Entergy Arkansas customers report hundreds of dollars in higher electric bills this summer
LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Entergy Arkansas customers are reporting electric bills that have jumped by hundreds of dollars this summer, raising questions about what is driving the increases.
Ken Collins, an Entergy customer, said his bill increased from about $225 to $480 in one month — a $255 jump.
“I’ve had to borrow from friends and pay back,” Collins said.
Hundreds of other customers shared similar experiences with KATV after being asked about higher electric bills.
One customer said their bill was $711 last month and has now risen to $948. The customer said there are three people in the home who all work during the day and that the air conditioning is not set particularly low.
Another customer said their bill had never been that high and that they did not have a past-due balance. Their bill showed an $805 charge for one month.
Entergy Arkansas said extreme heat is the biggest factor behind higher bills this summer. The company said Arkansas customers reached a peak demand of 5,279 megawatts on July 27.
“We were at 107 degrees on August 19th, for example. That’s going to impact your bill, because most of your bill is your heating and air conditioning,” said Lamor Williams, a senior communications specialist with Entergy Arkansas.
Entergy said heating and cooling can account for as much as 55% of monthly energy use.
Williams said Arkansas also experienced nearly 20 days of triple-digit temperatures this summer.
“That is the primary culprit, so to speak,” Williams said.
Still, Collins said his household’s energy use has not changed.
“Nothing’s changed. I mean, we have the same amount of people. We have the same energy usage,” Collins said.
Help with high electric bills
Entergy Arkansas said eligible customers may be able to receive assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP.
The company also offers levelized billing, rebates and other energy-saving programs.
Entergy’s Bill Toolkit connects customers with programs and services to help manage their bills, including options for customers who have questions about their bill, need more time to pay or are looking for assistance.