SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATION REA still having to type in my own meter readings, getting different billings on paper statements and internet account, was told I could be paying to much Texarkana , Arkansas

I was told when I turned the electric on that I had to either type in my meter readings on website every month or mail them in around the 27th of every month back in February 2012 right when we purchased the home in TEXARKANA, TEXAS.  

Today 12/18/2012
After receiving a statement back in October claiming that my bill was 600 dollars for electric (my electric has continually gone up since I have moved in the home. It started at 126 the first month I moved into my home of January 2012 and seems to be now around 200.00 a month December 2012. I live in Texas our winters are mild, espcially this year it has been steady high of 60-70 degrees.

After calling REA to ask what is going on with the bill oh plus I had received a shut off notice even though I had paid my bill and the money was taken out of my account. I am told today several things that are contrary to above meter reading date should be the 27th of each month.

First the lady at REA says meter readings need to go in on the 22nd. I said why was I told it should be in there around the 27th.  REA staff said I dont know why you think that. I said it is nothing I am thinking it is what one of your staff TOLD me to do almost a year ago.  The lady at REA said well I do not know who you talked to or why they told you that.

Then I said okay let me get this straight I said well now that I have put this months reading in on December 7th  I need to put it in again in 4 days. She said no you can just put it in every month on the 7th I said you just told me that it needed to go in on the 22nd of every month. She said no I did not you need to have it in every month before the 22nd. Then I said why dont I just put it in every week since you all really have no clue when I am supposed to put it in.

She said I really dont think thats a good idea because you will get overcharged. I said oh really so I can get overcharged. She said oh yes. I said oh that is also interesting because I have brought this up before that I believe you have over charged me the last time I called and was told that could never happen. She at this point said I dont know why you are getting so upset. I got upset because she started talking about my kilowats and how I should be able to calculate when I need to put in my meter reading, as if my goal in life was to work for a electric cooperative service for free and be an expert in energy and do their work by typing in meter readings. She said I really do not understand the problem. I said because I get a bill from you all through the mail that says one thing like my electric will be shut off but it says something different on my online account such as I do not currently owe you anything. And I continue to get bills that say shut off when it has been paid. I get bills that say I owe 600 dollars when I really owe $168.00 - then I am penalized for not putting in a meter reading before the 22nd of each month when you all have told me different dates.

The staff at REA are rude even when they make a mistake I believe you all can get away with it because unfortunately we do not get to choose what electric company we get to go to

This COOP is thumbs down on my list and it should be illegal for you all to stay in business. You all need to change the way you do business until then I will continue to pray that my home which is on Texas side (HOWEVER UNFORTUNATELY HAS TO DEAL WITH AN ARKANSAS COMPANY SUCH AS REA) will change to another electric service that has nothing to do with REA and has nothing to do with plugging in your own meter readings. REA GET WITH THE CHANGE OF TECHNOLOGY you all made 50 - 100 million dollars last year in revenues can you not afford to put digital meter readings in all of your customers homes. No because you do not care that your lack of technological advances causes home owners  stress due to all of the billing this inadequacy makes.  Furthermore, I know you have people making a fortune on us folks move up with the technological age and do something about home owners having to type in their own meter readings. Unfortunately if I know what I know now about REA YOU BET MY MANY BOTTOM DOLLARS I HAVE GIVEN TO YOU BECAUSE I HAVE TO I would have based on buying my home in an area where electric services did not come from you all. PEACE AND MAY GOD BE WITH YOUR CEO AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR YOU AND KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.