Besides bracing for cold weather, Alabamians also had to brace for the shock of high power bills as a harsher than normally winter led to an increase in electricity usage.

But the state agency that regulates utilities in Alabama said customers who are unable to pay their bills can have their accounts placed under temporary financial hardship to help weather the burden.

"The increased usage by customers in January 2018 has contributed to higher utility bills and an increase in customer billing/payment inquiries," the state Public Service Commission said in a statement to AL.com. "The Alabama Public Service Commission and its regulated power and gas utilities understand this may create temporary financial hardships for some customers. Alabama Power, as well as Spire Alabama and Spire Gulf, are working with its customers, as appropriate, to develop payment arrangements when customers find themselves temporarily unable to pay their utility bills."

The utilities said the higher bills are due to usage, not rate increases or billing issues.

Birmingham activist Frank Matthews, president of the Outcast Voters League, was in Montgomery early this week lobbying on behalf of customers who saw their power bills increase by as much as $300 in January. Matthews, who said he received complaints from more than 500 people, met with the commission and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey's office.

The Outcast Voters League is also setting up a symposium to help rate payers become more energy efficient and save money on their utility bills.

"Let's come together as Alabamians and address these hard case issues as it relates to energy due to the cold snap ...," Matthews said in a statement.

The PSC said the hardship plans are being made available by both Alabama Power and Spire, the state's largest private energy companies.

Alabama Power customers can also get relief through budget billing, where rate payers can pay an averaged bill each month based on yearly usage.