Energy assistance is available to Sikeston BMU customers

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

SIKESTON — With the area engulfed in frigid temperatures in February, many Sikeston BMU users are being greeted with higher-than-usual electric bills for the second month in a row. But there are avenues to help those who are unable to pay their bills through BMU and other outside resources.

With arctic air settling into southeast Missouri beginning Feb. 7 until Feb. 20, the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky, reported the area set an all-time record low with nine days below 30 degrees in the month, breaking a record set in 1978. Two snow storms and an ice storm contributed to a burden placed on Sikeston’s energy grid system and consumption was peaked.

The cold days only added to energy costs for customers with many seeing higher-than-usual electric bills for February. But residents who have trouble paying the high bills do have options.

BMU offers budget billing to customers who have difficulty paying their bill. Levelized billing is also offered to qualified customers. Levelized billing is a tool used to level out billing so that customers are not surprised with energy spikes due to temperature variance.

The levelized billing plan charges the customer based on their rolling 12-month average usage while budget billing charges a fixed amount every month using an average that is calculated each May. The average is calculated in May by adding the prior 12 months’ usage and dividing it by 11.

More information on either of the policies can be found on the BMU website, sikestonbmu.org; by visiting the BMU office at 107 E. Malone or by calling 573-471-3328.

“We encourage our customers to call, email or come by to discuss any payment difficulties. It is better to address the financial challenges faced by higher energy costs soon than later, “said Rick Landers, general manager, Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities. “Currently we are reviewing the financial assistance policies of the BMU. We have relaxed some of the requirements to qualify for assistance until a time that the policies are revamped.”

Customer service at BMU has been brought up at recent Sikeston City Council meetings but Landers said those issues have been addressed.

“The customer service arm of BMU has been updated and action items have been taken. There are more backup personnel designated to handle customer billing concerns especially given our most recent weather conditions,” said Landers.

There are other resources to help Sikeston residents with energy assistance as well.

The Missouri Department of Social Services offers a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP applications can be found on the BMU website and in the BMU lobby.

LIHEAP is offered to US residents who are responsible for payment in the home, have less than $3,000 in savings, retirement or investment and meet specific guidelines. DAEOC services in Sikeston also offer assistance in filing out the LIHEAP application. For more information on LIHEAP go to mydss.mo.gov.

The Salvation Army of Cape Girardeau serves Southeast Missouri and also offers energy assistance. To contact the Salvation Army, call 573-335-7000.

The State of Missouri also offers housing and energy assistance. That assistance can be found by visiting them online at mohousingresources.com.

Utility bills are due on the 10th of the month and they become delinquent and subject to disconnection after the 20th of the month.

“We don’t disconnect on that first delinquent bill,” Landers said. “The customer gets their next month bill, which shows the current balance due and the past due balance.

“After that point, we begin the disconnection process. That gives them the original notice the bill is due and another notice, 30 days later, that the bill is past due.”

Electricity will also not be shut off if the temperature is below freezing or during extremely hot days in the summertime.

“Any customer who has contacted us and made payment arrangements is not subject to disconnection, unless they do not follow the payment arrangements they made,” Landers added.

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