CUB: 5 Questions You Should Ask About Your Utility Bills

CHICAGO, March 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As spring begins and Illinois takes a step closer to the summer cooling season, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) issued tips on the five questions utility customers should ask about their electric and gas bills.

"CUB holds hundreds of events across Illinois to analyze utility bills, but we also want to make sure people know how to analyze bills on their own,"  CUB Communications Director Jim Chilsen said. "If you get a high bill, it's important to ask five questions."

Am I paying for an alternative gas or electric supplier? Your bill is divided into two parts: supply and delivery. On the supply side, the biggest fee is the per-kilowatt-hour (electric) or per-therm (gas) supply charge, which covers the actual gas or electricity you use. If your supply costs skyrocket, it might be because you're paying a high rate with an alternative supplier. Scan the supply section to see if you spot the name of another company.

Am I using more energy? Did your energy usage spike last month because of weather or extra house guests? Most bills have a bar graph that displays your energy consumption and how it compares to past months.

Did my electric or gas utility get a rate hike? If the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) granted your utility a rate hike, the increase will be reflected in higher rates on the delivery side of the bill. The two biggest delivery charges are the monthly customer charge and a per-kilowatt-hour or per-therm distribution charge.

Is my meter being read? Some utilities may skip meter readings and estimate your usage. When they get the real reading, you may get an adjustment and that could lead to an uptick in your bill. In your bill's meter section, look for the words "Actual" or "Estimated" (or the letter "A" or "E"). If a utility estimates your usage two months in a row, find out why. The good news is more modern meters can be read remotely, so estimated bills are less common.

Is there something unusual? Is there a security deposit, installment plan, or budget billing adjustment adding dollars to your bill? Is there a new or different meter number? Call the utility for a full explanation, and request an on-site investigation if necessary.

Visit CUBHelpCenter.com to read a more detailed article: "5 Questions You Should Ask About Your Electric and Gas Bills." At the end of the article, enter CUB's Spring Giveaway for the chance to win five LED lightbulbs, which use 75 percent less energy than regular bulbs.

Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, the nonprofit utility watchdog group has saved consumers more than $20 billion by helping to block rate hikes and secure refunds. For more details, call CUB's Consumer Hotline, 1-800-669-5556, or visit CUB's award-winning website, www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org.                                      

SOURCE Citizens Utility Board