In recent weeks, Mississippi Power has weighed several options on how to refund their customers for the rate increases caused by the construction of the Kemper County energy facility. Thursday, the Mississippi Public Service Commission ordered a refund process, which will allow customers to receive a bill credit with an option to select a refund check.

The commission ultimately chose to refund customers through bill credit because it’s faster and will efficiently provide refunds to customers within a 120-day period, according to a press release from Mississippi Power.

The bill credit will automatically be placed into each customer’s account on Oct. 10. If a customer chooses to receive a refund check, they’re advised to contact Mississippi Power beginning Oct. 12, the release stated.

They plan to send a refund check to former Mississippi Power customers, which will be mailed to their last known mailing address.

During the meeting, Mississippi Power also presented an interim rate recovery plan to the commission. The presentation highlighted the company’s potentially degraded credit ratings, inability to access outside financing and impending cash shortfall, according to the release.

The commission decided to take the request under advisement and plans to hold a public meeting on Aug. 13 where a decision will be reached.

The electric utility company also addressed the Kemper County energy facility during their presentation. The company stated in the press release that since they proposed the idea of the facility, they have maintained that rate recovery during the construction period was required, which the commission approved. Since then, the company alleges they haven’t received permanent cost recovery for the construction of the facility.

For more information about the refund process, contact Mississippi Power at 1-800-353-1502. The local Mississippi Power office is located at 114 Elizabeth St., Picayune.