Ozarks Electric Awarded $1.7M

A three-year battle by the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation against Entergy Arkansas will result in a $1.7 million refund.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruled in favor of AECC in October 2006, overturning a previous decision by a judge who initially ruled for Entergy.

Doug White, vice president of systems services for AECC, said an issue regarding the methodology of billing for energy from the two power plants – White Bluff Steam Electric Station and the Independence Steam Electric Station – by Entergy Arkansas, was contested in 2004 when the changes occurred.

The FERC ordered Entergy to revert to billing methodology used before July 2004 and to refund the excess charges by Sept. 24, 2007.

A credit will be issued to all active members of Ozarks Electric beginning with the Dec. 17 billing cycles and will be based on kilowatt hours used. Every customer should receive the credit between Dec. 17 and Jan. 15.

Ozarks Electric spokesperson Penny Storms said the refund amounts to 2.2448 cents per kwh used and will average out to around $32 to $34 per customer. OEC has 50,882 customers in Arkansas, according to its latest annual report.