ComplaintsforAlabama Power Company

• Initial Complaint

  03/10/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  The week of Christmas 2021,Christmas I got very sick I was showing so many signs of Covid that I couldn't even leave my couch luckily a friend came by and figured it out to let my animals out get me seen about so I didn't die (hydrated) this wasn't something that went away by mid February I was barely working a couple hours a few days I paid everything even if it was $16! I tried to make arrangements to get my bill paid every couple days unitl i was caught up!! I was told that my meter wasn't being read and that it was out dated being based off the usage from the year bf and the year bf that well 2 yrs ago when it was almost to the cents on there was 6 ppl in this house and at least 2 very rarely went anywhere! No there are 2 ppl here half a day and the power usage is the same especially considering there is 3 less space heaters using power! I have been given the run around and flat out lied that of course I have recorded (like the meter should have been replaced and was attempted 5 years ago but they couldn't get in bc it the dogs well the dogs turned 4 years old March1,2021.I am sitting in the house I bought for my mom in the dark bc I paid every dime of taxes I got plus I signed up for door dash until I can get everything caught up here and find a place that is a good fit for my brother! This weekend it's going to be in the 20s I begged a man on chat to please try and help me.This has been happening to so many others that it's scary as to how many house fires are bc ppl are just freezing and couldn't afford a $4/$500 dollar bill for a 2 heaters that were temp controlled. I know that the meter readings are way more high on my bill then on my meter and this is fraud and deception crimes that's can't use the excuse of dogs bc my mom was here everyday of their lives until she died 9/2021. Then not being honest and saying they left door hangers ummm my doors are behind and fenced yard! The stress and I'm sure if I make it through severely cold weather.

  Business response

  04/04/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/03/10) */ Customer and APC worked out a payment agreement and resolved all billing concerns.

• Initial Complaint

  03/02/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I have asked this company multiple times to come to my home and switch out my smart meter because i do not believe that my home can be using 500 dollars a month in power. My power on budget billing has been around 200 and it has doubled and almost tripled in 4 months. They are now telling me that my budget billing is 409 dollars a month. They are also telling me that i will have to pay them 800 dollars to come off of the budget billing.

  Business response

  04/04/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/03/08) */ Alabama Power had a technician go out to customer's address and test the meter. The meter test came back good. The customer is going to check on other options to heat and cool home.

• Initial Complaint

  02/28/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On February 28th 2022 a transaction of $121.00 was debited from my account without my permission. I told them whom did it,even have text from them saying they did it. Can't get Alabama Power to refund *****. The account was paid for the address ***************************,XXXXX

  Business response

  03/28/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/03/03) */ Customer stated someone he knows used his debit card number to pay their power bill. Cust was advised to contact issuer of his debit card to dispute fraudulent charges. Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/03/03) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) The lady said it's not nothing they did wrong on their end but they still took unauthorized funds from my card. Business Response /* (4000, 9, 2022/03/07) */ Spoke with Mr. ******** and explained he will need to contact his banking institution concerning payment he says was made using his debit card without his permission. Advised Mr. ******** there is nothing more Alabama Power can do. Customer stated he understood. Consumer Response /* (2000, 11, 2022/03/07) */ (The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.) Have no choice.

• Initial Complaint

  02/23/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My last 2 power bills dated from December 21, 2021 through January 21st, 2022 and my most recent bill from January 21st, 2022 through February 21st, 2022 are completely outrageous and ridiculous. I have reached out to the customer service department for Alabama Power twice over other extremely high bills and have gotten the same response. Tips on how to lower the power bill which I so clearly already know how to do considering my bill was averaging $170-$240 at the highest the past year. In addition to these bills, MORE than half of the dates and peak averages shown, I was not even at the residence for weeks at a time!!? I've been hospitalized multiple times, obviously, not home. I'm not home at all from 7am until ranging from 5-8pm most of the time. I keep 2 low energy lights on during these times, I have my thermostat set at the recommended temperature to keep it from running while I'm not home, I have done everything. Still, somehow my power bills have gone from what I previously stated to $300-$350 and I expect them to keep coming in higher. This makes absolutely NO sense and I get the run around with customer service, again, no help. I am currently having major health issues and cannot afford to keep seeing these ridiculously high bills, again, WHEN I'M NOT EVEN AT THE RESIDENCE FOR SPORADIC WEEKS AT A TIME!

