The Town of Pine Knoll Shores has contracted with your electricity provider, Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative, to handle water meter readings, billing and customer service requests. Water meter readings will be captured the same time as those for electric service and will now be billed monthly in your electric bill from CCEC.
If you have questions concerning water bill or need field services, you will now need to call CCEC at 252.247.3107 or 1.800.682.2217. CCEC provides billing and customer service only; the town’s water department personnel is dispatched to perform all field work.
The new meter and bills will now show readings in gallons consumed (not per 1,000 gallons). The example here shows a reading of 357.35 gallons.
Click here for a flier describing how to read the new meter.
Sec. 54-16. Complaints and adjustments.
(a) If the user believes his bill to be in error, he shall present his claim to the town's utility billing representatives at Carteret Craven Electric Cooperative (CCEC) before the bill becomes delinquent. Such claim, if made after the bill has become delinquent, shall not be effective in preventing discontinuance of service as heretofore provided. The user may pay such bill under protest and said payment shall not prejudice his claim.
(b) Meters shall be tested for accuracy at the request of the user upon payment by the user of a nonrefundable fee as set forth by the board of commissioners in the town's fee schedule. If a meter proves to register more than two percent of the actual volume, the meter shall be replaced and the testing fee shall be credited to the customer's account.
(c) If the meter is broken by other than the town's public services department representative or if the meter fails to register correctly or is stopped for any cause, the user shall pay an amount estimated from a review of past 12 months of the account usage history.
(d) Water line maintenance, condition, and operability on the customer side of the water meter are the sole responsibility of the customer. This includes ensuring that all pipes, fittings, and fixtures from the meter to the home or business remain in good working order and free of leaks or damage.
- In the event of a possible water leak on the customer's side of the meter, CCEC will notify the town's public services department. CCEC will notify the water customer only once to alert them of the possible water leak.
(e) In the event of a water leak on the customer's side of the meter:
1. To apply for an adjustment:
- The billed amount shall be at least twice as much as the average monthly bill over the last 12 months from the date the leak is reported.
- The customer shall complete a water adjustment form which includes a signed statement or receipt from a North Carolina licensed plumber that the water leak has been repaired in a satisfactory manner.
2. All applications for billing adjustments for leaks must first be approved by the Town Manager before a customer's bill is adjusted.
- Adjustments will only be approved on a case-by-case basis and when the leak has occurred under extraordinary circumstances as determined by the Town Manager.
3. If approved, the Town Manager shall determine the percentage to be adjusted from the bill based on the circumstances of the leak. Leak adjustments shall not exceed one-half of the amount over the average water charges for the past year.
4. The user shall be allowed only one adjustment in a one-year period.
To review your account for an adjustment, you can complete the online form here or download a copy and deliver to Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative. A signed statement or receipt from a NC licensed plumber that the leak has been repaired is required. In absence of a statement from the plumber, you can contact CCEC to have a town employee dispatched to inspect the leak repair work.
Please review the "complaints and adjustments" information tab prior to completing the water leak adjustment form.
For the annual water quality and other information from the town water department, go to the town's website here.
With the new billing, you also have some new payment options. We realize that one size does not fit all, and that's why we have a variety of billing options, payment methods, as well as paperless billing. If you are ready to make your bill paying easier, consider these:
PowerPay 24
With PowerPay 24, you can pay your bill from any computer, smart phone or tablet, even when you are away from home. All data is encrypted to keep your personal information safe. You can use an e-check, debit card or credit card, and there’s no fee for this service.
Get started by clicking the PowerPay 24 icon on the CCEC website. You will be guided through the simple sign-up process on the secure site.
Whether you pay online or not, you can still use PowerPay 24 to view both your water and electric account and get details on your usage and billing history.
Automatic Draft
Automatic draft is a very popular payment option. Your monthly water and electric bills are paid by drafting automatically from your bank or credit card account. This option really takes the worry out of bill paying. Your account is drafted on an established date each month, and you don’t have to remember anything.
Check Free
You can authorize your bank to send us electronic payment each month to pay your electric bill. Check with your bank about the availability of this option and the length of time it takes for the payment to be transferred. We recommend setting the payment date at least 3 to 5 days in advance of the due date.
Mail or Walk-in
Of course, if none of the above payment options suit your style, you can still mail your bill payments, or drop them off at Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative’s office at 1300 Highway 24 in Newport or 450 McCotter Boulevard in Havelock. The mailing address is: PO Box 1490, Newport, NC 28570.
The Town of Pine Knoll Shores will no longer be taking bill payments at the town hall.
You can choose to have your monthly electric bill delivered via email, rather than by mail. This option is available through the PowerPay 24 site. Once you sign in, check the “no paper bill” option. Paperless billing is good for the environment and saves money.
