Winter Bill Help
Higher bills after severe cold weather
The recent record-breaking cold temperatures will likely lead to higher electric bills for most customers in the coming months. SWEPCO is working to minimize that impact on customers’ bills.
Two factors can impact customers’ bills – their energy use and the cost of fuel for power plants. Customer base rates have not changed.
Energy use is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The number of kilowatt-hours a customer used during this cold snap will likely be higher than usual. Customers can compare their February 2021 usage to the same billing period a year ago with information displayed on their bill or by using the SWEPCO app.
During this record-breaking cold weather, the fuel costs to generate electricity increased substantially. SWEPCO is working with utility regulators in each state to minimize the impact of fuel costs on customers’ bills. The “fuel factor” used to calculate the power generation fuel cost on the bill is adjusted to make sure customers pay only SWEPCO’s actual fuel costs. SWEPCO is prohibited from making a profit on fuel costs.
We encourage customers who are struggling to pay electric bills to contact us so we can work together to find a solution. Visit SWEPCO.com/Assist, call 1.877.446.7211, or contact us through Facebook.com/SWEPCO or X.com/SWEPCOnews.
Why is my bill higher during winter months?
During this time of year, you might see an increase in your SWEPCO bill amount, and this is often related to the drop in temperatures mixed with the holiday season. The colder it is outside, the harder a heating system has to work, and the more energy it takes to keep a home warm.