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Frank and Susie Tebow typically spend their summer afternoons sitting in their dimly lit living room on North Springer Street.
The couple said recent increases in electricity rates have forced them to change their living habits.
The price for electricity from AmerenCIPS, the division serving Carbondale and other regions of Illinois, has increased by roughly 50 percent since a 10-year statewide rate freeze expired in January 2007. It has left customers like the Tebows to improvise.
In the past few months, the Tebows' electricity bills have risen by more than 70 percent, said Frank Tebow, 73. He said the increase is harder on those living on a fixed income, such as he and his wife.
Besides the lack of lighting, the couple said they have to cut down on luxuries such as watching the Southern Illinois Miners play baseball and attending university sporting events.
"It diminishes the budget," Frank Tebow said. "You have to learn to adapt the best you can."
The couple is trying to keep their bill low by only using window air conditioning units in select rooms and using energy efficient light bulbs. They said they have been dealing with Ameren for years and would like to see more competition in the area.
Cindy Johnson, 52, said the recent rate increase has made it hard for her family and her business. Johnson babysits five children at her home on Carico Street where she lives with her mother, Jo Brumley, 82.
Johnson said her bills have increased by more than one-third in the past year. She said it has become so bad that her mother is currently trying to apply for energy assistance through Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council.
Western Egyptian offers energy assistance for low-income residents struggling to cover their energy expenses, along with several other services.
Ameren is also trying to help those struggling with utility bills.
Leigh Morris, spokesman for Ameren Illinois Utilities, said Ameren's rate increase was necessary to provide the area with quality utility delivery and maintenance. In years past, Ameren has donated to several organizations that help its region's customers.
Earlier this year, Ameren donated money to Crosswalk Community Action Agency located in West Frankfort. The agency used the money to purchase fans that were distributed in June to those who qualified.
While Ameren does not offer bill forgiveness, Morris said, it is working with a rate relief program designed to lower the average customer's rate. The relief aimed to limit the bill increase for customers by 19 percent from 2006 to 2007, according to a 2007 release from Ameren. The release also promised further relief throughout the next two years.
Morris also said that he encourages Ameren customers to apply for a budget-billing plan. Customers on the plan would pay the average monthly price of the previous year's electric bill each month. The plan would keep bills at a constant rate so customers would be better equipped to plan their monthly expenses.
"Anybody, at little or no cost, can reduce the amount of electricity or natural gas that they use," Morris said.
For those seeking energy assistance, the Western Egyptian Jackson County office can be reached at 618-684-3341. For information about electric rates and ways to save, visit ameren.com.
Justin Lange can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 258 or jlange@siu.edu.
