507-847-3520 or 800-321-3520
Fax: 507-728-8366
77100 US Highway 71
PO Box 69
Jackson, MN 56143-0069
info@federatedrea.coop

High Bills

Think your electric bill is higher?

If your electric bill seems high, the first thing to do is compare the kilowatt-hours (kWhs) of electricity used with your previous bills for the same time period. It was a colder winter this year. Next, if your kWh usage is similar, but your current bill is higher, the reason for the higher bill could be the cost of electricity itself. Electric costs have gone up in recent years due in part to the power cost adjustment (PCA). The PCA passes on the higher costs of power needed by the cooperative if the power plant has an unexpected break down or needs more on peak days (your cooperative contracts for a specific amount of power; if more is needed, it must purchase it on the expensive open market). To help keep the PCA low control your electricity use during peaks and join the co-op’s money-saving programs for heating, cooling and water heating.

Next, make sure your electric bill is accurate. If you get a bill saying you used 2,000 kWh when you normally use 200 kWh, perhaps you read the meter wrong or the reading was entered wrong at the co-op office. Check the meter readings on your bill with your present meter reading. If you find an error, report it.

Also, remember to read your meter on the same day each month. If you read your meter on the first day of the month and then the tenth day the next month, that accounts for nine extra days of electricity use on the bill.

Don't compare your bill with your neighbors. Too many factors are involved — size of house, number of people, type of heating system, etc.
Monitor your use of electric heat. Some people forget to turn their electric heat down when they aren’t home or asleep; a programmable thermostat can help. Others use it in places with bad insulation. Others might use two different sources of electric heat and remember to turn one off, but leave the other running. This causes the second source to use more electricity to make up the difference. Space heaters can also raise electric bills.
Consider your outbuildings. Do you have block heaters on tractors, well pumps or heat lamps running? How about your home itself? Did you get a new hot tub or plasma TV? Charging all of the kids’ cellphones will affect your electric bill.
In addition, sump pumps can get stuck on if their water drain pipe freezes up. Do you have a well pump? Do you have a second refrigerator or freezer that is only half-full? Half-full freezers and refrigerators run more to maintain their temperature. How about your water habits? How many hot showers or baths do your family take a day? Are you drying more laundry since you can’t hang clothes outside as easily in the winter?

To give you a better idea of how much power you are using and what uses it, two tests exist.

First, look at how fast your meter is turning. Then flip off all of your breakers (even your outbuildings). The meter should stop. Next, flip on the breakers one by one to see which makes the meter turn the fastest. This enables you to narrow down what is using the most power.

Second, read your meter at the same time every day for a week. Check the results. Does one day stand out in usage? What work or chores caused the jump? Pinpointing electrical usage can help you save electricity. Understanding your electric bill may take a little investigation on your part.

Electricity is still one of the most economical sources of energy available.