Editor’s note: Katrina Brown, the author of this column, is a customer service manager for Entergy Arkansas.

As winter temperatures settle in across Arkansas, many households see their electric use — and monthly bills — climb. Helping customers manage those costs is a key focus of Entergy Arkansas’ Next Generation Arkansas initiative, a long-term plan centered on four pillars: affordability, reliability, sustainability and economic growth.

Affordability is especially important during colder months, and there are practical tools and programs available to help customers stay comfortable without unnecessary financial strain. Here are a few tips to keep in mind this winter.

Track your energy use

One of the simplest ways to manage your bill is to understand how and when you’re using electricity. Through a free myEntergy account, customers can use tools like myAdvisor to track daily energy use, set usage alerts and spot trends that may be driving higher bills. Monitoring usage over time can help households make small adjustments that add up to meaningful savings.

Choose billing options that fit your budget

Winter bills don’t have to come as a surprise. Entergy Arkansas offers several flexible payment options designed to help customers plan ahead:

– Pick-A-Date lets you choose the day of the month that works best for paying your bill.

 – Level Billing spreads energy costs more evenly across the year, helping avoid seasonal spikes.

– PaperFREE billing provides faster access to bills and billing history.

– AutoPay helps customers avoid late fees by automatically paying bills from a bank account.

– Customers who need additional flexibility may also qualify for payment extensions or deferred payment arrangements.

Know where to find financial assistance

For customers facing financial challenges, help is available. Entergy Arkansas partners with local and state organizations to connect eligible customers with assistance programs, including:

– Power to Care, which provides emergency bill payment help for older adults and customers with disabilities.

– LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps with heating and energy-related expenses.

– Single Stop, a confidential tool that helps customers check eligibility for federal, state and local assistance programs.

Look for help online — or in person

More energy-saving tips, bill management tools and assistance resources are available at BillToolkit.entergy.com. Throughout the year, Entergy Arkansas also hosts customer care events around the state, offering in-person help for those who prefer face-to-face assistance.

As part of Next Generation Arkansas, Entergy Arkansas continues working to keep electricity affordable while investing in a stronger, more reliable energy system. Taking advantage of these tools and resources can help households stay warm and better manage energy costs this winter.