Billing Options

Budget Billing for Qualified Accounts

How would you like to have control over how much your power bill will be each month? Now you can, if you qualify, with SLEMCO Budget Billing. The amount of your monthly bill may fluctuate slightly but never widely based on weather or seasonal changes.

Budget Billing Terms

  • Available to residential and small commercial (Rate 11) customers who have accumulated at least a 12-month historical billing record of normal electric consumption at their present service location.

  • Available to residential and small commercial customers who have no outstanding balances and have established good credit history.

  • Bills will be the average of the current month’s billing revenue charges and any applicable surcharges plus the preceding 11 months billing revenue charges and any applicable surcharges, divided by 12. Budget accounts true up every April and October to bring the account balance back to zero. At that time, budget accounts will recalculate to reflect the most current average for the next 6 months. All other charges (deposits, service charges, etc.) will be included in the “Budget Payment Due” amount.

  • Accounts will be subject to the same delinquent policy as normal monthly billing accounts; failure to pay by the delinquent date could result in automatic removal of the account from Budget Billing.

  • Payment arrangements will not be available to Budget accounts.

For more information or to request your account be placed on Budget Billing, call the SLEMCO Customer Service Department at 337-896-5200 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Emergency Bill Deferment

The Louisiana Emergency Relief Act of 2001, requires the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) to adopt rules to ensure gas and electric utilities under its jurisdiction implement a deferred billing program for pre-qualified customers in the event of an LPSC-declared “energy emergency.”

An “energy emergency” is characterized by inordinately high utility bills which are the product of high gas or other fuel costs, unusually inclement weather necessitating extensive use of utilities, or any other circumstances as determined by the LPSC. Under such an emergency, pre-qualified customers would be able to defer partial payment of their utility bill over a three-month period.

The LPSC has the authority to determine what constitutes “inordinately high bills,” “high fuel costs” and “unusually inclement weather.”

Steps to Enroll:

  • STEP 1

    If you qualify, click the button below to download an application. The application must be filed in the name of the person who is listed on the SLEMCO account.

  • STEP 2

    In addition to the application, you will have to provide the documents or certification requested that validate your age, income, and medical or other need, which qualifies you for participation in this program. 

  • STEP 3

    Mail the completed documentation and application to - Attn: Deferred Billing P.O. Box 90866 Lafayette, La 70509.

Groups Eligible for Deferement

Only specific groups of customers can pre-qualify for the deferral and pre-qualification is mandatory. Once an “energy emergency” has been declared by the LPSC, any new applications received will not be eligible for bill deferral until the next energy emergency.
  • Customers at least 65 years old whose income does not exceed 150 percent of the poverty level established by the federal government.

  • Customers of any age who receive food stamps or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

  • Customers whose sole income consists of Social Security benefits.

  • Governmental entities as identified by the LPSC who provide vital services, the absence of which could result in “imminent peril” to the public health, safety and/or welfare.

  • Those customers who need life-sustaining, electrically-operated equipment or life-sustaining medical treatment that requires electricity.

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