Hinds County waives electrical permit fees for winter storm victims
RAYMOND, Miss. (WLBT) – Hinds County officials are waiving electrical permit fees for residents in unincorporated areas who are still dealing with damage from last month’s winter storm.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the motion during Monday’s meeting. The waiver reduces the typical $131 electrical permit fee to $1 for qualifying residents.
“The cost of that permit is actually $131, so we waived $130, and they actually just pay $1 during that time. It’s a period after, as long as there’s evidence that the damage was a result of the storm,” Permit and Zoning Director Henry Davis said.
Ernie Miller is among the residents benefiting from the fee waiver. He discovered sparks coming from the electrical meter at his house, prompting Entergy to shut off his power due to safety concerns. The problem was caused by a tree branch weighing down a power line near his property.
“So now I got my permit. It only cost me a dollar,” Miller said.
Miller said the damage wasn’t immediately apparent after the storm.
“Normally after a storm, you see all the damage, but this was like something that happened after, and you just didn’t see it until it wasn’t for the rain last night. I wouldn’t have probably been aware that the other damage that was caused from the storm,” he said.
Requirements for fee waiver
To qualify for the reduced fee, residents must prove they live in an unincorporated area by providing a copy of their deed and electric bill. They also must provide photo proof that the power outage was caused by the storm.
Davis worked with supervisors on the initiative, which he said addresses an issue that comes up after major storms.
“That’s what I’m here for, to be a voice. And I will continue to be a voice, and I feel good about it. And if anything else I can do to help my area, I would do that also,” District 4 Supervisor Wanda Evers added.
Davis said the measure provides relief for residents still struggling with storm damage.
“And some of the citizens, when they leave out, they’re crying, because, you know, they still had the damage, but at least somebody took the time to show some consideration of what they were going through,” Davis said.
The fee waiver aims to help residents restore power more easily when future natural disasters occur.
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