Major power utilities charge higher-than-average late fees

Americans paid a combined $561 million in late payment fees to electrical utilities in 2019

NEW ORLEANS -- Chris Kinney, a resident of Rapides Parish in central Louisiana, has seen his electricity disconnected eight times in the past two years for falling behind on his energy bills to Cleco Power.

His family did everything they could think of to catch up: pawning possessions, accumulating vast bank overdraft fees, borrowing money and applying for energy assistance.

Somehow, Kinney’s outstanding balance kept growing.

While his electrical charges added up to about $6,400 for the past two years, Cleco Power also billed him over $1,250 for being late on paying his bills, including late fees, reconnection charges and deposits.