;DETROIT -- If your August power bill seemed a tad high, don't necessarily blame your air conditioner.
   Detroit Edison accidentally skipped 27,000 of its 2.1 million customers when it sent out July electricity bills, forcing the utility to double up August bills for those consumers.
   For one July day out of the 30-day billing cycle, company computers failed to produce invoices for a smattering of customers across southeast Michigan. So some customers are now receiving both July and August charges -- often the most expensive months of the year because of air-conditioning use -- on one bill.
   Edison is extending a grace period to people who can't pay the hefty August bill all at once.
   Customers who would like to divide up the payment can make arrangements by calling customer service at (800) 477-4747.
   "We realize that this puts some people in a difficult position," said Lorie Kessler, spokeswoman for Edison. "It was an error on our part."

Detroit News

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