Alaska Village Electric Cooperative

Have you ever wondered whom you are talking to when you call AVEC? We would like to put a face behind the voice and introduce you to the AVEC Member Relations staff, which has the responsibility of answering numerous calls to the main switchboard.

Changes occurred in this area due to the recent retirement of Kathryn Richards and Georgia Shaw. Katie Millen is the new manager of this department, which was reorganized to include AVEC's human relations responsibilities. Katie's new title is Manager of Member and Employee Relations.

Member Relations Department

When you call AVEC's main number, more than likely the first voice you will hear belongs to Rose. She has the primary telephone answering duties, along with posting payments to members' accounts, mailing membership applications, and entering new memberships into the computer system. Rose grew up in Alakanuk before moving to Anchorage and has been at AVEC since December 27, 2005.

These employees are responsible for preparing the monthly billing and processing consumer service payments and service connect and disconnect requests.

Shareen started at AVEC on June 8, 2009 and said she enjoys working with our members. She worked in member services for Homer Electric Association for 18 years in various capacities and brought a wealth of knowledge with her.

Melissa started working at AVEC on April 2, 2010. Prior to this job she worked 16 years at Katmailand as assistant manager. She said she likes her new coworkers and working in such a nice office. She enjoys talking on the phone to all the friendly consumers and plant operators.

Jeri Lyn started working at AVEC in April 2008 and her duties include credit, billing, and collection of past due accounts. She is the one to contact if you receive a disconnect notice if your account is delinquent and you need to make a payment or set up a deferred payment agreement.

Jeri Lyn said she enjoys helping people achieve paying their bills when they have fallen behind due to circumstances beyond their control. Recently a consumer in one community paid off a past due bill that was over $9,000 in less time than the payment agreement was agreed upon. This was a great accomplishment for this consumer and Jeri Lyn was very excited for her and her family.

These hard-working employees said it would be very helpful to everybody if consumers have their account information available when they call in. If you have questions, AVEC's toll-free number is 1-800-478-1818.

Or, if you have Internet access, you can view the status of your account and make payments online. Visit our Website at www.avec.org and click on the "Online Bill Pay" link under the "Customer Service" section. Follow the simple directions and you can view, and pay, your account online.