Billing Options

Budget Billing

Columbia REA’s Budget Billing Program may be available to you upon request. To be eligible you must be a residential member and have had 1 full year of continuous service. To arrive at a fixed bill amount, we take the previous 12 months usage for your account and calculate a monthly average payment. You then pay a fixed amount each month. Before entry into the Budget Billing Program, your account must be paid in full. If you want to sign up for the Budget Billing Program or would like more information please contact us by calling us at 509-382-2578 or e-mail at customerservice@columbiarea.com.

Senior Citizen Discount

Some senior citizens may qualify for a rate discount from Columbia REA. Following is information about the discount and qualifying criteria that must be met in order to receive the discount.

Senior Citizen Energy Discount Amount

The amount of the monthly basic charge shall be credited to the billing account for the member household meeting all requirements. However, the minimum amount billed for the month is to be no less than the amount of the monthly basic charge.

Eligibility Requirements for Discount

• Member must be a permanent full-time resident at the account receiving the discount. Member must provide proof of full-time residency by meeting the following requirements:
  1. Electric service must be provided under Columbia REA’s residential rate schedules.
  2. Member must receive monthly bill in his/her name
  3. Member must provide receipts from other monthly utility services, i.e. water, sewer, and garbage
• CREA energy usage qualifying as a permanent full-time resident. A temporary absence visiting relatives or vacation shall not disqualify member. However, other residency for convalescent or supervised care may disqualify member; therefore, each member will be reviewed on an individual basis.
• Member must be 65 years of age or older. Member must provide proof of age by submitting a copy of one of the following documents:
  1. Birth Certificate
  2. Driver’s License
  3. Social Security document showing birth date
• Member’s family unit annual income from all sources, including all residents at the account, must be less than or equal to 150% of the current year U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines.
• Member must apply for discount and furnish proof of income. The following information must be submitted to Columbia REA:
  1. Social Security year-end statements
  2. Year-end bank records
  3. Year-end retirement earnings statement
  4. W-2
  5. Federal Income Tax return

Annual Poverty Guidelines

Poverty guidelines for family units shall be updated annually and approved by the Columbia REA Board of Directors. Following are the poverty guidelines for 2009.

	Size of Family Unit LIHEAP Poverty Level in the 48 Contiguous States 150% of Poverty Level Guidelines 1 $10,400 $15,600 2 14,000 21,000 3 17,600 26,400 4 21,200 31,800 5 24,800 37,200 6 28,400 42,600 Fore each additional person, add 3,600 5,400