There are many components when it comes to reading and understanding your monthly electricity bill. Each bill is different, especially when you factor in location and utility company. With that being said, general terminology might not be effective when looking at your bill. However, by implementing all of these elements, you will be able to read and understand your energy bill. We will cover each state we serve. We will also delve into kWh and net metering. Also, we will provide examples from various utility companies in the areas we serve so you know what to look for on your next electric bill.

Understanding Solar Power

Before we explore your electricity bill, we must explain how solar energy works. During the day and when the sun is out, your solar panels turn sunlight into electricity. This can be used to power your home. This means that if your solar panels produce any excess electricity, it will be sent back to the grid. Your energy costs can be reduced significantly during this process.

Deciphering Your Bill

The utility company will typically show the amount of energy you’ve used and the amount of energy your solar panels produced. Look for the section that details your energy usage in kWh. This will show you how much electricity you've consumed within a billing period. What exactly is kWh? kWh is a unit of measurement for electricity consumption. It represents the amount of energy used with a power rating of one kilowatt. Understanding kWh is crucial for assessing your energy consumption accurately.

Mastering the Different Types of Electricity Rates

1. Fixed-rate: These electricity plans are gaining traction due to the security they offer, guaranteeing a consistent rate for electricity, irrespective of the consumption levels. Such plans simplify budgeting and energy usage management, and could lead to long-term savings. Fixed-rate plans are ideal for households seeking steady and predictable energy costs.
2. Variable-rate: These electricity plans offer flexibility to capitalize on fluctuating market conditions. Electricity prices can vary greatly based on time of day or season. Variable-rate plans, which charge different rates throughout the day, can lead to savings by adapting to these price changes.
3. Time-of-use (TOU): TOU electricity tariffs are popular among households aiming to cut down on their energy bills. TOU tariffs set different rates based on the time of day or season, charging more during peak times compared to off-peak periods. This encourages energy use during cheaper times, significantly reducing overall energy costs.
4. Real-time pricing (RTP): RTP provides an innovative approach for households to manage their electricity costs. It enables access to the energy market to buy energy when prices are low, leading to savings when electricity is purchased at times when prices fall below the regular rate. RTP offers increased flexibility and more control over energy consumption and bills.

Common Changes on Your Electric Bill

Understanding your electricity bill involves being cognizant of several standard charges that impact the calculation of your usage cost. Typically, your electricity bill will consist of the energy cost (quantified in kilowatt-hours), delivery fees, taxes, and other potential surcharges or credits. Furthermore, your location may provide access to various energy rate plans or electricity rate plans, influencing your total costs. For a precise computation of your usage cost, it's crucial to comprehend these common charges and their effect on your electric bill's total due. The energy cost, charged in kilowatt-hours, signifies the total electricity consumed to power your home or business. This charge can be a fixed rate or a demand-based rate.

Bill Breakdown by State

Connecticut

Eversource

On your Eversource bill, it’s important to look at your ‘Plus kWh to Eversouce,’ this will determine how much energy you sent back to the grid. ‘Minus kWh to Eversource’ determines how much energy you used within the billing period. ‘Current Net Bill Usage’ displays how much energy you still have left.

Source: Eversource (old layout)

Source: Eversource (new layout)

UI (United Illuminating)

For UI, review your ‘Electricity Usage’ and ‘Delivery Daily Usage Chart’ to see your kWh usage and how much you are receiving back from the grid.

For the new UI utility bill layout, it’s important to look at ‘Your Meter Details’ to determine your kWh usage for that billing period.

Source: UI (old layout)

With the new UI layout, you can still see your usage history by reading the ‘Usage History - Total Monthly kWh,’ and you can review the breakdown of this by looking at ‘Your Meter Details’.

Source: UI (new layout)

Louisiana

Entergy

For Louisiana residents, your Entergy bill will label ‘Meter Reading,’ which will determine how much energy you use from the grid, and the amount of energy you send back to the grid within the billing period. ‘Company kWh to Customer’ is the amount of energy you used from the grid, and ‘Customer kWh to Company,’ is the amount of energy you sent back to the grid.

Source: Entergy

Massachusetts

National Grid

Your utility bill from National Grid will display your ‘Electric Usage History’ in a graph and chart form.

Source: National Grid

New Jersey

PSE&G

PSE&G shows ‘Total kWh In’ and ‘Total kWh Out.’ The ‘Total kWh In’ is the energy you have consumed from the grid. ‘Total kWh Out’ is the amount of energy you send back to the grid.

Source: PSE&G

A great thing about PSE&G, they show your ‘Net Metering Program’ for the past 12 months. It’s good to compare, especially during the hotter and colder months, to see what practices you might have undergone to make a difference in the amount of energy you consumed.

Source: PSE&G

Philadelphia

PECO

For Philadelphia residents who have PECO as their utility company, refer to your energy usage by reviewing ‘Your Usage Profile’ to better understand your kWh.

Source: PECO

Rhode Island

Rhode Island Energy

Rhode Island Energy provides a helpful chart that shows your Electric Usage Month month-by-month.

Source: Rhode Island Energy

Conclusion

It’s important to read and understand your utility bill once you install solar. However, we know it can be daunting, especially because each utility company is different. Once you become familiar with the terminology and structure, it becomes easier. Understanding your bill is a vital part of ensuring you are making the most of your solar panels. Implementing energy efficiency practices and your solar panels can significantly impact your long-term savings.