  Business response

  04/04/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/03/08) */ Alabama Power has left several messages. There has been no returned call from the customer.

• Initial Complaint

  02/11/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  At some point after storms the power line connecting to my house collapsed. While Alabama Power was making repairs in my neighborhood they came to my house to reconnect the power line. The worker tore off the siding under my roof line to drill a new hole into the wood for the anchor to hold the new line. He threw my siding piece into my yard, which I still I have. He left the wood exposed and now that wood is rotting. No one from Alabama Power ever came to repair it and now I am having trouble getting any other company to repair it because of the power line. This complaint is the last thing I know to do to get some help.

  Business response

  03/14/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/02/22) */ Complaint was resolved to the customer satisfaction.

• Initial Complaint

  02/10/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I inherited my mother's home in July of 2020. We have Alabama power . Or had Alabama power they clipped our service due to none payment because I have been unemployed since nov.2020. I haved tried to get the bill to a zero balance but working odd jobs just doesn't pay the bills. I have pleaded with them to just change the bill over to mine or my wife's name so that we might find some assistance with the bill. The local CAA can't help if the bill isn't in the applicants name. They refuse to do Anything at this point but accept the astronomical price of $1000 and some change that is now due because we have been off for two days. I have no family , my wife have no family other than our daughters so we have noone to help and I simply cant make that kind of money that fast. I don't expect a freebie or to be let slide, I just want a chance .

  Business response

  03/04/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/02/16) */ Alabama Power has contacted ****** *****. Per Mr. ***** this issue has been resolved and he has made arrangements to have the account changed into his name. Consumer Response /* (2000, 7, 2022/02/17) */ Alabama power was very helpful in resolving our complaint. I just had to speak to the right car.

• Initial Complaint

  02/08/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My Name is ***** ******* and I live in **********, Alabama. I live alone in a small house and for the last couple of years my monthly power bill has been around $275.00 give or take $5.00 . On Feb 21, 2020 I went to ******* and ended up staying there with my son until May 28, 2020 because of the quarantining. I had unplugged all electrical items except my refrigerator before leaving and also turned off all breakers except the one supplying power to my refrigerator. My bills for the months I was in ******* remained at almost $300.00. I spoke with an Alabama Power supervisor (in person) in an attempt to correct this overcharging but got no satisfactory results. I didn't think I could do anything about it and because I live with depression chose not to fight : I knew it would affect my mental health. I was in ******* from November 17, 2021 through November 30, 2021 and again I left no electrical items plugged except the refrigerator and my bill for that billing period remained the same. I was in ******* again from January 21, 2022 through January 27, 2022 and my bill for that billing period was $334.00 ( a $60.00 increase although I wasn't even home for the whole billing period). This is definately an overcharge. I'm on a fixed SSI income and almost half of my income is going to my power bill. I need help with this issue.

  Business response

  03/07/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/02/08) */ Alabama Power Company Customer Service Supervisor responded to the customer directly over the phone. During the discussion, we discussed the Budget Billing Program and advised her of how it works in relation to her actual usage bills. Also, we discussed that she had a new all electric unit installed through a city program in March 2021. She stated that the unit never worked properly. She stated that the installers had to come back several times to make repairs. She stated that her home is very cold now in some rooms even when the unit is turned on. She also stated that when the unit comes on it makes a lot of noise. This is the first time she has used heat since she got the new unit. Customer explained that it makes sense to her now & that she knows that the unit is not working properly but has a hard time contacting the contractors. Customer satisfied with my response. I gave her my direct number & she will follow up with me once her repairs are made. Customer's higher usage bills are the result of a malfunction in her heating and air unit. Consumer Response /* (3000, 14, 2022/02/21) */ My name is ***** ******* and I'm writing concerning case # 85108518 (9a complaint against Alabama Power. In my I initial complaint I explained that my power bill had gone from around $181.00 to $275.00 in 2020. It had been around $276.00/m for about a year until last month when it jumped to $334.00. That is when I filed a complaint with the BBB. My latest bill (After I stopped using my AC unit) is $387.00. I need help. As I've stated before I live alone in a small house, I'm now out of town for a week each month and I'm very consciously using less electrical items (especially since I filed a complaint. I don't really understand why the case was closed. I was waiting until this billing period to see if there would be a change and it was but for the worst. I don't really have the energy to fight what seems to be a losing battle against a wrong. I feel really hopeless right now. Business Response /* (4000, 16, 2022/02/24) */ Spoke with customer and provided energy saving tips and offered payment arrangements. Meter was tested and no issues found. Meter will be changed out per customer request. Also advised customer to have things checked out on her end.

