SWEPCO offering temporary relief for customers facing high summer electric bills
Following one of the hottest summers in recent memory, Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) is offering temporary financial relief measures to help customers struggling with higher-than-normal electric bills.
The assistance programs, which include waived late fees, relaxed deposit requirements and expanded budget billing options, will remain available through Oct. 31.
SWEPCO External Affairs Manager Lisa Thompson, who oversees the company’s Southwest Arkansas District, said the prolonged summer heat has taken a toll on both utility workers and the households they serve.
“This summer has been exceptionally hot,” Thompson said during a recent interview with [ENTER STATION CALL SIGN]. “Our linemen are out working in it. We’ve got people surveying, cutting trees, doing all sorts of work, and we feel the heat just like our customers do.”
Thompson said the company recognized that unusually high electricity usage, driven by weeks of extreme temperatures, was creating financial difficulties for many customers.
“Some of the bills are adding up. They’re higher than normal,” she said. “We’ve put some temporary relief measures in place that we think could really help them stay on top of their bills and not get so far behind and head into the fall in a good position.”
Among the available options is an expansion of SWEPCO’s Average Monthly Payment program, which allows customers to spread their electricity costs more evenly throughout the year.
Rather than facing substantial increases during the hottest summer months, participating customers pay an amount based on their previous 12 months of electricity bills.
“Average Monthly Payment takes your last 12 bills and averages them out,” Thompson explained. “And so you don’t see the big spikes in the summer.”
Previously, customers were required to maintain a particularly strong payment history to qualify. SWEPCO has temporarily expanded eligibility to make the program available to more households.
The company is also waiving late payment fees through October for residential customers who contact SWEPCO for assistance.
In addition, certain deposit requirements for existing residential accounts have been temporarily suspended. Customers who previously paid a security deposit may also request that those funds be applied toward an outstanding electric bill.
Thompson emphasized that customers already behind on their payments should contact SWEPCO, even if they cannot immediately afford to pay their balance.
“This is one of those situations where you want to just call and ask what we have available,” she said. “Because honestly, it might even be on a case-by-case basis. We can get pretty creative about how to help customers right now.”
The temporary measures are intended to provide additional flexibility for customers trying to catch up on their bills and avoid falling further behind as cooler weather approaches.
However, Thompson stressed that the assistance window is closing quickly.
“This program’s only good through the end of this month. So people need to call us right now. I wouldn’t wait,” she said.
Beyond the temporary assistance programs, SWEPCO also offers resources to help Arkansas customers reduce electricity consumption and improve their homes’ energy efficiency.
Thompson encouraged residents to explore those options through the company’s website.
She also highlighted the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP, which provides financial assistance to qualifying households struggling with energy costs. Thompson said the next application period is expected to open early next year.
For now, SWEPCO officials are encouraging customers facing financial difficulties to reach out before the October 31 deadline.
Residents can contact SWEPCO at 888-216-2523, visit SWEPCO.com/BillHelp or email BillHelp@aep.com.
Thompson said the most important step is simply making contact with the company to learn what assistance may be available.