As a result of our software upgrade, your bill has a new look! You will find the same important information with some new features to make managing your account even easier! If you have a question about your electric bill please give our office a call 361-771-4400!
These charges have always been part of your electric bill. However, with our new software upgrade, you will now see each charge broken down separately, giving you a clearer view of what makes up your monthly bill and providing greater transparency.
There are three charges you will see on your bill:
- Customer Charge. A fixed monthly fee that covers the costs of maintaining the equipment and infrastructure needed to provide electricity to your meter, such as power lines, substations, materials, labor, and operations. This charge applies regardless of how much electricity you use.
- Kilowatt-Hour (kWh) Charge. This is based on how much electricity you actually consume. Your usage can increase during very hot or cold weather because your air conditioning or heating runs more. Reducing energy use can lower this portion of your bill.
- PCRF (Power Cost Recovery Factor). This charge is the same for all co-op members but can change over time. It helps account for fluctuations in fuel costs without requiring the co-op to repeatedly change its electricity rates.
Customer Charge = keeping your service connected
kWh Charge = how much electricity you use
PCRF = changing fuel costs
Factors That Can Affect Your Electric Bill
Several factors can have a significant impact on your monthly electric bill. Extreme weather conditions, changes in household usage, and the length of the billing period can all cause electricity consumption to vary from month to month.
Extreme Temperatures: Heating and cooling can account for a substantial portion of a household’s energy use. During periods of extreme heat or cold, HVAC systems typically operate longer to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, resulting in increased electricity consumption.
Extreme Heat: As outdoor temperatures rise, air-conditioning systems must work longer and harder to cool your home. This increased operation can result in higher electricity usage.
Extreme Cold: During extremely cold weather, heating systems may operate for extended periods to maintain the desired indoor temperature. The greater the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the more energy may be required to maintain comfort.
Appliance Usage: Other household appliances, including refrigerators, freezers, and electric water heaters, can also contribute to increased electricity consumption. Their usage may increase depending on household conditions and how frequently they operate.
Electric usage can also vary because of changes in household size, daily routines, occupancy, appliance use, and other lifestyle habits. In addition, your bill may be higher or lower simply because the billing period contains more or fewer days, including periods affected by holidays or meter-reading schedules.
When reviewing your electric bill, it is important to focus on your own kilowatt-hour (kWh) usage rather than comparing your bill with that of a neighbor. Even homes that appear similar in size and construction can have significantly different electricity usage. The number of people in the household, appliances and equipment, thermostat settings, occupancy patterns, and individual lifestyle habits can all affect energy consumption.
Understanding these factors can help explain month-to-month changes in your electric bill and provide a better picture of your household’s individual energy usage.
Understanding Your Daily Usage on SmartHub
Our meters transmit readings to our office in the form of “data packets” approximately every four hours.
Daily usage reflects a full 24-hour period of recorded consumption. However, when reviewing usage before all of the data packets for that period have been received and processed, the displayed usage may not yet reflect the complete amount of consumption for that day. As additional meter readings are received and processed, the usage information is automatically updated. This is why you may see the usage amount change over time. For the most accurate daily usage information, we recommend reviewing the previous day's usage after 10:00 a.m. the following day.
Please be assured that our personnel do not manually change, alter, or adjust meter readings or usage data. Meter information is automatically transmitted from the meter to our system and processed as the data is received. Any changes you see in the reported usage are the result of additional meter data being received and processed, rather than a manual adjustment by our staff.