Business FAQs

We do not have the capability to accommodate specific day drafts at this time.

Be sure to always review your bill as soon as you receive it. If you have any questions, please contact us. 

You can transfer your electric service or update banking information online or by calling us at 1-888-430-5787 M-F 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. CST.

Properly installed surge protectors help prevent damage to electronic equipment caused by momentary large voltage surges. These surges are associated with events such as lightning strikes, short circuits, load switching, equipment failure and similar unusual events.

Some electrical equipment in commercial buildings requires three-phase power. For example, electric motors and large air conditioning units.

There are several things to look for that can increase or reduce your long-term costs.

Lighting Loss Factor (LLF) is specified in a design to create a safety margin for the depreciation of the light output over time. A design that doesn't compensate for LLF won't perform as specified after a few years of exposure and bulb age. A design with a low LLF, usually .8 or a 20% margin, costs more to purchase but less to run, which can result in a net savings in the long term.

Average, minimum and maximum foot-candles. These are often used as measures of how evenly the light is distributed by a given design. It can be misleading to state an evenness measure in terms of average foot-candles. It is possible to use fewer, higher-power lamps, to create a given "average" illumination that is actually quite uneven in areas. While this can result in a lower purchase price, these designs can significantly add to operating costs.

Uniformity Ratio. A good lighting design can provide adequate illumination with energy-efficient bulbs by increasing its uniformity. A more accurate measure of total cost of ownership is the Uniformity Ratio. This is derived by dividing the average foot-candles by the minimum foot-candles, where a lower ratio is better. A good design typically has a 6-1 ratio, with a 1-1 only achievable, in practical terms, by the sun.

Security lighting should provide adequate lighting for safety in these areas:

• your parking lot 
• along routes to and from your building 
• strategic locations such as rear or hidden entrances 

Brightness should be specified to give enough light for security personnel or police to see suspicious activity but not so much as to create glare in security cameras.

We can complete a rate analysis to compare your electric usage against available rates and help you decide the best rate for your business. You may contact us online or you may call us at 1-888-430-5787 M-F 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.  CST.

The deposit required for a commercial account is twice the average monthly bill of the location being connected. If we do not have sufficient usage history for your location, we will estimate your usage based on the type of business and size of your building.

You can view/print a PDF version of your current bill and past 12 billing statements online.

To obtain a copy of your past/current billing statement, login and select “Billing and Payment History”. 

Business customers can enroll in Paperless Billing, Auto Pay, Budget Billing, and Project Share through the Online Customer Care section of our website.

We offer many different payment options for your convenience:

• You can make a one-time payment online using your checking or savings account. You may pay from the Pay Bill page. 
• You can mail a check or money order (never cash) in the envelope provided with your bill. 
• Auto Pay is a free bill payment program where you authorize your bill amount to be automatically debited from your checking or savings account. 
• Find an authorized payment location to pay in person.
• Pay instantly with a credit card online using BillMatrix or by calling BillMatrix at 1-800-835-2702.

Debit/Credit card payments are handled through the BillMatrix service. You will need your account number to make a payment.

We concentrate our initial restoration efforts in the areas and on the power lines that restore electricity to the greatest number of people in the shortest period of time. We place emphasis on vital community needs such as hospitals, emergency services, public safety, and water and sewage facilities. Please be patient, and we will restore your electric service as soon as we possibly can.

Our Business Service Center hours are M-F 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. CST. You may contact us online by sending an email. Email inquiries will receive a response from a Business Service representative within one business day.  

You may report a power outage 24 hrs/7 days a week at 1-800-888-2726.

Alabama Power Payments
P.O. Box 242
Birmingham, Alabama 35292

Note: Mail a check or money order - never send cash through the mail. Use the envelope included with your bill if possible. Always be sure to include your payment stub and write your account number on your check.

If you are unable to pay your bill before the due date and would like to request a payment arrangement, you can check your eligibility online.

We have an establishment fee of $40, included on your first bill, along with any applicable taxes. There will also be a deposit needed to start your electric service account. To find out what your deposit will be, please complete your electric service request online.

You can check if we provide electric service to your address online. Be sure to choose the option to the right that states “For Business Services, click here”. Keep in mind that newly constructed buildings may not yet show in our system.

If you wish to stop your electric service account, we will ask for your account number and one of the following:

• Web Access Code from your bill
• Social Security number / Tax ID number or
• Email Address (if on Paperless Billing)

You will also need the date you would like to stop electric service and the address where we should mail your final bill.