COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- The unusual cold snap across the South earlier this month is showing up in customers' heating bills.
Utilities in the Carolinas say average heating cost increases of 50 percent are forcing more customers to ask for help with payments.
At least one customer seeking assistance in Columbia this week said her bill doubled, while her income as a waitress was down because of the economy.
Utilities offer a variety of payment assistance programs, including one that divides a year's worth of bills into 12 equal payments to avoid spikes from weather extremes.
Utility spokesmen say the sustained cold forced customers' heating units to work overtime just to maintain their usual household temperature.
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