Feb 2 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - K.J. Williams Star-News, Wilmington, N.C.


This year's string of unusually chilly days and nights has sent customers' residential electric bills soaring, sometimes doubling and tripling the average bills, power company officials say.

Roshawn McIntyre, of Currie in Pender County, is one of the people suffering an economic bite from the winter's cold.

The 33-year-old single mother of three has been struggling to pay electric bills that have exceeded $400 a month since December at her one-story brick home. She owes Progress Energy $950.

"I had to get on this (payment) plan to keep my service from being interrupted," said McIntyre, a full-time student at Cape Fear Community College. "I can't focus on my other bills because this bill is so high. You have to have electricity."

 Social Services directors in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties have reported a significant increase in requests for assistance with heating bills.

High unemployment is one factor. But even those with jobs may be unable to pay the higher bills.

In North Carolina, a portion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds has been designated to counties to supplement federal crisis funds.

Progress Energy spokesman Scott Sutton said the company has seen bills increase in its service area of North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. "People are receiving bills that sometimes even triple what they're used to because of their high energy use," he said.

Sutton said North Carolina set a record for its peak demand this year. "What people are seeing during cold weather is that it takes a lot of energy to heat people's homes, and usage across the board was up," he said.

Sutton said the company is running advertisements advising people how to save money on their bills. Tips also are available online at Progress-energy.com/lowermybill.

He urged customers to let customer service know early on if they expect difficulty paying their bill instead of waiting until service is due to be disconnected.

Customers of the Four County Electric Membership Corp. have seen a similar increase in their bills compared with last winter, said Gay Johnson, company spokeswoman.

"We are getting a lot of calls on high electric bills," she said. The electric cooperative covers Pender, Bladen, Duplin and Sampson counties.

The same is true at at Brunswick Electric Membership Corp. "Because of the weather, the constant low temperatures, the bills have increased," said spokeswoman Judy Gore.

BEMC touts its "Warm homes, Warm hearts" heating assistance program that started last year, where it matches donations up to $50,000, splitting the funds between Brunswick Family Assistance Agency and the Columbus County Department of Aging.

In New Hanover County, money is available to help pay for heating costs from an early January infusion of federal dollars, said LaVaughn Nesmith, director of the county's department of social services.

The agency ran out of funding in September and October, and then depleted another allotment of funding received in November during December, before receiving its most recent allocation.

"We always run out," Nesmith said of the long-term picture, estimating demand for heating bill assistance has grown by more than 40 percent over the previous fiscal year.

Pender County has seen a similar increase. Social Services Director Reta Shiver said the agency manages by first taking care of the most vulnerable populations: families with children, the elderly and the handicapped.

Besides the low-income requirement, there are contingencies where people may qualify due to unemployment or a similar crisis. "And if they're eligible, then we help them as much as we possibly can," she said.

Region desk: 343-2389

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