Energy Charges & Billing Terms
Some common charges and terms on residential customer bills are described for your state below. Get details on business charges »
Choose your state for billing descriptions:
Idaho
Basic Charge – Single Phase and Three Phase: This fixed, monthly charge covers some of the fixed costs associated with having single phase electric service, including the cost of meters and meter reading, preparing and providing a bill, and other administrative costs.
Single Phase Service: A service consisting of two “hot" wires and a neutral. Most residential services are set up with single phase service (120/240 volts).
Three Phase Service: A service consisting of three “hot" wires and a neutral. Three phase service can be many different voltages (for example: 120/208, 277/480 or higher primary voltages) and is most often used for commercial and industrial customers.
Kilowatt-hours (kwh): A measure of energy that is equal to the amount of work done by 1,000 watts for one hour (e.g., with one kilowatt-hour, you can watch TV for about three hours). Customers are charged for electricity in cents per kilowatt-hour.
Energy Charge: This charge covers the costs of providing and producing electricity that are not recovered through the customer service charge. Customers are charged for the number of kilowatt-hours they use, with usage from 0-1,000 kilowatt-hours (Block 1) charged at a lower rate than usage of 1,001 kilowatt-hours and above (Block 2). The two-tiered pricing structure is designed to encourage customers to save energy, which keeps customers’ energy bills low.
Energy Cost Adjustment: This charge reflects the difference between the costs of power that were included in base rates and the actual costs of generating power that were incurred during the previous year(s).
Customer Efficiency Services: Provides funds for energy efficiency services and programs, which are offered to customers to help them lower their energy usage.
Blue Sky Block: This charge appears only on the bills of customers who choose to support western region generated wind energy in 100 kilowatt-hour increments – called "blocks" – through the optional Blue Sky program. The total charge depends on the number of blocks a customer purchases each month. Participation in this voluntary program may also help support the development of community-based small-scale renewable energy projects.
On Peak Energy Charge: This charge is for the electricity usage a Time of Day customer used during on-peak hours.
Off Peak Energy Charge: This charge reflects the number of kilowatt-hours of electricity a Time of Day customer used during off-peak hours.
BPA Columbia River Benefits: The Bonneville Power Administration Columbia River Benefits credit is applied to the bills of all qualifying customers as part of the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act.
City Franchise Fee: This charge is collected on behalf of the city. All fess are remitted to the city for its use.
Utah
Basic Charge – Single Phase & Three Phase: This fixed, monthly charge covers a portion of the fixed costs associated with having single phase electric service, including the cost of meters and meter reading, preparing and providing a bill, and other administrative costs.
Single Phase Service: A service consisting of two “hot" wires and a neutral. Most residential services are set up with single phase service (120/240 volts).
Three Phase Service: A service consisting of three “hot" wires and a neutral. Three phase service can be many different voltages (for example: 120/208, 277/480 or higher primary voltages) and is most often used for commercial and industrial customers.
Kilowatt-hours (kwh): A measure of energy that is equal to the amount of work done by 1,000 watts for one hour (e.g., with one kilowatt-hour, you can watch TV for about three hours). Customers are charged for electricity in cents per kilowatt-hour.
Energy Charge (winter/summer rate): This charge reflects the costs of providing and producing electricity that are not recovered through the customer charge. In winter (October through April), customers are charged one rate for all kilowatt-hours they use. In the summer months (May through September), cost per kilowatt-hour is based on the number of kilowatt-hours used, with usage of 0-400 kilowatt-hours (Block 1) charged at the lowest rate, usage of 401-1,000 kilowatt-hours charged at a higher rate (Block 2) and all kilowatt-hours above 1,000 kilowatt hours charged the highest rate (Block 3). The three-tiered pricing structure, also known as the “summer electric rate,” was designed to encourage customers to save energy, which helps keep customers’ energy bills low.
Renewable Energy Credit: Credit given for additional 2011 Renewable Energy Credit revenues.
Customer Efficiency Services: Collects funds for energy efficiency services and programs, which are offered to customers to help them lower their energy usage.
Home Electric Lifeline Program: This allows for the collection of funds to support the HELP program, which provides funds to qualified income eligible households.
Municipal Energy Sales and Use Tax: This charge is collected on behalf of the city. All taxes are remitted to the city for its use.
