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Prepaid Electric Service

What is Prepaid?

Prepaid metering is exactly what it sounds like, a service that allows members to pay for electricity before it is used. Instead of receiving a traditional monthly paper bill, your electric usage is calculated daily. Members can make payments whenever they choose and in the amount that works best for them.

Prepaid service is available only for single-phase residential accounts with a 200-amp service or less.

How It Works

Prepaid accounts must maintain a credit balance to keep electricity connected. If the balance runs out before the daily disconnect time of 11:00 a.m., service will be disconnected and will remain off until a payment is made. Once payment is received, service will automatically reconnect. Listed below are some important pieces of information to keep in mind.

• A credit balance appears with a minus (-) sign. A positive balance means money is owed.

• Disconnections do not occur on weekends or holidays when the office is closed.

• If the service is disconnected, any outstanding balance plus $0.01 must be paid before service is reconnected.

• There are no additional fees added to the prepaid program.

• Low-balance notifications are sent via email or text message, helping you stay informed and avoid interruption.

• Your electricity rate under the prepaid program is the same as the regular billed rate.

Online Portal

Members enrolled in prepaid service must have a SmartHub account to monitor their prepaid balance. Through SmartHub, you can:

• Track your daily electric usage

• View daily charges

• Monitor account balance

• Make payments anytime

• Modify notification settings

Payment Options

Contributor: Courtney Mendoza

Payments can be made in multiple convenient ways including:

• Online through SmartHub

• Using the SmartHub mobile app

• Over the phone

• In person at our office

• Using the office drop box

• At cash-accepting payment locations (available locations can be found using the locator within SmartHub)

It is important to note that prepaid accounts are not eligible for payment extensions. If there is a debt recovery balance, 50% of any payment made will go toward that balance.

What Are the Benefits?

Prepaid service offers several advantages, including:

• No deposit required for new members

• No large monthly lump-sum bill

• Greater awareness of daily energy usage

• Potential for lower electric consumption

• No late charges

• Going green with no monthly paper statement

Because members can see their daily usage, many find it easier to manage their energy habits and control costs.

How to Sign Up

New or existing members interested in prepaid service must visit the office to review and sign the prepaid agreement. If you would like more information about prepaid metering, please contact our office at 765-544-2600. Our team will be happy to answer your questions and help determine if prepaid service is an option for your household.

responsible material management: Powering Sustainability

At RushShelby Energy, reliability is not the only thing we deliver to our members, we are equally committed to protecting the environment and building a more sustainable future. One of the most impactful ways we do that is through responsible material management, including the recycling of used utility poles.

Every year, electric utilities across the country replace thousands of utility poles due to aging infrastructure, storm damage, and system upgrades. While essential to maintaining reliable service, these replacements also create a significant challenge: what to do with the retired materials. Without proper handling, these poles, often treated for durability, can contribute to landfill overcrowding and pose environmental risks.

That is where responsible material management becomes critical.

Turning Waste into Opportunity

Instead of sending retired poles to landfills, recycling programs give these materials a second life. Wood utility poles can be repurposed into fencing, landscaping materials, trail structures, and other practical uses.

This approach not only reduces landfill volume, but also conserves natural resources and supports a circular economy, where materials are reused rather than discarded. In fact, recycling can significantly reduce landfill contributions and lessen the need for new raw materials.

Proper recycling is especially important because many older wood poles are treated with preservatives, which require careful handling to prevent environmental contamination. By diverting these materials into controlled recycling streams, utilities like RushShelby Energy help minimize environmental burden while staying compliant with safety and environmental regulations.

Partnering for Practical Sustainability

RushShelby Energy is proud to partner with Blackwood Solutions, an industry leader in utility pole recycling and material management. Since 2017, Blackwood has processed more than 400,000 tons of material with zero reported environmental incidents, demonstrating what is possible when sustainability is done right.

Blackwood’s approach aligns closely with RushShelby Energy’s values. They believe sustainability must be practical, measurable, and grounded in real-world execution, not just a concept, but a process that delivers tangible results. Through efficient collection, transportation, and repurposing systems, they help utilities turn what was once considered waste into valuable resources.

As part of this partnership, RushShelby Energy no longer distributes retired utility poles from our onsite location. Instead, Blackwood Solutions now manages the distribution process directly, providing poles to members at zero cost. This streamlined approach improves efficiency, ensures proper handling, and supports our shared commitment to sustainability.

If you are interested in obtaining a retired utility pole or learning more about the program, please visit www.bwoodsolutions.com or scan the QR code below.

Reducing Environmental Impact, One Pole at a Time

By prioritizing responsible material management, RushShelby Energy is actively reducing landfill use, lowering environmental risk, and supporting smarter resource utilization. Programs like these prove that even the most routine parts of utility operations, like replacing a pole, can have a meaningful impact when approached with sustainability in mind.

At RSE, we are committed to doing our part to protect the communities we serve, not just by keeping the lights on, but by ensuring the way we operate today supports a cleaner, more sustainable tomorrow. The image on the next page shows our 2025 statistics. Source: www.bwoodsolutions.com

Blackwood Solutions

You are cordially invited to RushShelby Energy's 2026 Annual Meeting

You’re invited! Join the RushShelby Energy Board of Directors, along with our staff and employees, as we celebrate 90 years of service at this year’s Annual Meeting. This special event is one of the most meaningful ways we connect with you, our members, and provide the opportunity to meet your elected board, talk with co-op employees, and engage with your fellow community members.

Since 1936, our cooperative has demonstrated the strength and longevity of the member-owned model. The same principles we were founded on continue to guide every decision made by our board, management, and team today.

The Annual Meeting is more than just a meeting; it is a celebration of you. We are planning a fun, family-friendly, festival-style event with something for everyone, including interactive activities for kids, educational opportunities, entertainment, and plenty of chances to connect.

This event also gives us the opportunity to open our doors, showcase our facilities, and highlight the work we do every day to serve you. Most importantly, it allows us to connect face-to-face with the members who make it all possible.

Your voice matters. To encourage open conversation, we will once again host our “Chat with the CEO” booth, where you can meet President & CEO Chris Chastain. You will be able to ask questions, share feedback, or simply say hello.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, July 9, 2026

• Location: RushShelby Energy Office – Manilla, Indiana

• Time: 4:00 – 7:30 PM

• Meal: Provided by Chick-fil-A

• Entertainment: Sean Lamb & Janet Miller Band

• Funny & Friends: face-painting and balloon creations

• Raffles: Prizes for both adults and children

• Grand Prize: $2500 bill credit

• Member Benefit: $5 bill credit when you register at the meeting

On behalf of everyone at RushShelby Energy, we look forward to seeing and celebrating with you at this year’s Annual Meeting.