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SEC Launches Free Mobile-Friendly

   Written by on July 31, 2013 at 5:05 pm

‘App’ for Smartphone Users

Members of Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) can now use a smartphone to pay bills, view and report outages, and even submit a photo.  In response to the membership’s growing demand for more flexible bill-payment options, and a steady increase in smartphone users, SEC has created a ‘native’ mobile application that can be downloaded for use on most mobile devices, including Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android platforms.  In addition, SEC’s website www.sec.coop is now “mobile-friendly” for users navigating the web on a smartphone.

“We believe this will bring a new level of value to our membership,” noted Jeff Edwards, president and CEO of Southside Electric Cooperative.  “SEC members told us that a mobile app was something that would make their lives easier, and that’s what drove this.  We think it will help especially during storm-related outages, but the ‘Quick Pay’ feature will also be a great new tool for members on the go.”

A key feature of SEC’s new mobile app, ‘Quick Pay’ allows members to make a payment from a smartphone without logging into the SEC online account system.  All that is needed is the billing account number and the member’s last name.

“The app is easy to use, and it’s a powerful new tool with a variety of functions.  Most people are looking for ways to manage their bills more efficiently and with less hassle these days, so it just made sense to develop this for our members,” added Dan Hammond, manager of finance and corporate services.

The app also allows members to read co-op news releases, find office locations, and contact SEC via email or phone.  The “Outages” tab will give members a choice between viewing the SEC outage map and reporting an outage by phone.  During extreme weather or emergencies, SEC encourages customers to use all available communication methods to report outages and receive up-to-date restoration information.

Since its initial ‘soft’ launch in early June, the SEC mobile app has had more than 600 downloads.  Members can search for “Southside Electric Cooperative” in the Apple App Store or the Google Play/Android Marketplace to download the app for free.

Headquartered in Crewe, SEC is a member-owned electric distribution utility serving more than 54,000 residential and commercial meters throughout southern and central Virginia.  For more information about SEC’s new mobile app, please visit www.sec.coop/content/sec-mobile-app.

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