Ask anyone in Arkansas and they'll tell you - their energy bill has gone up recently. In fact, across the US, the average residential energy bill in 2025 was roughly 30% higher than in 2021. But there are big differences from state to state and region to region.
But did you know that in Arkansas, extreme weather remains one of the main drivers of rising costs?
An article first published by Grist.org notes that Southeastern states frequently face hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and extreme heat. In recent years, the number of billion-dollar disasters in the region has increased, which means utilities are fronting the costs of both weathering these events and rebuilding in their aftermath — and then they pass them on to their customers.
Utilities across the Southeast like Entergy and SWEPCO are adapting to this increasing frequency of severe weather in our region by adopting grid resiliency measures and by adding rapid response measure ahead of storms like removing tree limbs and clearing right-of-ways, and engaging neighboring states for help. But what can you do around your house to be storm ready?
- Make a plan. Experts agree that having a kit of basic emergency supplies and first aid is one of the best - and easiest - ways to prepare for severe weather.
- Prepare your home. Keeping trees trimmed away from your house lessens the likelihood of them damaging your house. Cleaning out gutters, removing debris and securing anything that could be blown through the air in high winds are also recommended steps.
- Follow instructions from emergency officials. If you need to leave your home, turn off electricity at the main fuse or breaker, and turn off water at the main valve. Once you arrive at a secure location, you can check out outage maps for updates.
- Stay away from downed power lines. Remember - all downed lines are dangerous. Report fallen wires and keep children and pets away.
SWEPCO customers can report outages and check restoration times after the storm passes by:
- Downloading the SWEPCO mobile app: SWEPCO.com/App
- Signing up to get SWEPCO alerts: SWEPCO.com/Alerts
- Following SWEPCO on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for updates.
Entergy Arkansas customers can report outages and downed lines at:
- Report an Entergy Arkansas outage
- Report an emergency - like a downed line - by calling 800.968.8243
Entergy's Operation Storm Ready guide is available to help you prepare for any kind of severe weather living in Arkansas can throw at you. Download it and keep it on hand as a reference in case severe weather strikes your area.
