Nealie Tao
map-marker Cumming, Georgia

Sawnee Emc - Electricity Review from *** Georgia

Worst customer service and company. I Have move to new home about 2yrs and I didn't know About how bad sawanee emc was. I Wish I never move in this area. First no matter how good credit you have you have to pay $40 fee, Even you change name to your wife's name, you have to pay $40. And customer service is horrible. Way they talks and treat customer. And most of all their rate is very high compare to other companies. Minimum pay extra $30~60 for every month. It's bad I can't switch to other emc. They take advantage of monopolize it. It was my biggest mistake I Ever made to move in this sawanee emc area. I Wish I sell this house and stay away from sawanee emc.
View full review
Reason of review:
Pricing issue
2 comments
Aamira Ybp

I find Sawnee to be very quick in resolving service issues. I have friends on Ga.

Power and their rates are much higher.

Most places only have 1 choice in electricity providers. Move.

Arien Bcd
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1111702

Not true at all, you have a friend that is connected to GA power but I was one of their Customers they don’t require higher deposits with a faire credit score and you pay what you use. That is not the case with EMC Suwanee

View more comments (1)
Anonymous
map-marker Suwanee, Georgia

Charging Deposit after 9 years of service...ridiculous service and company

Sawnee Electric is the worst company to deal with. I have been sawnee electric for last 9 years and I have been dealing with some financial issues but have always paid sawnee electric, late but paid with late fees and extra fees and whatever fees they have asked for.

They have made a lot of money by charging late fees and taking advantage of people like myself who are having financial issues.

I just called them to find out my balance and fount out that its $377.92...I was shocked by that amount, actually my bill is $77.92 and they are charging me $300.00 deposit...AFTER 9 YEARS of continuous service...THIS IS RIDICULOUS.....after 9 years of service, with all the late fees charges and extra fees that i have already paid them now they want deposit again...come on someone has to stop this company or get them out of business. I would have dropped them long time ago if I had an option to select a different service provider.

IM STUCK WITH THEM ... who can i write to, to get them to change policy.....

View full review
Loss:
$300
Pros:
  • Customer reps trying to help
Cons:
  • Deposit policy
  • Management not working with me
  • Asking for deposit after 9 years
Reason of review:
Problems with payment

Preferred solution: Not to charge me with deposit due to fact that I have continuous service for last 9 years

Anonymous
map-marker Alpharetta, Georgia

Worse customer service

I called them to charge monthly bill to my credit card as they do not send my bills on a monthly basis and I get late fee applied almost every three months. The customer service was immensely infuriating and worse. I know the electricity in the Alpharetta area is regulated and is there a way to correct the behavior of the customer service representatives? Can we complain to any other government agency to fix this. I called the second time to inquire about the meter reading and the service was very nasty. Later on I found out that the meter reading is incorrect on my bill and they gave me such a hard time to give credit back. I would encourage everyone to monitor the meter reading on the bill as they tend to play around with it if not noticed.
View full review
Cons:
  • Worse customer service
Reason of review:
Poor customer service

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

Anonymous
map-marker Lithonia, Georgia

WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE

I would really love to know why Sawnee chooses to treat there customers so poorly. Was asking a simple question to Dottie and Vicky and they were treating me like I was wrong. Called back and the person I spoke with found the answer and I was right. You can complain to the highest contact for Sawnee but they are just as rude. I think they know that they are the only option in the *** Alpharetta area so they don't care how they treat there "members". I honestly believe that there goal is too disconnect, charge inflated fees and deposits. They only allow a certain amount of payment arrangements. They want you to default so they can disconnect. It's a disgusting company.
View full review
Anonymous
map-marker Cumming, Georgia

Sawnee EMC State Legislator

Sawnee Emc put us on a cash only Babis after receiving 2 NSF checks in 12 month period. We been a customer since 2002 and the last return check was in 7/2012.

They will not allow payment arrangements or accept check for 30 months. I wrote my legislator and received no response. I did some digging to find out the legislator were the one to give Sawnee Emc the districts in the first place without an open market for competition. If there were alternative electric company these people would change their bigget ways!

After all, people do fall on hard times and what payment arrangements have to do with return check. I can see not accepting future checks,but to not allow payment arrangements is unprescedent. Next summer we will offer our home for sale and we will ask the electric company before buying our next home.

Stop saying customers are members, you aren't giving anything back! Your company sucks!

View full review
Anonymous
map-marker Atlanta, Georgia

Non approved service charges

I have a rental property and my tenant moved out. I asked them to transfer electricity on my name. The usual charge is $35 and we agreed to pay that. However they billed us for $90 for expedited service which we didn't need for an empty rental house. I have tried to reason with them several time and requested to provide me proof that we requested the urgent service. They have no proof except saying that they won't wave this fee and I have no option but to pay if I want electricity in the house. Can anyone control these guys? They have no urgency to resolve my issue since they told me I have no other option than to pay them.
View full review
Loss:
$90
Anonymous
map-marker Alpharetta, Georgia

Why are they allowed to have a monopoly?!

