Changes coming for debit, credit card payments

In the wake of recent data breaches at large national retailers such as Target and Home Depot, Kenergy will change the way it accepts debit and credit card payments.

We expect these important changes to go into effect as early as September, and they will affect debit and credit card payments made in person, by phone or by mail.

Why is Kenergy changing the way it accepts debit and credit card payments? Our No. 1 goal is to protect your sensitive financial information.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • When you come into the office to pay with a debit or credit card, you will be asked to swipe your card and provide a signature. This is the way you pay for purchases now at major retailers.
  • At drive-up windows, you will sign a receipt, and you may be asked to verify your signature.
  • When you call Kenergy to make a debit or credit card payment by phone, cooperative employees will no longer take your card information. Instead, your call will be transferred to an automated service and you will be asked to enter your payment using your phone’s keypad. Or you may make your payment via our website or smartphone app.
  • You will no longer be able to make debit or credit card payments by mail.

Kenergy offers other convenient ways to pay.

The cooperative’s Auto Pay system, coupled with our budget billing program, is perhaps the easiest way to pay your bill.

By averaging your electric usage over the past year, we can estimate your monthly payments. Then, you can automatically pay the same amount with your debit or credit card.

This method allows you to save money on postage and gasoline. And it offers a high level of data security.

The budget billing program recalculates your estimated monthly payment annually to make sure it’s as accurate as possible.

Members can enroll in the cooperative’s convenient Auto Pay program at kenergycorp.com. Kenergy offers a My Account phone app, too.

Also, members can pay online at kenergycorp.com 24/7.  The utility has a smartphone app — My Account — for making payments also.  Both offer high levels of data security.

Kenergy is a regulated industry and must comply with payment card industry rules. We hope the added peace of mind will outweigh any perceived inconveniences.