When Communication Matters Most
At Missoula Electric Cooperative (MEC), our commitment to serving our members goes far beyond providing safe, affordable and reliable electricity. One of the most essential parts of our service is keeping our members informed. This is especially important when timely communication can make a significant difference to your day or your safety.
In a time where information moves quickly and emergencies can develop with little warning, the need for fast, direct communication is more critical than ever. That’s why MEC is increasing the use of our “Messenger” notification tool to communicate more frequently and effectively with our members. This system allows us to deliver important updates directly to your phone or email, so you can stay informed in real time.
Whether it’s a planned outage, an approaching storm, a red flag warning during wildfire season, or another critical piece of information, Messenger gives us the ability to communicate faster and more efficiently than traditional mail. While we will continue to send letters for certain types of notices, relying solely on the postal system is no longer practical, cost-effective, or timely for many of the situations we face today.
To ensure that you don’t miss any important messages, we strongly encourage all members to log in to their SmartHub member account and review their notification settings. SmartHub allows you to choose how you’d like to receive information, whether it be by text, email, or both, so that you are always in control of your communication preferences. These can be modified or turned off at any time.
Before we begin making this shift in communications, it is an opportune time to remind our members to take a moment to call our office and make sure we have your most current cell phone number and email address on file. Having accurate contact information on record is essential to reaching you when it matters most.
Why are these updates so important now? Over the past several years, we’ve seen a steady increase in the frequency and intensity of storms, wildfires, and other extreme weather events. When these events occur, every second counts. The ability to quickly notify you of an outage, a safety precaution, or restoration progress is more than just a convenience – it’s a necessity.
Additionally, by leaning more heavily on electronic communication, MEC can reduce costs associated with printing and mailing. This helps us keep operating expenses down, which ultimately benefits our members. It also aligns with our cooperative’s sustainability goals by reducing paper waste and minimizing our environmental footprint.
Of course, technology will never replace the human side of our cooperative. Our dedicated employees are still here to answer your calls, respond to your concerns, and provide personalized service. But by using tools like Messenger and SmartHub, we can enhance the service we provide, making it faster, more reliable, and more accessible to all.
At MEC, clear and timely communication with our members is a top priority and we never take your trust for granted. Our goal is to keep you informed, connected, and safe when it matters most. You can count on us to share only the information you need, without overwhelming you with unnecessary emails or texts. It’s all part of our ongoing commitment to transparency, community safety, and dependable member communication.
As always, thank you for being an essential part of Missoula Electric Cooperative. Your participation and feedback help us continue to make improvements and serve you better every day. If you have questions or need help updating your contact information or SmartHub preferences, don’t hesitate to reach out – our team is happy to assist!
Let’s stay connected:
• Update your contact info – is your cell phone correct? Your email?
• Manage your notification preferences in SmartHub. Do you prefer to receive emails, texts or auto-calls?
• Need help? Just give us a call – our team is here for you!
