As business returns to a new version of normalcy following the slowdown of the coronavirus outbreak, Consolidated has re-opened the Mt. Gilead office for bill payment and account inquiries only, during the hours of 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m, Monday-Friday. The Delaware office will remain closed until further notice.

Before coming by, please call us at 800-421-5863. We may be able to save you a trip and minimize in-person interactions by taking care of business matters over the phone or online.

We also encourage your continued use of our drop boxes for payments, as well as online portals such as SmartHub and your bank’s online bill payment service.

Here’s what to expect if you visit the office

Hand sanitizer is available at the lobby entrance. The lobby and entryway are sanitized frequently throughout the day and each evening.

If an in-person visit to the office is required, we ask that you observe the following protocols:
• Do not enter the building if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
• Practice Social Distancing and maintain a distance of 6 feet from others.
• Only one person in the lobby or entryway at a time.
• Face coverings are strongly encouraged.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to maintain the cooperative as a safe and healthy place for our members and employees—and our communities. Thank you for your cooperation.

As business returns to a new version of normalcy following the slowdown of the coronavirus outbreak, Consolidated re-opened the Mt. Gilead office with limited hours. The Delaware office will remain closed until further notice.

Our member services team will now accept your in-person payments and account inquiries in Mt. Gilead from 8 a.m. until noon, weekdays. Before coming by, please call us at 800-421-5863. We may be able to save you a trip and minimize in-person interactions by taking care of business matters over the phone or online.

We also encourage your continued use of our drop boxes for payments, as well as online portals such as SmartHub and your bank’s online bill payment service.

Here’s what to expect if you visit the office

Hand sanitizer is available at the lobby entrance. The lobby and entryway are sanitized frequently throughout the day and each evening.

If an in-person visit to the office is required, we ask that you observe the following protocols: 

• Do not enter the building if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
• Practice Social Distancing and maintain a distance of 6 feet from others.
• Only one person in the lobby or entryway at a time.
• Face coverings are strongly encouraged.
  

We remain steadfast in our commitment to maintain the cooperative as a safe and healthy place for our members and employees—and our communities. We look forward to the day when you can stop by our office locations just to say hello, without calling ahead. We miss seeing you. Until then, thank you for your cooperation.

Consolidated is following the guidance of Governor Mike DeWine as we begin the planning process for returning to our “new” regular course of business following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Collectively, as citizens of Ohio and as a part of the cooperative, we are all called to undertake two seemingly contradictory tasks:

• Continue to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in our various communities;
  And
• Begin to resume business to restore the health of our personal, local, and state economies

This assignment has its challenges. Consolidated is currently working on reinstating procedures that enable our full and safe return to business operations, including re-opening our offices to members. The initial phase includes:

• Resuming meter reads
• Resuming late-fee assessments and disconnections for non-payment starting July 13
• Offering our most flexible repayment options
• Mt. Gilead office opened with limited hours on June 15
• Delaware office remains closed until further notice

Someone You Know Needs a HUG
Something that has touched all of our hearts here at Consolidated is how kind and generous members are toward each other. There is an outpouring of help from members who have been helping to pay other members’ utility bills during these past two months. Many of you are using the co-op’s HUGs program (Helping with Utility Gifts) to lend a hand to friends, neighbors, and family members who have lost their income.

The need for help is unprecedented, and as a co-op family, helping our own is part of who we are. As we begin making our way back to a new normal, we encourage you to continue supporting each other.

Learn more about HUGs here. You can also call our member services team at 800-421-5863 and talk with us about donating a HUG, or making another type of monetary donation to a fellow member in need.

If You’re Experiencing Financial Difficulty
Perhaps you were fine at the beginning of the pandemic and had no problems keeping up with your bills, but now you find yourself in a position where you need some help. Or maybe you’ve been struggling all along and have not wanted to call us. Please give us a call immediately at 800-421-5863. Don’t put it off. The sooner we know you’re experiencing difficulties, the sooner we can work with you to develop a payment plan that will help you avoid a larger repayment amount.

Consolidated is here for you. We’re your cooperative family, and we care about you and your family. We’ll be in touch again soon to keep you informed and up-to-date as your co-op plans for a return to the new normal.

The People Fund awards $40,000 locally for hunger relief efforts 

The People Fund, the charitable foundation arm of Consolidated Cooperative, recently donated a total of $40,000 to hunger relief efforts in four area counties where the co-op has a significant presence.  

Each of the organizations received a $10,000 grant to assist with their efforts in addressing hunger in their community: 

• Interchurch Social Services of Knox County 
• Catholic Charities in Mansfield 
• United Way of Delaware County 
• United Way of Morrow County 

Funds awarded to Interchurch, Catholic Charities, and United Way of Morrow County are specifically earmarked for hunger relief initiatives related to COVID-19, while monies awarded to United Way of Delaware County are for more general hunger relief efforts.  

