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Alabama Power Co. officials announced today programs to help customers tackle their higher bills.

Officials said in a release that the recent cold wave has led to increased electricity usage, resulting in higher bills for many customers.

According to a release, support programs like Project SHARE, LIHEAP and ABC Trust Fund are available.

“We are experiencing an unusually high volume of calls to our customer service center,” officials said. “We appreciate their patience and understanding as we work to address each call.”

To assist customers more efficiently, officials encourage customers to visit their website at www.alabamapower.com. Here, they can easily create an account, check their usage and trends, and get many of their questions answered quickly.

“If a customer still has questions or concerns after visiting our website, we invite them to submit an inquiry through our online form,” officials said. “Rest assured that a member of our team will get back to them within five-to-seven business days. Customers can also visit their local business office to discuss any billing or account concerns.”

Officials said they wanted to reassure customers that, in coordination with the Alabama Public Service Commission, AP commits that it will not disconnect customers due to non-payment through March 15.