COVID-19 / CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE
As a provider of critical power infrastructure, we need to be able to keep the lights on. The safety of our employees, members and public is our top priority while continuing to provide safe, reliable electricity. Our office is now open, and we ask that guests follow social distancing protocols. For members that prefer to do business remotely, please contact us by calling (218) 444-2540 or (800) 955-6083 or emailing us at info@beltramielectric.com with questions as many of our services can be completed electronically.
Operations Update
Our office is now open for members and the public, however, we ask that guests practice social distancing. We have decals on our floor in our lobby as well as a hand sanitizing station for guests to use. Public restrooms are also available for hand washing. Plexiglass has been installed at our front counter and we are we are working diligently at keep our work areas clean and sanitized.
For members who wish to prefer to do business remotely, we encourage you to contact us during business hours (8:00 am - 4:30 pm, M-F) at (218) 444-2540 or (800) 955-6083 or email us at info@beltramielectric.com as many of our services can be completed electronically.
We thank you for your continued patience while we work through these new protocols.
Operations
Line crew personnel will be working on annual line inspections in the following townships: Guthrie, Hagali, and Roosevelt. Crews will be in BEC pickups, and will be inspecting overhead equipment, padmount transformers (that green box in your yard), as well as reading meters at locations. We ask that members please practice social distancing and stay at least 6 feet away from crews.
Roger Spiry Community Room
In March, we closed our Community Room to the public and we have extended this closure through the end of June. We will be contacting groups and organizations who have booked the room to cancel or reschedule their event. We appreciate your understanding during this time.
Account Management During COVID-19
We are encouraging everyone to stay as up-to-date on their payments as possible, however we understand that there may be circumstances now impacting your ability to pay due to COVID-19. We are working with members by arranging payment plans and can help direct you to assistance that may be available.
Members can manage their account online through SmartHub, including view/pay your bill, monitor your energy use, report an outage, submit a service request and more.
Outage Information
If you experience an outage, please report it by calling us at (218) 444-2504 or (800) 955-6083, through your SmartHub app, or through Outage Texting (must have registered for this service prior).
Services
We will begin performing some minor service work at this time, ensuring social distancing standards are met. In regards to our load management (off-peak) program, ensuring our members have heat in their home is considered an essential service, so if your electric heat isn't working, please contact us.
Cooperative Events
Beltrami Electric Cooperative's Indoor Garage Sale has been rescheduled from May 2nd to October 3rd. This event is an annual fundraiser for The United Way of Bemidji Area. Vendors may contact Cammie via email covgel@beltramielectric.com with any questions.
We regret to announce that GreenTouch Day at Lake Bemidji State Park originally scheduled for May 2nd has been cancelled.
Beltrami Electric's Power Plant Tour has been cancelled for 2020.
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Payment Assistance Resources
Need help paying your electric bill? The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) can help!
The Minnesota Dept of Commerce Energy Assistance Program (EAP) has extended the deadline for households to apply for EAP benefits. This change allows EAP to serve the expected increase of households with the additional FFY20 federal funds allocated to Minnesota to assist with hardships resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Application deadline extended to July 1
Commerce EAP is extending the deadline for households to apply for EAP benefits to July 1. This change allows EAP to serve the expected increase of eligible households.
Eligibility period change
Starting April 1, 2020, through September 30, 2020, households only need to provide one month of income proof. Applications signed on or after April 1 require only income proof from the last full calendar month to determine eligibility. This change helps households with a recent change in income apply for assistance without having to wait potentially months to become eligible.
Crisis Benefits:
The Minnesota Energy Assistance Program (EAP) has announced temporary changes to their Crisis Benefit policy to ensure low income Minnesotans can access emergency benefits and not fall significantly behind on their energy bills. The changes are in effect April 7 to July 15, 2020. The changes include:
1. Income eligible households may be eligible for Crisis Benefits based on any unpaid past due balance, with the Crisis Benefit amount equal to the past due amount plus any current balance on the day verified up to the annual Crisis maximum. Past due is any previously unpaid balance beyond the current month's charges.
2. Increase Crisis Benefit Maximum Amount. Previously, EAP Crisis Benefit policy allowed for a maximum annual total Crisis Benefit of $600, regardless of the number of Crisis events. EAP has increased the Crisis Benefit maximum amount to $1,200 annually.
Minnesota Energy Assistance Program Eligibility & Guidelines
We encourage local businesses affected to talk to your banker and apply for federal and state assistance program. If you are unsure of what you qualify for, reach out to Dave Hengel at Greater Bemidji. Dave and his staff will be able to assist you in understanding what is available and how to apply. Contact Dave Hengel at (218) 444-5757 or dhengel@greaterbemidji.com or visit www.greaterbemidji.com for more information.
COVID-19/Coronavirus Resources
For the latest news and updates on COVID-19/Coronavirus, visit one of these trusted resources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MN Department of Health
Small Business Assistance
Over the past few weeks, several state and federal programs have been built to assist small businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you have issues with your application, or questions about whether your business is eligible for a program, please contact DEED using the resources available on their website for the fastest and most accurate answers. In addition, programs passed by the federal government may not yet be available — please keep checking the federal program websites for updates.
Different programs make sense for different businesses, so DEED is providing this summary to help small businesses quickly see which programs might be right for their situation.
These include:
- SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) – all Minnesota small businesses should apply for these!
- Summary of Program: Low interest, long term Economic Injury Disaster Loans for up to $2 million: The first payment is deferred for 12 months. The application has been simplified and can be completed 100% online through our improved web portal at www.sba.gov/disaster. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75% and the loans can be extended over 30 years.
- SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
- Summary of Program: The SBA PPP is a new federal $350 billion loan program at SBA for small businesses, self-employed people, and gig workers to help them from going under due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If employers maintain payroll, the loans would be forgiven.
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program
- Summary of Program: Congress authorized a new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program that covers those who do not qualify for regular Unemployment Insurance benefits, such as independent contractors and self-employed people. The program was authorized but must be created by the states, so Minnesota must build out this program before it can be implemented. More information will be available soon, however it could be several weeks before payments begin.
- Minnesota Small Business Emergency Loan Program
- Summary of Program: Minnesota Small Business Emergency Loans are made through an approved lender – you can find FAQs, application materials and lenders on the DEED website. These loans are for $2,500 to $35,000 and at a 0% interest rate. There is a total of $30 million available for this program.
- Minnesota Small Business Loan Guarantee Program
- Summary of Program: This program provides an 80% loan guarantee for loans up to $250,000 made by a qualified economic development lender within this program. Details for business are not yet on DEED’s website but DEED and agency partners are reaching out to lenders to make them aware of this new program – look for more details soon. This program is intended to incent the private market to make loans to small businesses and provides the guarantee for those loan dollars. The state is providing a loan guarantee of $10 million which is likely to leverage between $20 and $25 million in lending by private banks.
- Unemployment Insurance Shared Work Program
- Summary of Program: The Shared Work program offers an alternative to layoffs for employers facing a temporary downturn in business. Administered by DEED’s Unemployment Insurance Division, the program allows employers to divide available hours of work among a group of employees instead of implementing a full layoff. These employees may then receive partial unemployment insurance benefits while working reduced hours. The purpose of Shared Work is to avoid a layoff, not to subsidize wages.
For more information on any of these programs, visit the DEED website here: https://mn.gov/deed/
