Why is my electric bill so high?
Type your bill and an earlier bill that was lower. The tool calculates both bills from the official tariff of your utility and shows how much each reason adds, in dollars: more kWh, the season, a higher tier, more days, an adjustment charge that changes each month and a rate change.
Read my bill (optional)
Choose the PDF of your bill, or paste its text. The tool finds the utility, the kWh, the meter read dates and the amounts, and fills the form. Your bill is read in your browser and is not sent to anyone.
How to use the bill explainer
- 01
Select your state, your utility and the rate schedule on your bill.
- 02
Type the kWh, the billing month and the days of the high bill. The amount is optional.
- 03
Type the same values from an earlier bill that was lower, for example last month or the same month last year.
- 04
Click Explain the bill. Each reason shows its part of the difference in dollars.
The usual reasons for a high electric bill
More kWh. This is the most common reason. Heating and air conditioning use much electricity, so a cold or hot month can add hundreds of kWh. A space heater, a new appliance, guests and a home office also add kWh.
The season. Many utilities charge a higher rate in summer, some in winter. The same kWh can cost more in July than in May.
Tiers. Some tariffs charge more for the kWh above a limit. When your usage goes above the limit, each extra kWh costs more than your average price.
More days. A billing period can have 27 to 35 days. More days means more kWh and more of the daily charges.
Adjustment charges that change each month. The fuel, supply and other adjustment charges of many utilities change each month or each season.
A rate change. A rate case or a new rider can increase all bills. See the recent rate changes and the monthly bill comparison.
My electric bill doubled in one month
A bill that is two times higher than the month before almost always has more kWh. Compare the kWh on the two bills first. These are the usual causes:
- Heating or cooling. Electric heat, a heat pump in cold weather, and air conditioning in a heat wave can double the kWh of a home.
- An estimated meter read. If the utility estimated last month, this bill includes the kWh that the estimate missed. The bill says "estimated" or "actual" next to the meter read.
- A longer billing period. A 35-day bill after a 27-day bill has about 30% more days.
- A higher price per kWh. A summer rate, a higher tier or a new fuel charge adds to the higher kWh. The tool above shows how much each reason adds.
- Something that runs all the time. A well pump, a pool pump, a space heater, a second refrigerator or a failing water heater. If the kWh are high and the weather did not change, look for one of these.
Why is my electric bill $500?
At an average price of 12 to 20 cents per kWh, $500 pays for about 2,500 to 4,200 kWh. The average price is different for each utility and each season. Type the amount in the bill to kWh calculator to find the kWh for your tariff, and compare it with the kWh on your bill. Then use the tool above with an earlier bill to see which reasons add the most.
Things the tariff does not show. An estimated meter read, a past balance, a late fee, taxes and the price of a retail supplier also change the amount. If the tool says that the tariff explains less than the difference between your two bills, look for these items on the bill.
Why did my electric bill double in one month?
Almost always because the kWh went up: heating or air conditioning, an estimated meter read last month, or more days in the billing period. A higher price per kWh (a summer rate, a higher tier or a new fuel charge) can add to it. Type both bills in this tool to see the amount of each reason.
Why is my electric bill so high this month?
The most common reason is more kWh: heating or cooling uses much electricity in cold and hot weather. Other reasons are a higher summer or winter rate, a higher tier price for the kWh above a limit, more days in the billing period, a change of the fuel charge or another monthly charge, and a rate increase. This tool calculates each reason in dollars from the tariff of your utility.
Why is my bill high when I used the same kWh?
With the same kWh, a bill can go up because of the season (many utilities charge more in summer or winter), a monthly charge such as the fuel or supply charge, more days in the billing period, or a rate change. Type the earlier bill in the tool to see the amount of each reason.
What does the tool need?
Your utility and rate schedule, the kWh, the billing month and the days of the bill. For the best result, also type the same values from an earlier bill that was lower. The amounts from the bills are optional: the tool uses them to show the part that the tariff does not explain, for example a tax, a late fee or a past balance.
The tool says that the tariff agrees with my bill. Can the bill still be wrong?
Yes, if the kWh are wrong. An estimated meter read can be too high, and the next bill then corrects it. Compare the meter read type on your bill (actual or estimated) with your meter. If you think that the kWh are wrong, contact your utility.
Does the tool keep my data?
No. The calculation runs in your browser. The values that you type do not leave your device.