How do I become a UCEMC member?

You may download and complete a membership form below, and return it to your local UCEMC office. If you have any questions or need help completing the form, a member of our Consumer Services team will be happy to assist you when you come in to our office.

Membership Fee – A $5.00 Membership Fee must be taken out in the name of the person receiving the electric service.

• Residential Membership
• Commercial Membership

What defines a joint membership?

Please see section 1:04 in the Members Handbook for details.

If my power goes out, how do I report it?

If you experience a power outage, call your local UCEMC office immediately:

• Carthage: (After Hours) – 1-800-261-2940
• Gainesboro: (After Hours) – 1-800-261-2940
• Livingston: (After Hours) – 1-800-261-2940
• Cookeville: (After Hours)-  1-800-261-2940

Why is my bill higher this month?

Heating and cooling account for more than half of an average member’s electric bill. One way to save is to turn down your thermostat to 68 degrees (or lower) in the winter. Every degree of setback for eight hours a day can reduce heating bills by 1-3%. In the summer, turn up your thermostat to 78 degrees (or higher) in the summer. Every degree you raise your thermostat for eight hours a day in the summer can reduce cooling bills by 3-5%. Your HVAC unit runs longer during prolonged periods of extremely hot and bitterly cold weather because it’s working to keep your home interior at the temperature you have chosen on the thermostat. For specific information on HVAC replacement/rebates, click on the following link

I use gas to heat my home, why is my electric bill so high?

Gas furnaces have electric-powered blowers to move the hot air through the ductwork. To help maintain the desired temperature in your home, the furnace is running for longer periods of time. Electric humidifiers used during extremely cold weather could also add to increased energy consumption. Be sure to replace heating and cooling system filters once a month. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy use. Keeping the unit clean and properly adjusted will reduce energy use and save up to 5% on heating and cooling costs. Keep forgetting to do that? Tip: get in the habit of replacing your filter when you receive your monthly electric bill.

I use a space heater on the coldest days, why is my electric bill so high?

Using a space heater over long periods of time – especially in a large room – can lead to substantial energy costs. For example, a 1,500-watt space heater operating 12 hours a day will cost almost $50 each month. For more information on appliance energy costs and consumption visit ENERGY.GOV.

What else could contribute to high electric bills?

Do you have a heat pump? During extremely low temperatures, heat pumps switch to auxiliary or emergency heat to help heat the home and when activated, that can draw up to three times the amount of electricity. Reduce the temperature on your water heater for savings of 7 to 11%! Set the thermostat to the “normal” setting or 120 degrees, unless the owner’s manual for a dishwasher requires a higher setting. Make sure you turn off the breaker to your water heater before opening the panels. Insulate the first five feet of pipe coming out of the top of your water heater; or the entire length until the pipe goes into the wall if that is less than five feet. Check the lighting. Install Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs). CFLs are a good choice for home lighting because they use less energy than incandescent bulbs, produce the same output, and last up to 10 times longer. Each bulb can save $40 or more in electricity costs over its lifetime. Learn more about energy savings tips here.

Have rates gone up?

During the hottest days of summer and the bitter-cold days of winter, there is a common misconception that electric cooperatives increase the rates to make a profit. Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation is a not-for-profit, owned by those it serves, and has rates approximately 20% lower than the national average. 82 cents of every dollar collected by UCEMC is paid to Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for the power used by our members and the remaining 18 cents is used to operate the cooperative. Additional information regarding rates is available in our NEWSROOM. (Link Connects to TVA Rate increase press release.) 

How can I better manage and budget my energy bills each month?

You can save money with tips and tools to lower your energy usage. Check out our conservation tips featured throughout the UCEMC webpage. UCEMC offers Budget Billing to its residential members in equal monthly amounts for electric service at that specific location. The equal monthly amount is based on the member’s past use history, credit experience and other sources of information for future use at this location. The Budget Billing form can be reviewed here. Budget Billing Form


*Participate in PrePay. The POWER YOUR WAY program from Upper Cumberland Electric is an option for our members seeking an alternative way to pay for their service. The program allows participants to avoid a deposit and monthly bills, customize their payment schedule, purchase energy when convenient, and monitor their own consumption. Learn more here. 

Energy Right Services
Water Heater
Valley Renewable Energy

Services
Info Package for New Service

Programs
Alternate Pay Date
Bank Draft
Budget Billing
Project Help

TVA provides regulatory oversight for your local power company’s rates and service practices. If you have an issue or complaint that you have not been able to resolve with your local power company, TVA’s Complaint Resolution Process may be able to help.

There are four ways to begin the process:

1) www.tva.com/complaintresolution
2) complaintresolution@tva.gov
3) Call toll-free 1-888-289-8409