Monday, Mississippi Power ratepayers waited in a line that went out the door of the power company’s Picayune Customer Service Center to file for their refund.

Susie Smith and her husband were among the dozens of ratepayers in Picayune who opted to visit the center, located at 600 West Canal St., during the first day of the refund period. Smith said they’ve been customers for more than 20 years and would like to get refunded.

“Anything we get would be a blessing,” Smith said.

Mississippi Power ratepayers have between Oct. 12 and Oct. 30 to choose whether they want to receive refunds via bill credit or a refund check. On Aug. 7, the Mississippi Public Service Commission approved Mississippi Power’s refund plan and is allowing up to 120 days for the power company to complete the refund process. The refunds are a result of a ruling by the Mississippi Supreme Court declaring that a rate increase caused by cost overruns on the construction of the Kemper County energy facility was illegal, according a press release from Mississippi Power.

Bill Snyder, the power company’s corporate communications specialist, said they’ve received a positive response from customers so far.

“We’ve had a lot of calls at our Biloxi and Gulfport office and most of the offices around the service territory. We have folks waiting in line and it’s moved very steady. People have also been responding with requests online,” Snyder said.

To make the process easier, the power company recently posted a video on their website that offers tips on how to make the check or credit choice via the Internet.

Snyder said the video is meant to make the process easier for customers who want to select a refund option in the comfort of their home.

Ratepayers who wish to receive bill credit don’t have to take any action; the credit will be automatically placed into their account on Nov. 9. If ratepayers decide to opt for a refund check, they can visit mississippipower.com/refund now until Oct. 30 to choose that refund option. Ratepayers can also choose the option by visiting their local Mississippi Power office or by calling customer service at 1-800-532-1502, according to the press release.

Jeff Shepard, spokesman for Mississippi Power, said the average residential refund will be $650, depending on the customer’s bill and usage. That refund will be issued to customers who received service during the entire 28-month period where rates increased from April 2013 to July 2015, according to Item coverage in September.

Former ratepayers will automatically receive a refund check, which will be mailed to their last known mailing address. Shepard encourages them to contact the company to notify them about any address changes.

The power company will begin mailing checks on Nov. 9, the press release stated.