendations set forth by the state and CDC.

Member Offices Closed to General Public Until Further Notice

Our member offices located in Eagle River, Wasilla and Palmer are closed to the general public. For assistance with signing up for service, discontinuing service, or account management Members can contact our service representatives by phone. Members in the Mat-Su can call 907-761-9300 and members in Eagle River/Chugiak can call 907-689-9300 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Manage Your Account Online

MEA provides members with a convenient and safe way to manage their account with SmartHub. In your SmartHub account you can pay your bill, monitor your daily electric usage, and report an outage all from your phone, tablet or desktop. Visit www.mea.coop and click on the “Account Login” icon on the homepage to sign up.

Payment Arrangements for Members Impacted by COVID-19

For members who are having difficulty making payments due to financial hardships caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, please contact our Member Services department to make payment arrangements. Our member service phone lines are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Members in the Mat-Su can call 907-761-9300. Members in Eagle River and Chugiak can call 907-689-9300.

Annual Meeting Postponed, Election Continues as Scheduled

In a Special Meeting held on Friday March 20, the MEA Board of Directors unanimously voted to postpone the Annual Membership Meeting (scheduled in April) until the CDC says it’s safe to hold large gatherings again. Members will receive an official meeting notice when a new date is set. The Board also voted to continue the membership election as scheduled. Included in this year’s election are proposed bylaw changes, an advisory vote, and two District Board seats. 

Members have the option to vote online through their SmartHub account or by mail. At the end of March, members will receive an election packet in the mail that includes a ballot and return envelope. However, with the current circumstances surrounding the coronavirus, we are encouraging our members to vote online with your SmartHub account. Prize drawings will be done weekly for those who vote online. Online voting will close on April 20 at 5:00 p.m. and mailed in ballots must be received by April 20. For questions regarding the election and your ballot, please contact our Election Overseer’s Help Hotline at (855) 761-9111.

Maintaining Operations and Electric Service

We recognize providing power to our members is an essential service. In order to maintain the health and safety of our staff, additional steps have been taken at MEA. Employees who can work from home are being encouraged to do so. Employee contact within the workplace has also been limited with primary communications occurring by phone and email. For those who must be physically present at work, additional sanitation and disinfecting supplies has been provided. All employees who have traveled within the past three weeks are taking a mandatory two-week home quarantine. Our executive team has also developed a contingency plan if other situations arise to ensure we have pertinent operations personnel such as dispatchers, linemen, and plant operators available. We are monitoring the coronavirus pandemic daily and will adjust our operations accordingly to continue to provide seamless power service to our members.

Reduce Your Energy Use

We know that with school and business closures as a result of the coronavirus, we will likely be spending more time at home and possibly using more electricity. Heat and light sources tend to use the most energy. Here are some ways you can reduce your energy use at home:

Swap out primary lighting fixtures with LED bulbs (LED’s can use up to 10xs less energy and last for up to 25 years compared to incandescent lights).

Limit activity on electronic devices that use continuous power such as gaming consoles, computers, and televisions.

Use electronic power strips for devices that you can turn off when not in use.

Set your thermostat to a lower temperature and wear additional layers around the house to stay warm.

Turn lights off in a room when not in use (sometimes sign reminders by the entrance and light switch can help us to remember, especially our kiddos in training).

For additional energy efficiency tips, visit: https://www.mea.coop/energyefficiency/