Guides / Electricity
Read your electric bill in five minutes
Find your usage, your rate and the fixed charges you can't change.
Most people only look at the total. Five minutes with the details shows how much electricity you use, what you pay per kilowatt-hour, and which parts of the bill you can actually change.
Find these numbers
- Usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh) for the billing period
- The usage graph comparing this month with last year
- Your rate: supply and delivery charges per kWh
- Fixed monthly charges, which you pay even if you use nothing
- Taxes and fees
Work out your real rate
Divide the total bill (minus fixed charges) by the kWh used. That's your real cost per kWh, and it's the number to use in our energy cost calculator.
What you can change
- How many kWh you use, which is most of the bill
- Sometimes your rate plan, such as time-of-use
- In some states, who supplies your electricity
General educational information. Savings depend on your home, climate, equipment and rates. Home Penny Pro isn't paid by any utility, supplier or brand.