Utah Sales Tax: Rocky Mountain Power collects sales tax for the Utah State Tax Commission as required to conduct business in the state of Utah.
Blue Sky Block: This charge appears only on the bills of customers who choose to support western region generated wind energy in 100 kilowatt-hour increments – called "blocks" – through the optional Blue Sky program. The total charge depends on the number of blocks a customer purchases each month. Participation in this voluntary program may also help support the development of community-based small-scale renewable energy projects.
On Peak Summer Energy Charge: This charge is for the electricity usage a Time of Day customer used during on-peak hours.
Off Peak Energy Credit: This credit reflects the number of kilowatt-hours of electricity a Time of Day customer used during off-peak hours.
Time of Day Meter Charge: This fixed, monthly fee appears on the statements of customers who elect to participate in the Time of Use program to cover the cost the Time of Day meter.
City Franchise Tax: This charge is collected on behalf of the city. All taxes are remitted to the city for its use.
Wyoming
Basic Charge – Single Phase: This fixed, monthly charge covers some of the fixed costs associated with having single phase electric service, including the cost of meters and meter reading, preparing and providing a bill, and other administrative costs.
Single Phase Service: A service consisting of two “hot" wires and a neutral. Most residential services are set up with single phase service (120/240 volts).
Three Phase Service: A service consisting of three “hot" wires and a neutral. Three phase service can be many different voltages (for example: 120/208, 277/480 or higher primary voltages) and is most often used for commercial and industrial customers.
Kilowatt-hours (kwh): A measure of energy that is equal to the amount of work done by 1,000 watts for one hour (e.g., with one kilowatt-hour, you can watch TV for about three hours). Customers are charged for electricity in cents per kilowatt-hour.
Energy Charge (Block 1, Block 2): This charge covers some of the costs of producing energy. Customers are charged for the number of kilowatt-hours they use, with usage from 0-500 kilowatt-hours charged at a lower rate than usage of 501 kilowatt-hours and above. The two-tiered pricing structure was designed to encourage customers to save energy, which keeps customers’ energy bills low.
Energy Charge Demand (Block 1, Block 2): This charge covers some of the costs of meeting peak demand. Demand is the peak load, capacity or rate of power that the company must make available at any given moment in time to meet the customer’s need. Customers are charged for the number of kilowatt-hours they use, with usage from 0-500 kilowatt-hours (Block 1) charged at a lower rate than usage of 501 kilowatt-hours and above (Block 2). The two-tiered pricing structure was designed to encourage customers to save energy.
Renewable Revenue Adjustment: A billing mechanism that passes through to customer revenues received by Rocky Mountain Power from the sale of renewal energy credits and sulfur dioxide emissions credits. Credits are based on the number of kilowatt hours used. Usage credit for 0-500 kilowatt-hours (Block 1) are applied at a lower rate than usage credit for 501 kilowatt-hours and above (Block 2).
Net Power Cost Demand (Block 1, Block 2): This charge covers a portion of the generation costs (primarily demand-related). Customers are charged for the number of kilowatt-hours they use, with usage of 0-500 kilowatt-hours (Block 1) charged at a lower rate than usage of 501 kilowatt-hours and above (Block 2). The two-tiered pricing structure was designed to encourage customers to save energy.
Net Power Cost Energy (Block 1, Block 2): This charge covers a portion of the generation costs (primarily fuel-related). Customers are charged for the number of kilowatt-hours they use, with usage of 0-500 kilowatt-hours (Block 1) charged at a lower rate than usage 501 kilowatt-hours and above (Block 2). The two-tiered pricing structure was designed to encourage customers to save energy.
Customer Efficiency Services: This fee collects funds for energy efficiency services and programs, which are offered to customers to help them lower their energy usage.
City Franchise Fee: This charge is collected on behalf of the city. All taxes are remitted to the city for its use.
Sales Tax: Rocky Mountain Power collects sales tax for the Wyoming State Tax Commission as required to conduct business in the state of Wyoming.
Blue Sky Block: This charge appears only on the bills of customers who choose to support western region generated wind energy in 100 kilowatt-hour increments – called "blocks" – through the optional Blue Sky program. The total charge depends on the number of blocks a customer purchases each month. Participation in this voluntary program may also help support the development of community-based small-scale renewable energy projects.
