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There are several reasons why your bill may be higher than usual. Check to see if any of the following might explain your situation:
Check under the electricity billed for section on your bill to see whether it was based on an actual meter reading or an estimate. To see an example, go to item 13 on our bill sample.
Most meters are read every third month. In months when your meter is not read, we estimate your electricity use based on the last 12 months of usage at your premises.
If your past bills have been estimates, your current bill may be adjusted to reflect your actual use. If our estimate is lower than your actual use, your bill may be higher than expected.
Readings are occasionally missed when our meter readers are unable to gain access to your property. The result is an estimated bill based on your past power use.
Obstacles such as fences, locked gates and dogs can make it difficult for our meter readers to get to your meter. If you have a dog, post a sign on your property and keep the animal away from your meter.
If we miss a reading, we’ll leave a meter reading card in your mailbox. You can submit a meter reading:
Seasonal appliances and equipment - such as hot water or hot air furnace circulators, baseboard heaters, furnace fans, aeration fans, air conditioners, dehumidifiers and holiday lighting - can affect your electricity use.
Have you used your electric space heater, engine block heater or computer or printer more than usual? Have you added a refrigerator, freezer or waterbed to your home? Did you buy an aquarium or install a hot tub?
These and other new electrical items can lead to a higher power bill. To learn more about how electricity is used in your home, complete our five-minute EnergyCheck home energy audit.
Power use can increase during holidays, school vacations and other special events when you have more people and activity in your home.
Appliance defects can lead to surprisingly high power bills. Things to check include:
Contact an electrical or appliance repair contractor if you suspect an appliance is defective.
Your power use and bill can be affected by:
You can find the number of days in your billing cycle by looking under the Electricity billed for section on your bill. For an example, see item 13 on our sample bill.
If you're enrolled in our Equalized Payment Plan, your bill will include a settle-up amount every 12 months to bring your billing in line with your actual use. Check under the Other charges section of your bill for a settle-up amount.
For an example, see item 15 on our sample bill. To find out more information about your annual settle-up amount, see our Equalized Payment Plan section.
Your bill can be affected by one-time charges such as:
These and other one-time charges will be noted under the Other charges section of your bill. For an example, see item 15 on our sample bill.
Our meter readers are trained to record accurate readings, but if you suspect your reading is incorrect, you can verify your own meter reading. How to read your electric meter.
