Explanation of Your Electric Bill

What is in your electric bill?

The electric bill is the primary point of contact between a member and their cooperative. Knowing what each item in your bill means helps you to be an informed member-consumer. 

If you ever have a question about your bill, contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Click on the blue information (i) icons to learn more about that section of the bill.

What It All Means

The unique number associated with each electric service. One member may have multiple accounts, each with a different account number. 

A fixed charge that is collected to pay for fixed expenses. This charge occurs once a month for every meter regardless of the amount of energy used. This is the lowest the bill can ever be. 

The date the billing statement was generated.

The date by which the bill must be paid before a late fee is added.

The amount currently applied to the account, above what is owed. 

The total charges for this billing period.

The current amount due based on the calculated levelized payment. Only applicable to members on a levelized billing plan.

The amount charged for the largest amount of electricity drawn from the grid by a consumer. Demand is determined by the average kilowatt delivery during the 15-minute period when the consumption of energy is the greatest (peak). Not applicable to residential accounts. 

A debit or a credit on each member’s bill that fluctuates to reflect the cost of borrowed money.

A charge based directly on the amount of energy used. It is calculated by multiplying the number of kWh used by the rate per kWh.

A debit or credit on each member’s bill that fluctuates to reflect the market cost of fuel used to produce electricity. Learn more about the energy cost adjustment.

The number of kWh used during this billing period. 

In areas where applicable, a city, county, or state tax is calculated for the electricity used on the account. 

For payments not received by the next bill date, a late fee of 10% of the first $30.00 and 2% of any balance over $30.00 will be added. 

A method of measuring electrical use where the demand exceeds a meter’s measuring capacity. Very large homes or commercial/industrial facilities may have multipliers higher than 1.0.

The unpaid amount from the previous billing period.

A charge applied if the average power factor is less than 97%. Not applicable to residential accounts. 

The reading on the meter at the end of this billing period.

The reading on the meter at the beginning of this billing period.

This account’s rate schedule. 

How is your bill calculated?

This is an example of how a typical residential electric bill is calculated:

Usage is calculated by reading the meter every month 

  • Present Reading – Previous Reading = The number of Kilowatt-Hours

Other charges are calculated as a factor of the number of Kilowatt-hours used

  • kWh Usage x kWh rate = Energy Charge (in $)
  • kWh Usage x Energy Cost Adjustment = ECA Charge (in $)
  • kWh Usage x Debt Cost Adjustment = DCA Charge (in $)

The availability charge is a fixed monthly charge

  • Availability Charge = Availability Charge (in $)

These charges are added together to get the subtotal

  • Availability + Energy + ECA + DCA = Subtotal (in $)

Taxes are calculated and added

  • State Taxes
  • County Taxes
  • City Taxes

Device costs are added (if any) 

  • Surge Protector fee
  • Street Light fee

You are left with the total bill for this billing period.

Go Paperless

Want to save the paper and receive your bill digitally only? Sign up for paperless billing through your SmartHub account. You can toggle Paperless Billing on and off anytime and your bills will remain available in SmartHub as always.  

Smart Hub Screenshot paperless billing

SmartHub101: Pay by Cash

January 1, 2023

The Pay by Cash service, provided by Vanilla Direct, is available at dozens of local retail locations. A member wishing to pay with cash provides a barcode at checkout, makes the payment, and receives a receipt. Payment is posted to the member’s account instantly.

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