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Estimated Bills

If the bill you just received is an estimated bill:

The "amount due" on your bill this month is based on an estimate of your electric usage. Our meter readers usually visit your home each month to make a direct, accurate reading of your electric meter.

There are times, however, when this direct reading isn't possible. It may be because your meter is located inside and you are not home to provide access or it may be due to weather, shrubs or other obstacles blocking the meter, or some other unusual meter reading situation.

In these instances, we estimate your electric bill based on your past usage. That's the case with your bill this month. An estimate may cause your bill to be higher, or lower, than you expect -- knocking your budget out of whack.

We have three solutions:

Read your meter and call in the reading to us as soon as possible. It's easy to do. Simply phone in the reading following the instructions below and we'll send you--immediately--a revised bill reflecting your actual usage. Call 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 1-800-558-READ (7323).

Wait for your next scheduled reading. If you can't phone in your meter reading, your bill will be adjusted to reflect actual usage the next time our meter reader visits your home and has access to your meter. Your next scheduled reading is printed on the front of your bill as NEXT READING ON/ABOUT. Contact us if special arrangements need to be made on that date.

Try Budget Billing. It takes out the guesswork. Budget Billing is a free service that helps you manage your expenses by equalizing monthly bills. Once you’ve enrolled, we’ll forecast the cost of electricity for the coming year by looking at the amount of energy used at your address for the same period last year, then divide your projected annual energy costs into equal payments. By equalizing your payments over a 12-month period, you avoid seasonal peaks associated with heating and cooling months. Accounts are reviewed monthly and budgeted amounts are adjusted if necessary.

It's easy to read your meter!

When reading your electric meter, keep these hints in mind:

  • Stand directly in front of the meter so that you can clearly see the location of each pointer.
  • Read the numbers from RIGHT to LEFT, and write them down in the same order.
  • If the pointer is between two numbers, read the number the pointer has just passed, always the lowest number.
  • If the pointer is between 9 and 0, always read 9.
  • If the pointer appears to be exactly on a number, read the next lowest number unless the pointer to its right has passed zero. Since the first dial has no dial to its right, the number must be read independently.
  • If your meter has digital numbers, use those as your reading.
  • Each meter is numbered #-­ make note of your meter number.

What is the reading of the example electric meter shown below?

Meter Dial
  • A. The pointer on the far right is directly on number 5. Read as 5.
  • B. The second pointer from the right has just passed 9, and is between 9 and 0. Read as 9.
  • C. The next dial has passed 8, and is between 8 and 9. Again, read the smaller number which the pointer has just passed, which is 8.
  • D. The pointer on the next dial looks like it is right on the 4. But, the dial to its right has not passed zero. So, you would read this dial as 3.
  • E. The pointer on the far left dial has passed 8, and is between 8 and 9. Read the smaller number which the pointer just passed, which is 8.

Current reading: 83895 Last week's reading: -83770 Electricity use this week = 125

The difference of 125 kilowatt hours has been used since the last reading.

If your meter has a constant or multiplier, it is shown on the name plate. The reading on the meter may be 1/40 or 1/10 of the energy used. Multiply the subtracted use by the constant to determine actual energy use.