The parish government of Iberville began its annual aid program last week, but parish president J. Mitchell Ourso told the parish council that the grants may not go as far as they have in years past.
The program kicked off last week for residents of Bayou Pigeon and Bayou Sorrell and was set to take place in northern Iberville this week.
The parish has more than $100,000 in money to help residents with their utility bills, Ourso said.
“But if it’s spent the way I think it is with the high energy rates that we have now – and I think you’re going to see this this month and all of July and August and into September – then you’re going to see the parish have a will be short of funds until we are replenished by the end of the year, which would be around October,” he said.
Ourso expects the outreach program to serve as many residents as it did last year, or perhaps more due to higher bills.
“But you have to understand that the bills will be higher because of the price of gas, natural gas and electricity,” he said.
The program will move to the Bayou Goula area after July 4 and to East Iberville the following week.
The program ends a week later in White Castle.
A spike in natural gas prices, along with costs related to the aftermath of Hurricane Ida last year, led to the tariff hike.
Entergy said in a message to consumers that natural gas prices in April were more than double those in April 2021 and three times higher than in 2020.
The increase is also due to the impact of weather conditions in 2020 and 2021, which are among the worst on record.
“Hurricanes Laura, Delta, Zeta and Ida, along with winter storm Uri, brought unprecedented heights to all corners of the state,” Entergy said.
The widespread damage led to major refurbishments to the electrical infrastructure, Entergy said.
dr. Craig Greene, who represents District 2 on the Public Service Commission, said the increases were inevitable.
“I think it’s important that people brace themselves for reality. Entergy’s report uses an average customer of 1,000 kWh, but, especially during the Louisiana summers, it’s difficult for any customer to use that little bit of electricity,” he said. “It’s more likely that customers will need to be prepared for a bill increase of at least $30 or $40 from rising gas prices and about $15 from storm charges.”
Plaquemine City Light & Water customers will also see an increase in their energy bills, but the amount has not yet been determined.