We are moving to an area that Sawnee EMC is the ONLY electric service provider. They are charging us a $400 deposit, $35 connection fee, $5 "membership fee" and then want to charge us $45 from a bill 10 years ago...yes TEN years ago.

We simply do not have $485 to pay and refuse to work out any type of payment plan. I am going to miss GA power.

Had I known I would have to deal with Sawnee, I would NOT have moved into their area! They do whatever they want because they know their customers have no other choice.

View full review
3 comments
Guest

Not a great answer Mr Clark III..

If Sawnee had competition - they wouldnt charge these high rates or unfair billing practices. No other provider does?

Sawnee is horrible to deal with as a company. If they had competition - they wouldnt be in business anymore or would have to change their policies and practices.

Guest

The laws of the state of ga gives every power company a territory. It has been that way forever and worked perfectly; resulting in the safest and most reliable and affordable electric service in the US.

If you were charged a deposit, then you must have unsatisfactory credit. You can't blame them for that. That's like giving you a loan, with no collateral.

Can't stay in business that way.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-603306

I disagree. Sawnee is ruthless and their fees are astronomical compared to any utility company I have ever dealt with, and there have been plenty since Iv'e lived in 5 different states.

My experience has been much the same.I first had service with them in 2000 after relocating from Maryland.

The deposit was $150.00 and I had excellent credit. I lived in their area for 5yrs without ever having services disconnected. My deposit was refunded after 30months.

I moved out of state once again, returned in 2010 to their area and was charged $450.00, this after having their service prior for 5years with 0 balance and no disconnects. How they continue to charge these fees and get away with it is nothing short of criminal.BTW I have discovered after living in different states that Georgia does not protect their citizens.

Why else would they allow consumers to be plundered in this manner. I do have positive experiences with all other utility companies and realized how gouged we are here in regards to rates.

Georgia Power I have no complaints with but the gas companies that charge pass thru rates, taxes, and other rates they make up as they go along is nothing short of hiway robbery. :roll

View more comments (2)
Kylene Yum
map-marker Bellevue, Washington

SAWNEE EMC HIGH RATES,ARROGANCE AND NO COMPETITION

Sawnee EMC has treated my wife and I poorly as customers. We had service with them for over a year, and then we moved, and before they would connect the service they asked for an additional deposit of 150.00 dollars right before Christmas. We had to make a couple of payment arrangements over the past year, and this was the basis of them wanting a deposit. I asked them to split the deposit and they refused to do so. It appears to me that this company has been granted premium districts in the state of Georgia and they are sticking it to customers because they know there are no alternative companies in areas that are designated to their respective districts. I have been forced to use this company because I like the area that they were given by *** state legislator. This leaves customers with not even 1 alternate choice for certain utilities. Why would the state allow a monopoly by area? why not let at least 2 providers in the same area to insure a healthy competitive market that gives the citizens of Georgia a choice? I tell you the folks in government only look after their own interest.
View full review
Loss:
$150
luvsuccesss
map-marker Culver City, California

Sawnee EMC

I relocated to an area whereby Sawnee EMC is the only power provider. My credit rating is average and I have a history of paying bills, especially utilities, on-time.

Georgia Power was willing to provide Sawnee EMC a letter of credit stating that. I was charged 150.00 ("bases on credit report from Equifax) connection fee...only to be payed back in 30 (yes, that's right 30 months)months! Wait, there's more. I went online to set up "paperless"billing (saving them,plus the environment:-)) and a message populated stating that "due to drastic increase of credit card payments, there will be a $3.50 fee for every transaction.

UNBELIEVABLE!!!

View full review
2 comments
Guest

Horrible company! I hate this place with a passion!

Firstly I’ve never had to pay a deposit anywhere but when I moved I had to obtain services with Sawnee EMC and not Georgia Power. My deposit was $300 and they will NOT credit your account until you lived in your apt. or home for more than 30 months! This place is a joke and the customer service reps are rude and racist individuals in my humble opinion.

Try asking for budget billing, ha, even more hilarious because it was the same amount as my ridiculously high monthly bill associated with them. When I was with Georgia Power, I never had a monthly bill over $60 during my 4 years with them. With Sawnee EMC, I’ve never had a monthly bill less than $60 and I live alone!

The rates are horrendous and I give anything if I could be switched back to Georgia Power! I hate this place!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-156474

the only service company in the area, they knew they r a KING...nothing we can do

View more comments (1)