Elizabeth City’s January power bill reached an all-time high, even as officials are promising to cut electric rates.

Power usage surged to more than 36 million kilowatt-hours following abnormally cold weather, leading to a January electric bill of $3.4 million from the city’s provider, the North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency.

The next-highest bill was in January 2009, when it was $3.1 million.

City customers ultimately pay the bill.

Marie Layden, owner of Church Street Reflections, based in an 88-year-old, two-story house, got a January electric bill of nearly $600, the highest since she opened in 1994.