AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Xcel Energy and Atmos Energy are reminding customers of the utility assistance services they provide to customers facing financial hardship.
Xcel Energy spokesperson Wes Reeves says with the recent cold snap customers may be surprised at how much their bill increased.
“We wanted to remind customers that as we have these cold weather spells you need to watch your usage to make sure they’re not using more than they can afford to pay,” Reeves said. “Of course, if they get in that situation, we want them to call us.”
Xcel assistance programs include pay arrangements, medical exemption and certification, and state resources.
“One of the one of them is getting flexible payment options for your bill,” Reeves explains. “If you can’t make the payment, give us a call. We can work out stretching those payments over a period of months, and we just call those pay arrangements.”
Xcel also has contacts in the community they can connect customers with as well.
“We can become that liaison between the customer and these resources rather than the customer having to go out and look for this help on their own,” Reeves said. “If we work, say with Panhandle Community Services, that money is paid directly to us. So, the customer doesn’t have to go out and make a lot of stops in order to get help.”