Prepaid

Prepaid is a program that allows you to purchase your electricity before you use it. The amount of prepaid electricity in your account balance decreases daily as you use electricity.

Benefits of Prepaid

Prepaid is designed to make your life a little easier. Timely information about your energy usage can help you be more energy-conscious and reduce your energy consumption, which means lower bills! And you pay anytime, anywhere—for on-the-go convenience.

  • No deposit necessary: Prepaid accounts won’t require a security deposit. If you currently have a deposit on your account and you’re switching to prepaid, it will be applied to your Prepaid account as a credit.
  • No late fees: Prepaid accounts are not subject to late, disconnect, or reconnect fees.
  • No due dates: Make payments whenever you want. Any time, any day! Just try to maintain a minimum credit balance of $5 at all times.
  • No paper clutter: Once your Prepaid account is established, you’ll no longer receive a monthly paper bill. All usage and account balance information can be handled through our SmartHub app.
  • Easy budgeting: As long as you maintain a $5 minimum credit balance, you choose when to pay and what to pay. Prepaid is designed for easy budgeting!

Questions? Please call us at (877) 265-3211.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Prepaid?
Prepaid is a program that allows you to purchase your electricity before you use it. The amount of prepaid electricity in your account balance decreases daily as you use electricity.

How do I know if Prepaid is right for me?
There are several things to consider before enrolling in Prepaid:

  • Continued electric service depends on you prepaying for service on a timely basis.
  • If your current balance falls below $0, you will receive a notification (based on your preferences) and your service will be disconnected shortly thereafter.
  • You must be able to receive certain notifications by phone or electronic methods (text, email, and app notifications).
  • You will not receive a monthly paper bill through the mail.
Why would Prepaid be a good choice for me?
There are several reasons Prepaid might be right for you:

  • Do you prefer to pay as you go?
  • Do you prefer not to pay a deposit or late fees?
  • Do you want to monitor and possibly reduce your energy usage?
Who is eligible for Prepaid?
Most Central Lincoln residential customers and some small commercial service customers are eligible for Prepaid. Some exceptions may apply.
How do I sign up for Prepaid?
Contact Central Lincoln at (877) 265-3211 or come into one of our three offices to sign up for Prepaid.
Is there a fee to sign up for Prepaid?
There is no fee to sign up for Prepaid at this time.
How do I get the alerts and notifications?
Alerts and notifications are sent through your SmartHub account. To be enrolled in the Prepaid program, you’re required to have a SmartHub account. SmartHub allows you to pay your bill, track usage, and much more. It’s free to sign up—just visit clpud.org. You can also download the SmartHub app for iOS or Android through the various app stores.
Do I have to have an email address and a cell phone?
You must provide an email address to create a SmartHub account, and Prepaid requires you to receive electronic notifications. A smartphone is recommended but not required.
How do I manage my Prepaid account and view my balance?
You can track your electric usage and your Prepaid balance within your SmartHub account. This is where you make your payments as well.
How much of a credit do I have to maintain on my Prepaid account?
We recommend you maintain at least a $5.00 credit balance at all times, but you will not be disconnected unless your credit balance is depleted.
What happens if I get disconnected?
If service has been disconnected due to a depleted credit balance, you will be required to pay the amount owing plus an additional $5.00 to re-establish a credit balance. This can be done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.
When do disconnects happen?
Disconnects will happen 365 days a year, with the exception of Central Lincoln holidays.
Once I have been disconnected, how long does it take to get reconnected after I pay?
Assuming you paid the balance owed plus the $5.00 minimum credit, your meter should reconnect within minutes. If you have paid and you have not been reconnected within 15 minutes, please give us a call at (877) 265-3211.

Terms and Conditions

Learn about the terms for billing on the Prepaid Terms and Conditions page.