Clark Public Utilities is giving customers a one-time credit on their March bill to help ease the financial strain caused by this especially cold winter.

“Long stretches of freezing temperatures took a toll in Clark County and we saw electric usage increase dramatically,” Clark Public Utilities Board of Commissioners president Jane Van Dyke said in a news release. “Staff came to the board and suggested using a portion of 2016 surplus revenue to help customers with these high bills.”

During a meeting Tuesday, the utility’s board of commissioners approved a plan that distributes about $10 million of 2016 surplus funds back to customers. Just about every residential, commercial and industrial ratepayer will see a credit equal to about 24 percent of their average monthly energy costs this winter.

“It’s for everyone except for basically customers who have final bills and are moving out of the system — customers who didn’t have March read,” utility spokeswoman Erica Erland said.

EqualPay customers and Guarantee of Service Program customers will see the credit applied to their account balance, rather than their regular payment.