Meigs County residents who receive electricity from Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative now have new options for paying their monthly bills.

People’s Bank branches at Rutland, Middleport, and Pomeroy started accepting BREC bill payments in February.

“We are delighted to have this association with People’s Bank,” said Linda Ratliff, BREC customer service manager. “The bank’s cooperation means more convenience for our co-op members living in and around Meigs County.”

Only in-person cash, money order, or check payment transactions (no mailed payments) will be accepted. It is required that the payee present his or her electric bill. The bank branches will not charge a transaction fee for this service,

“For People’s Bank patrons and other residents, having local payment stations will be a real benefit,” Ratliff said.

Branch offices of People’s Bank are located on Salem Street in Rutland, on Second Avenue in Middleport, and on Second Street in Pomeroy.

BREC payment stations accept current bill payments but do not negotiate arrangements on delinquent bills nor provide any other type of customer or member service.

Other businesses serving as BREC payment stations in the co-op’s nine-county service territory include:

• The Detour at Wellston;

• The Zone in Jackson;

• Hogo Wireless in Jackson;

• Matthews Family Foods at Beaver;

• Hocking Hills Bank branches in Albany, Athens, and The Plains;

• Dickess Market at Aid;

• Gallipolis Foodland on Jackson Pike.

Payment stations may charge a transaction fee for accepting BREC electric bill payments. If you use a payment station, please be aware that the payment will not immediately be posted to your account and you might not avoid a late penalty. In most cases, the payment will posted the next day.

Payment stations do not have the means of checking amounts owed, so you must have the bill with you.

Of course, BREC customer service centers at Rio Grande headquarters (State Route 325, south) and in Lawrence County (State Route 217 next to the Willow Wood post office) accept bill payments Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., in addition to new electric service applications and other requests.