In late summer, we tend to see an increase in members who contact our office about the amount of their bill being higher than average.
As an electric cooperative, owned by the members we serve, we want to help our members understand everything possible about billing, usage, and energy efficiency. As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, our goal is to meet the needs of our members. One specific need for members is a thorough understanding of electric usage and billing.
Electric bills are a direct reflection of electric usage – the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) used during that billing period. A kilowatt-hour is the unit of measurement used to calculate how much electric energy is used over time. One kWh equals 1,000 watts of electricity used for one hour. For example, using a 1,000-watt coffee maker for one hour is equal to one kWh of electric usage.
Electric meters measure usage. They track the number of kilowatt-hours a member uses in a billing period. As members use more electricity, the meter records that usage and bills increase because the number of kilowatt-hours increased. Similarly, as members use less electricity, bills decrease accordingly.
The reason some members’ bills are higher is because more kilowatt-hours were used. If bills are significantly higher than the previous month, that means significantly more kilowatt-hours were used in that billing period.
This summer, our service area is experiencing extreme temperatures, with high temperatures of more than 100 degrees and heat index numbers near 115 degrees. These days can prove difficult in many ways, and significantly higher electric usage is often a part of extreme temperatures.
During periods of intense heat, many factors result in higher monthly bills, but there are steps to take in order to curtail summer usage.
The first place to start is the thermostat. In almost every instance, heating and cooling represent the largest portion of a power bill. During extreme heat, air conditioners run for much longer periods of time. The recommended summer setting for a thermostat is 78 degrees. This setting can make a significant difference in an electric bill. The use of ceiling fans can make a room feel cooler and use a fraction of the energy of an HVAC system at a lower thermostat setting. Adding to a home’s insulation can also produce significant savings, and those savings last all year. Weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows can help keep cool air inside where it belongs. If possible, use heat producing appliances, like ovens and clothes dryers, in the early morning or late evening hours. This can help avoid adding heat to indoor air during the hottest part of the day.
We want to help our members conserve energy and keep bills reasonable. We offer a wide variety of energy efficiency materials to help members use energy wisely all year long. Visit our Energy Efficiency page to explore topics we can provide resources on.
Claiborne Electric is a not-for-profit electric utility. We’re committed to delivering reliable, cost-effective power to our members. We have a fantastic team of Member Service Representatives to help members understand their usage and billing. If members have questions about their bills, they should call our office (Homer: 318-927-3504 or Farmerville: 318-368-3011).
Please contact us with questions about billing, usage, and energy efficiency. We are here to help!