Your utility bill reflects your personal electric, water and sewer usage habits, solid waste removal and recycling, and private area lighting. Bills can vary significantly from month-to-month and are affected by weather, appliance efficiency, home insulation, days in the billing cycle and other factors.

The most likely reason for a change in your bill may be due to a change in how you used energy. Typically, a home is equipped with many energy-using appliances that are not always used the same amount each month. You may have had guests, which could have contributed to higher water usage (causing your electric water heater to run more, more lights being used or being used longer), more laundry, cooking, etc.

The time of year is another possible reason for changing bills. During the summer months, there are appliances that run a great deal more such as dehumidifiers, air conditioners, fans and swimming pool pumps. In the winter, most heating systems use electricity to circulate the heat. We also tend to spend more time indoors, running appliances and lighting for longer hours.

Finally, a bill may be higher or lower because there was a difference in the number of days between readings. It states on your electric bill the number of days between readings.

If you think your bill has changed drastically and none of these factors seem to apply, call our Customer Service representatives at 661-1660. One of our representatives may be able to offer an explanation or make arrangements for a reread of your meter.

YOUR UTILITY BILL IS FOR SERVICES YOU HAVE ALREADY USED.

Therefore, utility bills are due and payable when received. Payment is overdue 23 days after the bill is mailed to you.

Each customer has his/her own account number, which is located at the very top of the bill along with the address of that service. When inquiring about your bill, it is very helpful if you have your account number or the correct address of the service.

IF YOU ARE ENROLLED IN THE BPU ELECTRONIC PAYMENT PROGRAM, A STATEMENT ABOVE THE SUMMARY WILL INFORM YOU THAT YOUR BILL WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM YOUR BANK ACCOUNT ON ITS DUE DATE.

The PERFORATED bottom third of your bill provides you with an account summary. This includes the current amount you owe for electric, water, sewer, sanitation and the total. It also includes the amount for those utilities that may be past due and the total of your bill.

A late fee of 1.5% is charged for bills that are more than 23 days owing. If your bill is not paid before you are billed a second time, penalties are added.

Your utilities may be disconnected 15 days after written notice has been mailed to the customer. This notice may not be issued until at least 20 days have elapsed from the due date.

You have several payment methods to choose from:

• You may enroll in the electronic payment plan
• You may mail your check and stub in the return envelope
• You may pay in person at 92 Steele Street or City Hall
• You may drop your check and stub in the night deposit box located at the front corner of the BPU Business Offices at 92 Steele Street, at the police station, and main entrance and inner lobby of city hall.

WHICHEVER METHOD YOU CHOOSE, PLEASE INCLUDE THIS PORTION OF YOUR BILL WITH YOUR PAYMENT TO ENSURE YOUR PAYMENT IS PROPERLY CREDITED.

The middle section of your bill provides information regarding your current utility usage.

First, this section indicates the date of your last payment for each utility.

The date of your most recent reading is noted, as is the date of your former reading. Generally, your meter is read every 30 days, but there are times when your meter reading may be for less than 30 days or more than 30 days.

Next to the reading is an abbreviation indicating whether the reading was an actual reading (A), an estimated reading (E), a final reading (F), an adjustment (J), or a customer reading (T for TAG). Sometimes, the BPU must estimate your reading. An estimated reading is based upon a two-year history of usage and seasonal weather factors.

Next you see the numbers and date of your most recent meter reading and the date of the last meter reading. Subtract the previous reading from the current reading to get the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) and units of water used during this period.

The detail summary of charges includes:

• The Basic Service Charge of electricity, water and sewer. This is the cost of meter reading, record maintenance, billing, and other customer services and is charged every month even if there is no product used.
• The per unit charge for water (a unit = 100 cubic feet or 748 gallons) and sewer. Sewer charges are based upon measured units of water used each month.
• Demand and reactive demand charges which relate to a customer's maximum hourly rate of energy use or load requirement during the billing period (usually for commercial and industrial customers)
• The energy charge (per KWh) is multiplied times the number of kilowatts used as read on your meter.
• The fuel cost adjustment charge per KWh fluctuates each month and reflects the change in actual cost of fuel or energy to the utility.
• Various charges relating to off-street lighting, temporary services and transformer rentals and discounts.
• Sales tax

Once again at the bottom of the detail summary is the current amount due, the amount past due and the total amount due.

The bottom third of your bill is a history of the past 12 months usage. Each month includes the number of days in the billing cycle, the total number of electric kilowatt-hours and water units used in that month and a breakdown of the kilowatt-hours and units of water used per day.

At the very bottom of your bill is your monthly message. This is an area for the utility to inform customers about various utility occurrences and topics.