• Initial Complaint

  02/05/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  There has been a pattern of consistent increase in the billing (see attached) for my single family home with no reason or cause for the change. My schedule is pretty routine. My heating is gas. I am single and live alone. Yet the billing continues to increase. This has been going on for quite some time and I have sent many emails with no reasonable results. There is definitely something wrong and adjustments need to be made.

  Business response

  03/14/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 6, 2022/02/14) */ Multiple attempts have been made to reach this customer via phone but we have not been able to speak with her nor leave a message for her. I've emailed the customer and provided my name and phone number. I will be happy to discuss her concerns if she will contact me. Consumer Response /* (3000, 8, 2022/02/15) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) I have been emailing AL Power for months concerning the problems with the billing (see attached). I forwarded those same emails to the person responding again just recently (which wasn't mentioned). I have received no written response. I have more bills that showing where the bills increased from $119.10 in Dec 2019, $119.74 in Dec. 2020. In Nov. 2020 the bill was $76.24??? Business Response /* (4000, 11, 2022/02/24) */ Several more attempts have been made to reach the customer (by phone) but we have not received a response. We are happy to discuss her concerns with her if she will call us. In order to address this concern, we need to have a verbal interaction so we can work together to resolve her concerns. Consumer Response /* (4200, 13, 2022/02/28) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) I have emailed AL Power and requested that any questions that they have be emailed to me to avoid any confusion going forward. Since that time the current bill has been posted which is again extremely excessive (over $487.00 dollars). I am in the process of sending the same type of email I have been sending for these many months. So far no corrections have been made. I have attached over a dozen months of billing for their review. Business Response /* (4000, 15, 2022/03/02) */ We have no other response for this case.

• Initial Complaint

  01/24/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I rented a place that had 3 rental units on 1 address. A duplex on front With 2 seperate meters and a trailer in back with a shop on 1 meter. I got power in my name for the duplex up front. A few months ago we took the wole property after the ppl in trailer moved out. Shop was used as storage. We tried to switch power in our name but the person who rented it never had it shut off and we were told they couldnt do anything until they shut it off. They disconnected it finally and we called to put it in our name but the power company is trying to tell us we are responsible for their bill and refusing to turn it on. How can i be responsible for someone elses bill i had no control over?

  Business response

  02/15/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/01/25) */ Due to the status of the previous tenants active account for the shed at this location, Mr. ******** was advised to bring in the lease and id to set up service and to verify when he took over responsibility for the property. Based on the lease Mr. ******** is responsible for service since September 2021. We have advised that he is responsible for the service from the time of the lease.

• Initial Complaint

  01/20/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In the Fall of 2021 Alabama power replaced a meter on my house. Since then my power bill on that meter has been higher(house has 2 meters). I have had an electrician come out to my house to assess. There are a set of wires in my house that are getting too hot and is causing the power in my house to cut off until it cools off. The breaker cannot control the power at this time. I believe this meter has been incorrectly installed. I am requesting someone to come out asap and check the meter on my home. I have also complained about my bill being extremely too high due to there being no changes on that side of my home other than that meter being changed. I requested for someone from Alabama power to give me a call back regarding my bill about 2 weeks ago and no one has called yet. I have since paid my bill to reframe from being delinquent. This is an urgent matter.

  Business response

  02/11/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/01/21) */ APC and customer have worked out a resolution to the concern reported.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