For members who previously disconnected their service seasonally to avoid the monthly access charge, an idle service fee took effect in fall 2023. This change helps ensure that each member contributes fairly to the cost of maintaining and operating the infrastructure needed to deliver electricity.
- Seasonal Disconnections: Previously common for agricultural buildings like grain bins, seasonal disconnections shifted maintenance costs to active members. The new fee helps address this imbalance.
- Board Approval: Midland Power Cooperative’s board of directors approved the idle service fee in June 2023 to ensure equitable cost-sharing across all members.
- Fee Details: Beginning fall 2023, members disconnecting for over 60 days with plans to reconnect within 24 months are subject to:
- $20 per month for single-phase service
- $42.50 per month for three-phase service
- Access Fee and Cooperative Investment: Each member pays an access fee supporting their portion of the cooperative’s investment in the distribution system, ensuring electricity delivery to their service point.
- Consequences for Extended Disconnection: Members disconnecting without paying the idle fee or maintaining idle status for over 24 months risk service cancellation and removal of co-op facilities. Reinstallation costs will apply if a new connection is requested.
For more details on the idle service fee, please call us at (800) 833-8876.
Frequently Asked Questions about Midland’s Idle Service Fee
- Any member who plans to remain disconnected from service longer than 60 days.
- Single Phase – $20 per month*
- Three Phase – $42.50 per month*
- The idle service fee is approximately 50% of the full monthly access charge.
- Midland invests heavily in building, maintaining, and operating our distribution system. When a member chooses to disconnect their service, those costs don't disappear. Instead, the remaining members bear that expense. The idle service fee helps offset a portion of those costs.
- The idle service fee helps ensure that abandoned services are identified, allowing us to remove them from our lines. The result is a decrease in operation costs and potential liabilities.
- Leave the service connected and pay the full monthly access charge. Your service will remain active and everything will remain as is.
- Disconnect the service and pay the idle service fee. Your service will be disconnected, but all equipment will be maintained until you wish to have the service reconnected. There will be a reconnect fee of $92 to reestablish active service.
- Disconnect service without paying the idle service fee. If you no longer need the service, we will gladly remove the service and any related equipment (poles, wire, transformer) without any cost to you. Simply let one of our member care specialists know you wish to have the service removed. Should you wish to restore service at that location in the future, you will need to reapply for membership and pay for the reinstallation of new facilities and any associated fees.
- You will receive a final bill for your active service, followed by a monthly bill for the idle service.