Billing FAQs

What are your office hours

Our office hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 
We do have a drive up window at our service building, which is open those same hours and is open Mon - Fri 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM and on Saturday from 9:00 AM, until Noon.

When will I get billed

When you sign up for service your location will be assigned to a meter reading route. When your meter has been read, your bill will normally be generated and mailed the next business day.

When will the bill be due

Your bill will be due in 17 days after the billing.

How can I make my payments

You can pay by check, money order, or cash by visiting our service center or mailing the payment in the return envelope we include in the bill. You may also pay using a credit card (Mastercard, Visa and Discover) by filling out the necessary information on the remittance slip or by having your checking or savings account set up on a monthly automatic debit program.

Can I make payments after the office is closed

Yes. We have two payment depositories. One is at our service center and the other is at the municipal building on Pike Street in Crawfordsville.

What is your disconnection policy

CEL&P works hard to notify you of your status, before we disconnect your service. We will send a late penalty notice after the first 17 days from the mailing date of the bill. Then we will make every effort to contact you by phone or place a door hanger on your home prior to the disconnect date. Also by the disconnect date, you will most likely have received the next months bill with a notice on it along with the disconnect date. If, on the 35th day after the bill in question remains unpaid, CEL&P will implement disconnection procedures.

Do you have a special payment program for needy customers

There are programs available for those customers who need help paying their bills in the colder months. There are several local agencies that can help along with a state funded program called Project Safe for the winter months. We also have a program that will allow you to ask for an extension for payment of your bill. This extension is only available one time during a calendar year.

If I feel that my bill is abnormally high what can I do

There are a couple of things you can do. You can request a second reading if you feel the meter reading was in error. You can also request to have your meter tested for its accuracy. You can have the meter tested once every 36 months at no charge. The request for the meter must be in writing. If a subsequent meter test is required within next 36 months, a fee may be charged. See Appendix B.

Signing on & off your service

What are your office hours

Our office hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. We do have a drive up window at our service building, which is open those same hours and is open Mon - Fri 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM and on Saturday from 9:00 AM, until Noon.

How do I sign up for service

Customers who need their service hooked up must complete a contract for service form by visiting the CEL&P Service building at 808 Lafayette Rd, in Crawfordsville. You will need to complete an application for service and have a photo ID. Here are things we will need to know:

Residential Service

• Service Address
• Name of Responsible Party
• Mailing Address
• Social Security Number or Drivers License Number
• Date of Birth
• Daytime Phone Number
• Employers Name
• Address and Phone of your employer
• Length of Employment
• Plus a few others

Commercial Service

• Same as above plus business type

Partnership

• Same as above plus the federal tax ID number, state ID number and the names and addresses for all of the partners.

Corporation

• Same as above plus the date of incorporation, and the names of all of the corporate officers.

Will I be required to pay a security deposit

Maybe. First we will verify your payment history at another utility. If you have been a customer of an electric utility (CEL&P or another utility) within the last two years and have a satisfactory payment record utility you may not need a to make a deposit. What we look for is if you have any outstanding bills, have been late in your payments twice within a 12-month period, or if you have been disconnected for non-payment. If you can get a letter of reference from your previous utility that will help a great deal. We also have two other criteria we check before we make a determination on a deposit requirement. If you own or are buying a home and have lived in the location for more than two years we may not require a deposit. Also if a bank or a credit card company has extended you credit and you have not been in default more than twice in the last twelve months, you may not need to make a deposit.

Will my security deposit be refunded

Your deposit will always be refunded. When your history indicates that you have been on our system for 12 months, without having more than 2 late payments, the deposit will be applied to your bill.

How long will it take to get my service hooked up

Your service will normally be hooked within one business day, often the same day. However, it depends upon the workload of the metering department at the time. If you need it the same day, be sure to sign up before noon that day. The service should always be hooked up within three business days. If the connection is a new installation, additional time may be required to plan and construct our facilities. For new installations, please call us as soon as possible..

What do I need to do to disconnect my service

If you want to have your service disconnected you will need to visit our service center again and complete the paperwork. However, if you are a customer in good standing, we accept a phone calls or a fax as a method of notification. It is necessary to have the person who signed up the service to complete the disconnect information.