With the cooler temperatures during the holidays, some might find it difficult to pay their utility bills, which wouldn’t make for much of a merry Christmas or a happy new year.

Local utility companies want customers to know there are a number of resources available to those who are having trouble making ends meet.

“Project SHARE and other assistance programs available to our customers have helped families across our service territory by providing help when situations or emergencies arise that make it difficult for customers to pay their bills,” Mississippi Power spokesman Jeff Shepard said. “Project SHARE is a program that can make a big difference for a family in need.”

Shepard said Project SHARE is an assistance program for customers who are “elderly, disabled, enduring special circumstances or experiencing financial hardships and in need of help to prevent disconnection of electric service.”

Mississippi Power initiated the tax-deductible, nationally recognized program about 15 years ago. The United Way and Catholic Charities administer the program, which has assisted nearly 600 households across the utility’s service territory from January to October of this year.

East Mississippi Electric Power Association works with Multi County Community Agency and Prairie Opportunity to assist customers in need.

EMEPA spokeswoman Jessica Hamburg says EMEPA offers kiosks and pre-pay services.

The pre-pay option, Hamburg said, offers pay-as-you-go services for customers in EMEPA’s coverage area.

“You pay a certain amount upfront, and a text or email alert lets you know when you’re almost ‘out’ of electricity,” she said. “When enrolled in pre-pay, you will receive daily updates detailing the amount of electricity used and current account balance for that day.”

EMEPA and Mississippi Power also follow the Mississippi Public Service Commission’s guidelines for cut-offs during extreme weather conditions.

The mid-winter rule, outlined by the PSC, states that “ratepayers shall have the right to avoid disconnection of their electric or gas service between December 1 and April 1 if they are participating in the ‘mid-winter rule’ as described in the Rules and Regulations Governing Public Utility Service.”

Customers are encouraged to contact their utility provider for more information about the mid-winter rule.

Further information about rules and regulations on local utilities can be found at www.psc.state.ms.us/executive/billofrights.html.

For more information about help paying your bill, visit www.mississippipower.com or www.emepa.com.