High Bill Troubleshooting

Concerned that your bill is too high?

We are committed to helping you understand the factors that cause power use to increase resulting in a jump in your bill.  We can help diagnosis the energy-hungry culprits and offer energy-conserving options to reduce costs.

Evaluating Your Electric Bill

Your electric bill will vary from month to month and year to year.  The changing seasons, living conditions, heating systems and insulation levels all play a part in power consumption.

• Electric meters are very accurate.  If your meter should fail, it would actually slow down or stop, registering less power consumption, not more.
  
  
• Bill comparison with your neighbor is not a good idea.  There are too many variables between homes and lifestyle to make a reasonable comparison.
  
  
• Factors such as type and quality of insulation, heating system and lifestyle all affect the use of electricity in your home.

Common High Bill Causes

• Low outside temperatures and less daylight requires more heat to maintain the same comfort level, more energy to heat water, increased use of space heaters and lights are on longer.
  
  
• Water heater element failure can be a cause of increased power consumption.  Failure of the lower element no longer heats water, but continues to use power.
  
  
• Billing cycle.  The number of billing days shown on your billing statement can vary from one to four days.  Each additional day can add 3 percent to your bill.
  
  
• Furnace ductwork.  Duct systems can come loose, fall off or develop holes caused by aging equipment or animals.  Manufactured homes have crossover ducts that can come loose and cause one-half of the home to be colder.
  
  
• Lighting.  Additional lighting will increase energy consumption.  If you are adding lights, especially in areas where they will receive heavy use, consider installing compact fluorescent fixtures.  Contact our Energy Services Department for more information.
  
  
• Heaters.  Electric furnaces and baseboard heaters can dramatically increase electric consumption.  If you are away for an extended period of time, turn the heat down.  You may benefit from an automatic setback themostat.  Contact our Energy Services Department for more information.
  
  
• Estimated bills.  On occasion we may need to estimate your bill because of inclement weather or other circumstances.  The power you consume may be greater than that shown on the estimated bill.  The next meter reading reflects actual use from the previous “normal” reading which may result in a higher than normal bill.

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