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Understanding Your Bill

Think your power bill is too high? Consider this:

Phone Identify Patterns

Identify Patterns

Weather patterns impact energy bills. Were temperatures higher or lower than normal during this billing period? We winter days during this period colder, indicating some form of electric heat or higher water heater use? Were summer days hotter resulting in additional air conditioning use?

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Seasonal Temperatures

Additional heating or cooling loads cause an increase in use. Heating and cooling your home averages around 44% of total energy use.

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Days of Use

Billing days vary due to the number of days in a month – a billing cycle may be shorter or longer to keep your bill’s due date during the work week. Is the number of billing days greater than other months? Is the daily average significantly different?

Phone Accurate History

Accurate History

Review your account's kilowatt-hour (kWh) history for the past 13 months. Compare the most recent month to the same month one year ago. Weather fluctuations could be a factor in major differences. Kilowatt-hours used are the main driver of costs.

Phone True Electric Bill

True Electric Bill

Consider charges beyond electric service:
• Service fees
• Past-due amounts
• Charges for products or services
• State and local taxes
• Sales tax rates
• County franchise fees

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Equipment Maintenance

Appliances more than 15-years-old, may decrease in efficiency and require more energy to do their jobs. It's important to clean or replace the condenser, coils or filters on some appliances regularly. Also consider replacing the appliance.

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Appliances

Appliances DON'T use the same amount of electricity. Recently purchase a new appliance or receive one as a gift? WFEC's Appliance Calculator is a great way to determine how much energy appliances use.

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Lifestyle

No two households use energy the same way, so comparing your energy bill to your neighbor’s is like comparing apples to oranges. It’s best to compare your current use to your past use - it's more accurate. Has the size of your household changed? What about household habits?

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Renovations

Have you recently remodeled? If you have underground wiring, electrical wires may have been nicked during digging, resulting in a direct short. Sometimes room additions are completed without proper sizing of HVAC causing additional heating and cooling loads.

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The Meter is Always Running

If you leave your home for an extended period of time, remember some appliances continue to use electricity even while you're gone - especially water heaters, freezers, refrigerators, HVAC systems and well pumps.

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Energy Audits

Experiencing an unusually high bill or interested in energy conservation tips? Request a free energy audit. A co-op representative will visit your home or business to perform a walk-through audit and obtain additional information. This allows the auditor to pinpoint problems and make recommendations about ways to reduce electric bills.

Billing FAQ

How much energy does the average home use?

Average WFEC residential members use approx. 1,300 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy monthly. Calculate your home’s energy use with our Energy Calculator and Appliance Calculator.

Will I be compensated for my power being out?

No. For reasons that can be technical, physical, or acts of God, WFEC cannot guarantee uninterrupted energy to your home or business. While the power is out, no electricity is being consumed, so your meter does not register any consumption for billing. Upon restoration, none of your appliances will consume more energy than usual. 

If you, or any member of your household, have a condition that requires electric power, it is your responsibility to have a back-up plan. That plan may include moving to another location where power is available or utilizing a generator during power outages.

Remember that in a time of catastrophic loss of electric power such as during a hurricane, there may be no electricity flowing anywhere within 100 miles.

Why does WFEC recommend not using heat-generating appliances during the hottest part of the day in the summer?

WFEC recommends using heat-generating appliances during the coolest part of the day (early morning/late evening) so that they don’t compete with your air conditioning system. Appliances like stove tops, dishwashers and ovens generate heat and can compete with air conditioners to keep the indoor air from staying cool. This helps reduce cooling costs.

What are some tips to keep my home cooler by using appliances wisely?

  • Avoid baking or broiling on hot days. Only use stove tops when necessary. Keep lids on pots to hold in heat.
  • Use microwaves to cook or choose meals that don’t require cooking – sandwiches, salads, chilled soups, or grilling.
  • Wash clothes and run the dishwasher after the sun goes down. Washers, dryers and dishwashers produce humidity, which can make the air inside your home feel uncomfortable. When you use them, use cool water instead of warm.
  • Trade incandescent light bulbs, which burn hot, for energy-efficient LED or compact fluorescent bulbs, which produce little heat.
  • Turn off TV sets and lamps when you’re not using them. Some appliances use electricity even when they’re turned off. This can add up to $150 to electric bills annually. Unplug items that are not used frequently.
  • Keep the temperature of refrigerators between 38 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and freezers at about 5 degrees. Refrigerators that run inefficiently emit more heat.
  • Defrost freezers before ice builds up. Ice-laden freezer walls make the unit work inefficiently.
  • Run kitchen exhaust fans when cooking in the summer, and turn on bathroom fans about 15 minutes before hopping in the shower. This helps rid the house of humid air.