Program administrator for The People Fund, Amber Moreland, explained that grant decisions are made by the Consolidated Cooperative Foundation board of directors, which is independent of other Consolidated Cooperative boards and is made up of community leaders who volunteer their time to support the foundation and The People Fund.  

“Those who reside in our area of Ohio are extremely generous,” said Moreland, who added, “We are uncomfortable if our neighbors are hungry, and The People Fund is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of those who can use some help. The four groups that received funding for hunger relief efforts are trusted organizations whose leaders know well the communities they serve and have the best interests of their residents at heart.” 

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Since its incorporation in May 2002, Consolidated Cooperative and The People Fund have awarded more than $1 million in grants to neighbors and organizations in the co-op’s service area. The fund is largely financed by co-op members who participate in Operation Round Up®, and “round up” their gas or electric bills to the nearest dollar. Approximately 90% of the cooperative’s members participate in Operation Round Up. More information about funding guidelines and the application process can be found here.  

Following Gov. Mike DeWine’s press conference Monday afternoon, where he discussed plans to gradually reopen Ohio’s economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Consolidated Cooperative’s offices remain closed to the public with many employees continuing to work from their homes.

During his briefing, Gov. DeWine unveiled Responsible ReStart Ohio. The plan outlines the reopening of the state’s economy in phases, with healthcare reopening this Friday; manufacturing, construction, distribution, and general offices reopening next week; and consumer retail — absent restaurants, hair salons, and gyms – set to re-open the week of May 12.

However, even though offices are reopening May 4 under the plan, Gov. DeWine recommends that businesses whose employees are able to work from home during the pandemic continue operating that way.

“Our board of trustees and our leadership team will continue to comply with or exceed the governor’s mandates. From the start, we recognized that the safety of our members, staff, and their families, as well as the safety of the communities we serve must remain our priority. We are blessed that we are able to operate effectively, and that our members and customers are still getting great service and great reliability, affordably,” said Consolidated’s President and CEO, Phil Caskey. “We continue to monitor this situation closely and base decisions concerning the reopening of our offices to the public on guidance from the state and healthcare experts, balanced with what’s best for our members, employees, and communities,” he added.

Also, Consolidated continues to suspend disconnections and late fees for members who are unable to pay their bills. However, any member who is experiencing such a hardship should immediately contact the cooperative’s service specialists at 800-421-5863 so we can help you devise a plan that will minimize your difficulty later on.

“Although the state is slowly reopening the economy, Consolidated’s operations are not affected,” said Caskey. “We continue to operate as we have been for the past several weeks. Our offices will remain closed to the public and many of our employees will continue to work from home. At the same time, we continue to provide our members with safe, reliable, and affordable electric, fiber, and gas services.”

Caskey added, “The public will continue to see our field employees out on the roads, although you may notice special precautions and limitations. We continue to answer our office phones and quickly respond to your requests and any emergencies. Consolidated is steadfast in its mission to deliver quality-of-life services to you, our members. That never changes. We are a heart-focused business to our core. We care deeply about you, whom we serve, and the communities we all share. You are our co-op family. No matter what chaos might be going on around us, our deep commitment to you will not change. Serving you is not only our mission and our privilege, but it is also our joy.”

We encourage you to visit our COVID-19 Communication Hub . There you will find a FAQ section, helpful links, and the most current announcements from your Cooperative regarding its operations and pandemic policies. It is updated regularly as conditions change.

Members’ financial hardships related to COVID-19 drive decision 

Consolidated’s leadership team announced today that for the remainder of the COVID-19 crisis, the co-op will continue its policy of suspending disconnections and waiving late fees due to non-payment. 

On March 19, Consolidated temporarily halted disconnections of all of its services. At that time, the co-op committed to work with members impacted by the coronavirus by offering flexible payment plans and waiving late fees for 30 days.  

“We do not want our members who are experiencing financial hardship to worry about losing vital services and incurring late fees during this challenging period, and we will continue to suspend disconnections for the foreseeable future,” said Consolidated’s Chief Marketing Officer, Dan Jones. “We are also continuing to look for other ways to support member needs during this time,” he added.   

Although Consolidated is offering flexible payment arrangements for those who need it, it’s important to note that members are still ultimately responsible for paying their bills. Therefore, it’s recommended that members who may be experiencing financial difficulties make any payment amount they can. “It will help them avoid a larger repayment amount when this situation ends,” Jones explained.  

Members who require a payment arrangement should contact Consolidated’s member services team as soon as possible. The number is 800-421-5863.