Company Advises Consumers To Understand Their Electric Bill

Deciphering all of the data on your utility bill is about as easy as reading a letter written in hieroglyphics, according to David Gable, president of Discount Power. So, most people simply move to the bottom of the page to reveal their monthly bottom line in power expenses.

The process of not knowing what or how individuals are charged makes it difficult to comparison shop; however, Shelton based Discount Power is seeking to make purchasing power more consumer friendly and cost effective.

“A lot of people don’t realize they haven options when it comes to buying power,” said Mr Gable. “We are really striving to simplify the process and educate consumers on how they can save money.”

What is A

Kilowatt Hour?

For starters, when reading your bill the key points to consider are your monthly-billed kilowatt hours and your current rate. The average household in Connecticut uses about 750-kilowatt hours of power a month. Use is calculated by consumption multiplied by the kilowatt-hour. For instance, if an appliance uses 45 watts, you divide by 1000 to convert it into kilowatts and then multiply that by the number of hours, hence giving you kilowatt hours (example: 45 W x 3.5 hrs /1000 = 0.1575 KWH).

 

Reading Your Bill

The amount due on your bill in a given month is based on your electric usage. Frequently, your meter is actually read by a power company employee. However, when a direct read is not done, the power company estimates your electric bill based on your past usage.

Also important to note, peak periods are typically December–January and June–August.

“The main point is that the customer’s actual usage is only about one-third of the bill as maintenance of lines and other fees are included in what they’re charged on a monthly basis,” explained Mr Gable.

 

Reading Your Meter

 You can track your energy consumption by reading your own meter. Meters include five dials that look like clocks. Reading from left to right, the five numbers make up the kilowatt hours consumed. If you want to plot your use on a day-to-day basis, it would only be necessary to read the last three digits.

Understanding your consumption and how you are billed are the first steps in power empowerment, according to Mr Gable, He adds that it is critical to know there are other options beyond CL&P (Connecticut Light and Power) and UI (United Illuminating). Currently, standard generation rates for CL&P are $8.27 and UI is $8.72, while Discount Power is $7.39.

There are several options available for Connecticut consumers based upon their individual needs.

Discount Power supplies residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal users with a comprehensive suite of electric energy alternatives and value-added services that maximize savings, lower consumption, and help protect the environment. To learn more visit www.discountpowerinc.com.