(KMDL-FM) Many homeowners are still realizing the hard cost of living in South Louisiana during the summer. That cost shows up once a month, usually in the form of an envelope or an email. It's your power bill, and while those larger-than-expected numbers might want to make your blood boil, just know many of our electric utilities are doing what they can to ease the burden.
Need Help With Your Electricity Bill - These Utilities Are Here to Assist You
Almost every utility that serves South Louisiana, from SLEMCO to CLECO to LUS to Entergy to Jeff Davis Electric Co-op and the rest, offers bill management solutions for customers. Because power bills are hard to budget for, many of these companies offer "level billing" where they take an average of your monthly energy expenditure and spread it out over each month.
That way, you aren't hit with a big spike on your power bill at a bad time of the year. And no, I am not aware of any good times of the year when a spike on your power bill would be welcome. But what we do know will be welcomed is bill assistance that is being offered by Entergy.
How Many Louisiana Residents Are Eligible For Electric Bill Assistance?
Entergy provides electrical service to more than 1.3 million Louisiana customers. This new bill assistance program that was announced by the company on Tuesday should help some 750,000 Louisiana customers.
The program, which will go live today across Louisiana, will offer eligible Louisiana customers a one-time $100 bill credit. This is part of a $2 million bill assistance program to benefit families that are having difficulty making ends meet.
READ MORE: Louisiana Law Now Requires Utilities to Repay Customer Overcharges
The program is designed to assist families who "exist" at or below the federal poverty level or in ALICE households. An ALICE household stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. It describes individuals and families who are working—often holding multiple jobs or essential low-wage positions—and earn more than the official Federal Poverty Level (FPL), yet still do not make enough money to afford the basic cost of living in their local community.
The local United Way in your town will handle the issuance of credits. If you qualify for the program, you will receive an email from Entergy Louisiana. Those emails will start going out to eligible customers today. If you need help applying or don't understand how to apply online, you may apply in person at your local United Way Agency Office.
What Do I Need to Bring To Apply For Bill Credit Assistance?
You will need to bring a Valid Photo ID, the first page of your 2025 Tax Return, your 2025 W-2 tax forms, your most recent pay stubs, and Social Security Administration 1099 or 1042S form(s), or benefit-determination letters. That information should be brought to your local United Way agency for the application process.
And if you're thinking $100 isn't much assistance, let me explain what that $100 credit could pay for. Based on current electricity rates, that $100 would power a 900-watt window unit for about 873 hours or roughly one month's worth of cooling. And when it gets hot in Louisiana, that could be the difference between life and death. So, the $100 bill assistance is legit. Please apply for it if you're eligible.
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You can save even more money by turning some of these electrical appliances and gadgets off when they are not in use.
Items Adding to Your Electricity Bill You Should Unplug or Turn Off
Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins
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