FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Power customers will see a slight break on their March electric bills following action by the Kentucky Public Service Commission.

In late January, Eastern Kentucky experienced nearly two weeks of below-freezing temperatures. The extended cold drove up electricity demand and caused energy costs to spike.

Those higher costs are passed along to customers through a fuel adjustment charge, which reflects changes in the energy market.

Because of the prolonged cold, the January fuel adjustment, which appears on March bills, was expected to quadruple.

Kentucky Power asked the Public Service Commission for approval to remove $5 million of that increase and spread the cost across May, June and July, when demand is typically lower.

The commission approved the request Monday.

As a result, the average residential bill in March is now expected to be about $239 instead of $250.