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LAKELAND ELECTRIC TO CLOSE DOWNTOWN PAYMENT OFFICE |
LAKELAND, FL (July 22, 2008) -- Lakeland Electric’s downtown payment office located at 501 East Lemon Street will permanently close effective October 1, 2008. The City of Lakeland Utility Committee recently voted 11-3 to follow staff recommendations to close the downtown payment lobby and drive thru.
Staff recommended closing the payment location after reviewing a recently conducted efficiency study that evaluated the payment process. About 25% of Lakeland Electric’s current payment transactions are handled at the downtown payment location. The other 75% are handled through other services such as mail or online.
Lakeland Electric must staff heavily to service the large number of cash customers that appear in the lobby or drive-thru on most Mondays and Fridays. Lines are long and wait times are lengthy on those busy days. On the remaining days of the week there is relatively little utilization of the services available at that location.
After analyzing the total cost for walk-in/drive-thru service and reviewing the current list of off-site payment locations, it was evident that these transactions can be handled much more efficiently by businesses that are better equipped to accept cash payments from customers. Most of these alternative payment locations are closer to customer’s homes and places of work, making it more convenient for them, especially during these times of $4 per gallon gasoline.
There are over 40 payment locations in the Lakeland Electric service area including some Amscot locations that are open 24 hours and Lakeland area SunTrust Banks offer drive-thru service. Customers can continue to make cash payments at these locations. The services provided at SunTrust are free of charge, and the $1 service fee normally charged by Amscot will be paid by Lakeland Electric for one year starting August1, 2008. Utility customers that are on a payment arrangement can still make cash payments at any of the alternative payment locations.
Lakeland Electric customers can make last minute payments at most of the off-site payment locations to avoid a scheduled cut-off and to have electric service reconnected. The electronic files are automatically updated to Lakeland Electric throughout the day. However, customers paying after 4 p.m. who want a same day reconnect must call Lakeland Electric customer service before 8 p.m. with a confirmation number in order the have power reconnected after a scheduled cut-off.
Lakeland Electric customers have several ways to pay their utility bill. Customers can pay online either as a one-time payment or they can utilize eBilling. eBilling is convenient and there is no additional cost or user fee. Customers can pay by phone using the automated services line at 863-834-9535 or they can pay by mail using the return envelope included with every statement. Lakeland Electric also has Easy Pay that is an automatic monthly electronic funds transfer. With this program a customer’s utility bill payment is automatically withdrawn from their bank account each month.
Lakeland Electric has also partnered with over 40 alternative payment locations throughout the Lakeland area that will take cash payments in person. These payment alternatives include Amscot, Fidelity Agents, Western Union and Lakeland SunTrust Banks. For a full list of locations including addresses and contact numbers, please visit our website at www.lakelandelectric.com or contact us by phone at 863-834-9535.
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