Guides / Bills and rebates
How to read your energy bill
kWh, therms, delivery charges, rate plans and what to compare month to month.
Your bill holds most of what you need to understand your energy use. Once you know where to look, it's easy to spot changes and choose the right rate plan.
Electricity
- kWh used this period, and often the same month last year
- Supply (or generation) charges: the energy itself
- Delivery (or distribution) charges: getting it to you
- Fixed monthly customer charge
- Your rate plan: flat, tiered or time-of-use
Natural gas
- Usage in therms or CCF (hundred cubic feet)
- Supply and delivery charges, like electricity
What to do with it
- Write down 12 months of usage to see your seasonal pattern.
- Compare with the same month last year, not last month; weather drives most of the change.
- If you're on a time-of-use plan, shift dishwashers, laundry and EV charging to off-peak hours.
- Ask your utility for a free or low-cost home energy assessment, if offered.
General energy-saving information. Savings vary by home, climate, equipment and rates. Efficient Home Help isn't paid by any utility, brand or contractor.