Each year when Claiborne Electric begins to bill for winter electric usage, the Co-op sees an uptick of member complaints about winter bills.
Electrical energy is one of the last services in a household budget that people pay for after the fact. There is a direct and significant correlation between temperature extremes and electric consumption. This month’s newsletter contains a helpful article about electric usage and billing.
The frustration of receiving an electric bill that is higher than a member imagined it should be is understandable. There are two important things to remember when receiving winter bills. First, Claiborne Electric’s cost of service is a great value for members. The LPSC electric cost comparison for December shows the average cost for 1,000 kWh of electricity in Louisiana was $128.43. Claiborne Electric’s cost was lower than the state average at $126.50.
The second important thing to remember is that a traditional electric bill represents electric usage that happened an average of 45 days prior to the due date. It can be difficult to open a bill when it’s 70 degrees outside to see an amount that is higher than expected. Often, that bill can represent usage that occurred when temperatures were in the 20s or 30s. When Claiborne Electric reformatted bills last year, the new format was able to give members not just a nicer and more modern look, but a bill that provides significantly more information than the previous format. One section of the bill now contains temperature highs and lows during the billing period, so members can see the direct correlation between temperatures and usage.
Claiborne Electric has a fantastic team of Member Service Representatives who would be glad to answer any billing question or walk through usage with a quick phone call. Members can also monitor their daily usage through our free SmartHub app. Billing questions can by answered by an MSR by calling the Homer office at (318) 927-3504 or the Farmerville office at (318) 368-3011.