Coffelt v. Arkansas Power & Light Company

George Rose Smith, Justice.

This suit for a declaratory judgment was brought as a class action by the appellant, who seeks relief on behalf of all consumers who purchase electricity from the appellee, a public utility. The question presented is whether our constitutional prohibition against usury is violated by the utility company’s authorized practice of imposing a “late charge” against customers who do not pay their monthly bills within ten business days (fourteen calendar days) after the due date. This appeal is from a summary judgment upholding the validity of the late charge and…