the Cost of Gas and Electricity

Electric service to a one bedroom home.

The price above reflects my average bill; sometimes it's a bit lower, and sometimes it's a bit higher. Utility bills can seem really mysterious because they often have a bunch of small charges which add up to a big number, and it's hard to translate "I bake cookies a lot" into charges for electric service.

If you want to compare your electric service charges to mine, I have an electric hot water heater and stove, and I rely on electricity for heating as well. I'm fairly energy efficient in terms of turning lights off when they're not needed, I do bake a great deal, and I have a computer on most of the time. My only appliances are a stove, a fridge, and a floor heater; I do not have a microwave, toaster, etc.

My electric service is generally good. This provider has experienced problems with power outages and rolling blackouts in the past, but this doesn't seem to be a problem thus far; I've only been living at this address for four months, so this may change.

I also really like that my bill breaks down the costs of things like electricity generation, and it explains how billing is calculated. This provider also offers a range of options, like low-income service plans and green-energy plans.

Most of the time, electric service in an area is only offered by one provider, which makes it challenging to comparison shop. However, many people pay too much for electricity because they don't take advantage of the many programs that utility providers offer.

If you think you are paying too much for electricity, ask about rebate programs for low-income people, or time of use metering, which offers incentives for using electricity at off-peak hours. When you sign up for new electric service, make sure to ask about any and all savings plans; many utilities have a plethora of brochures for you to look at which provide details on these plans.

Many utilities also offer a free energy assessment of your home; a utility staffer will come to your house and make suggestions for being more energy efficient, ranging from using compact florescent lightbulbs to weather stripping your windows properly. Some utilities even give out free energy-saver packs, and it doesn't hurt to ask for one!