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The Value of Going Paperless
Saving Money for the Co-op AND its Members

  By: Steve Sokolowski, Marketing & Member Services Associate

  Email: ssokolowski@sussexrec.com

More and more members are adopting paperless billing as their preferred means to get their electric bill. While some may prefer to get their bills by mail, I’m here to make the case for why this convenient online billing method is better for everyone involved!

When you switch to paperless billing through your account at www.srecbillpay.com, your monthly electric bill will no longer be sent to you by mail. Instead, it will be sent directly to your preferred email address as soon as it’s generated.

In addition to the convenience of getting your bill online, paperless billing also avoids postal issues that can cause your bill or payment to arrive late (or not arrive at all...). It also removes unneeded paper waste, which makes up roughly 26% of landfills.

On top of all these benefits, paperless billing is an important way for the Co-op, and thus its members, to save money! Sussex REC is a not-for-profit co-op that operates at cost. Among the important costs covered by our monthly System Connection Fee are those associated with billing—for traditional mailed bills, that’s the printing and mailing costs. These expenses have risen steadily over recent years, coinciding with increases in paper prices and postage.

This can cost utilities up to $6 per invoice, which adds up over time! When a member switches to paperless billing, it removes those costs from the equation, reducing expenses which would have to be covered by the membership. Once you enroll, you are always able to switch back if you want to go back to mailed statements.

For another convenient online option, try Auto Pay! Auto Pay ensures your bill is paid on-time each month, automatically. Even better, using a bank account as your payment method means you’re never charged credit card convenience fees.

If you haven’t yet made the switch to paperless or Auto Pay, or don’t even have an online account, I encourage you to try them out to see if they work for you!