Coming soon: Utility bills reflecting hot July

July's extremely hot and muggy weather will soon start showing up on electric bills.

Scott Drzycimski, manager of customer communications for Alliant Energy, said the utility measured 399 cooling degree days in July.  That's a measurement that reflects what it takes to cool a home based on both day and night time temperatures.  Drzycimski said that is nearly 36 percent warmer than July 2010, and a whopping 435 percent cooling degree days warmer than the unusually mild July of 2009.

Bills reflecting the heat in July begin going out soon to Alliant customers.

Drzycimski said electric rates are a tiny bit lower for Alliant this year, so customers shouldn't expect a 36% increase in actual bills.  But he said if the average summer bill for someone is $100 per month,  here's what you can expect on the next bill.

“For a lot of customers, that range is going to be from $15 on top of your $100 bill up to $130  for the month,” Drzycimski said.

A state agency that works with people needing help paying winter utility bills believes many lower income Iowans will run into financial trouble trying to stay cool as well this summer.

Jerry McKim , the director of the Iowa Energy Assistance Bureau, said he won't see the exact number of new  utility “disconnects” for non payment until later this month.  But he suspects a number of people who have trouble paying their winter bills will go into the heating season farther in debt than ever.

McKim said in general, assistance programs help pay for heat but not air conditioning.  He urges anyone falling behind on electric bills to contact the utility immediately to discuss payment options.