by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Nearly 125,000 Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) customers in western Arkansas will soon see an increase in their energy bills. The utility company reported Wednesday (June 29) that the Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC) approved its rate request.

According to Shreveport, La.-based SWEPCO, the company’s western Arkansas customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) will see an increase of approximately $13.02 per month on their bill. The increase includes a 9.49% base rate increase, which makes up approximately $10.57 per month for an Arkansas residential customer using 1,000 kWh.

Base rates refer to the costs of building, maintaining and operating SWEPCO’s electric system, including power plants, transmission and distribution lines, and facilities to serve customers. Base rates do not include the fuel portion of the customer’s bill, which pays for fuel and purchased power and is passed through to customers with no profit to the company.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/06/energy-bills-to-rise-for-swepco-customers-in-arkansas/

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

As inflation eats into family and business budgets, energy is one component of the economy that has been driving higher prices. Two energy leaders – Chad Kinsley, VP of operations for Black Hills Energy, and Lauren Waldrip, executive director of the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association, shared their perspectives in Talk Business & Politics’ latest State of the State report on energy.

Kinsley, whose company provides natural gas across north Arkansas, said the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the supply and demand balance that had kept energy prices stable and low.

“We’re seeing inflation across all aspects of the economy and natural gas commodity prices, like you mentioned, certainly are no exception. Unfortunately, that’s impacting our customer’s bills and kind of a short answer is, it’s supply and demand in the marketplace,” Kinsley said…

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/04/energy-leaders-say-more-supply-stable-policy-needed-for-lower-costs/

Energy bills to rise for SWEPCO customers in Arkansas

Energy leaders say more supply, stable policy needed for lower costs