Published: July 13, 2008 08:05 pm      

Entergy suspends disconnect for poor, elderly

Special to The Leader

                                                                                        

BEAUMONT — With rising energy prices dramatically impacting electric utility customers across the nation and in Southeast Texas, Entergy Texas, Inc. officials said Friday they are once again making a deferred payment program available to qualified customers to help them manage high summer bills.

“High prices are hitting us all especially hard this summer, a time when electric bills go up anyway because of cooling costs,” noted Vernon Pierce, Entergy Texas customer service director. “Low-income and special health needs customers are going to be among the hardest hit. That’s why we are committed to working with these customers to help them manage their bills without fear of disconnection this summer.”

Entergy Texas will place qualified customers who contact the company with the appropriate information on a deferred payment program. This means they will not be subject to disconnection until the program ends in September. Those eligible include low-income, low-income elderly aged 65 and up, and those with health needs who are classified as critical care residential customers.

Pierce emphasized that the program does not waive monthly charges – it only defers payment for a specified period of time.

In order to be considered for the program, customers must contact Entergy regarding bill payment or in response to a disconnection notice. Customers may call 1-800-ENTERGY and speak to a customer service representative for information about the program.

Those who qualify for the plan will not be disconnected before the end of September. A deferred payment plan could be set up for up to five months. Failure to live up to the deferred payment arrangement will result in disconnection of service.

Income levels and age will be verified. Critical care customers must provide appropriate medical documentation, which could include a physician’s signature.

The average 1,000 kilowatt-hour bill costs an Entergy Texas customer about $122, much of that for fuel, which is a pass-through charge. The company said it does not earn a profit on fuel costs and can only adjust what it charges customers periodically. No increases are expected before the September billing cycle when rising natural gas prices will precipitate an increase in fuel costs on customer bills.

Natural gas prices have almost doubled since last year, leaving utility companies that depend on the once-inexpensive fuel source to generate electricity working hard to keep costs as low as possible in the face of this national crisis.

“We recognize the challenges that increased costs create for our customers, especially with the price of gasoline, food and other necessities on the rise,” Pierce said. “This is especially true for those with low incomes.”