Natural State News

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge sent in a letter to the Arkansas Public Service Commission, soliciting an investigation of rising gas and electric bills in the area amid severe winter weather conditions in the area.

"Recent winter storms exposed great disparities between consumer demand for energy and the ability of Arkansas' utilities to meet that demand in severe weather" the letter read. "Arkansas experienced service outages, and many businesses were forced to close."

In response to Rutledge’s request, the public service commission opened an investigation of Liberty Utilities’s preparation and approach for the winter storm, which resulted in the source’s failure to provide water to its customers in Pine Bluff. 

In the letter, Rutledge urges the public service commission to determine the cause of operational dysfunctions on behalf of utility sources and a more appropriate plan for future weather emergencies. The state attorney general also asks the office to consider whether the weight of higher energy demands from third-parties should fall on consumers and whether the additional costs should be restored using their payments.

“Arkansas consumers must not face exorbitant utility bills when the service provider resorted to purchasing energy at excessive prices in spot markets,” Rutledge said. “Not only do I want to ensure Arkansans do not face skyrocketing bills at no fault of their own, I want to ensure our friends and family are protected and safe if winter weather strikes again.”

Rutledge projected the price increases, resulting from a rise in utility source investments to third-party sources to ensure the fulfillment of energy needs in the state, to continue in the upcoming weeks. 

Rutledge has addressed residents regarding the emergency and responded to their necessities, working alongside Pine Bluff’s Mayor Shirley Washington, Jefferson Memorial management, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, as well as Saracen Casino and Simmons Bank.