Four new payment stations began accepting Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative bills this fall. Local businesses in Jackson, Beaver, and Wellston now accept current electric bill payments from BREC members. Only bill payment service is offered, and members must have their bill or know the amount owed and their account number.

This brings to nine the number of businesses serving as BREC payment stations.

“We certainly appreciate businesses that help our members by accepting their electric bill payments,” said Steve Oden, vice president of Member Services and Public Relations. “BREC has consumers in nine counties. We realize that it is costly and inconvenient for some of our members to drive to one of the offices. Payment stations help to provide an alternative.”

The new payment stations include:

• Matthews Family Foods at Beaver;

• The Detour at Wellston;

• The Zone and Hogo Wireless in Jackson.

Mathews Family Foods is located at 5556 Beaver Pike in Beaver. The family-owned supermarket will accept only cash payments for electric bill remittances, no checks. However, a bank branch is located inside the store.

The Detour is a locally-owned Exxon service station, convenience store, and deli located on St. Rt. 327 North at Wellston. Take Exit 17 off Highway 32, turn toward Wellston, and look for the red roof of the Exxon station. The Detour will accept BREC electric bill payments from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.

The Zone is a video, tanning, and cellular store with adjacent pizza restaurant located on East Huron St. in Jackson, across from the old Jackson High School football field and beside Sav-A-Lot grocery.

Hogo Wireless is located at 1029 East Main St. in Jackson.

Oden emphasized that only current electric bills can be accepted at the payment stations.

“No payment arrangements or other types of business can be conducted. BREC members should not remit mail payments there.”

The businesses serving as a payment stations are entitled to charge a transaction fee for this service.

Other BREC payment stations are located at Hocking Hills Bank branches in Albany, Athens, and The Plains; Dickess Market at Aid; and Gallipolis Foodland on Jackson Pike.