Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority (HWEA), Pennyrile Electric and Hopkinsville Electric System have implemented new policies in an effort to make the transition of deployment and redeployment simpler and less stressful for military personnel and their families who live in the Hopkinsville-Christian County area.

Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority (HWEA) General Manager, Len Hale, stated the customer should bring his deployment orders to the HWEA office in order to have the service charge for reconnection waived upon his return to the area.  Mr. Hale said it would be necessary to remove the meter during deployment to avoid the possibility of the water being turned on due to an accident or act of vandalism, possibly causing damage to the residence.  It is the hope of HWEA that this policy change will help to reduce the stress of deployment.

Hopkinsville Electric System will waive the $25 connection fee for any returning soldier upon the presentation of paperwork verifying orders for redeployment, according to Austin Carroll, General Manager.  Mr. Carroll emphasized this policy will apply only to deployed military members.

Pennyrile Electric has made changes to their policy regarding the accounts of military personnel.  Eston Glover, Pennyrile Electric’s CEO, announced the company’s reconnect fee would be waived when the soldier presented a copy of his deployment orders prior to departure.  Under the present policy the deposit and membership fee will be refunded at the time the electricity is turned off and will be collected again upon reinstatement of service.  However, Mr. Glover indicated Pennyrile Electric will hold the deposit and membership fee in a dormant account until the service is reconnected if this is the desire of the deployed member.

Under these changes, military personnel will find it easier and less expensive to obtain utility service each time they return from deployment.