Energy choice FAQs

Compare kWh used, billing days and individual prices or fees with the previous bill and the same season last year. If usage rose, consider weather, heating, cooling and hot-water use. If prices rose, identify the changed line items. Check whether the meter reading was estimated and ask the utility how to confirm it. If a billing problem remains unresolved, use your state regulator's complaint process.

Why is my electric bill so high this month? A step-by-step check

Sources: EIA · Consortium for Energy Efficiency (non-government), hosted on DOE bsesc.energy.gov

On many heat pumps, auxiliary or emergency heat uses electric resistance elements, which can raise electricity use. Dual-fuel systems may instead use a gas or propane furnace for backup. Identify your system before changing settings. Persistent backup operation deserves a service check. Heat pumps usually use less electricity than resistance heating; savings versus gas depend on local prices and system performance.

Sources: Consortium for Energy Efficiency (non-government), hosted on DOE bsesc.energy.gov · ENERGY STAR

Supply pays for energy. Delivery charges cover the utility network and may include approved program charges. Where separate supplier choice is available, switching usually changes supply pricing while the delivery utility stays the same. Compare all fees, not just a headline unit rate.

Sources: CT PURA · EIA

An unsolicited request, or a claim to be 'from the utility', doesn't prove the person works for your utility. Don't give your account number to someone you can't verify. Call your utility on the number printed on your bill. In some states, including Pennsylvania and New York, supplier agents must wear ID and say they don't work for the utility. If you already shared your account details, contact your utility now rather than waiting for the next bill, and use your state's cancellation window if you were enrolled.

Community solar sign-ups at your door: questions before signing

Sources: PA PUC · Pennsylvania Code

Compare the complete offer with the supply option you already have: rate type, monthly fees, term, exit costs and renewal terms. Savings are not guaranteed. Where the utility provides default supply, ask how to return and when the change takes effect. Texas competitive retail areas work differently, so do not assume cancelling automatically creates ordinary utility default service.

Sources: PA PUC · NY DPS

Get the contract and check its length, payment escalator, buyout and transfer terms, maintenance responsibilities and production history. The FTC advises confirming these, including what happens when you sell. Buyers can ask the seller to pay off the lease. For a new 2026 installation, don't count on the federal residential credit: the IRS says it ended for property placed in service after 2025.

Sources: FTC · Internal Revenue Service

Test the whole plan against your actual hourly usage. A higher daytime price, base charge or delivery charge can outweigh free hours. Check the Electricity Facts Label, contract, eligibility and treatment of solar exports before enrolling; do not assume a free-nights label covers every part of the bill.

Read the expiration and renewal notices, save your current contract, and compare the renewal price with available alternatives before the end date. Confirm the effective switch date, cancellation terms and any notice period with the provider. Renewal rules differ by state and product; doing nothing may move you to a more expensive rate.

Sources: PA PUC · PA PUC

It depends on the tariff. PG&E NEM customers generally see energy charges accumulate toward an annual true-up while paying certain charges monthly. PG&E's Solar Billing Plan reconciles charges and credits monthly and also makes annual adjustments. CCA generation has its own billing and settlement terms and can appear on a utility bill or a separate statement. Check production, imported energy, export credits and rate changes before attributing a high balance to one cause.

Sources: PG&E · PG&E

A community solar subscription can provide utility-bill credits from an off-site project. Compare those credits with the subscription charges to find the actual saving; a quoted discount may apply to credit value rather than your whole bill. Verify the project with the official program, and check billing, cancellation and moving terms before sharing account details.

Community solar sign-ups at your door: questions before signing

Sources: U.S. DOE · NJ Clean Energy / BPU

Call your utility right away and ask about payment arrangements, medical certification and any seasonal rules in your state. Protections depend on your state and utility, and usually require an application or certification. Pennsylvania, for example, requires written notice and contact attempts before disconnection. Apply for LIHEAP through your state office and call 211. If you can't reach a solution, contact your state regulator.

Sources: PA PUC · NY DPS

Verify the letter with your local government, then compare the aggregation price, term and fees with your current supply option. Follow the official opt-out instructions if you prefer another option. Enrollment, exit and return rules vary by state and program; bulk purchasing does not guarantee savings.

Sources: CPUC · NJ BPU

Demand charges use power in kilowatts, usually averaged over a specified measurement interval. They differ from charges for total energy in kilowatt-hours. The APS plan we reviewed uses the highest on-peak one-hour demand during its weekday 4–7 p.m. window. Other tariffs use different intervals or windows. Staggering major loads can lower demand.

Is a time-of-use rate right for you? Test it with your hourly data

Sources: Arizona Public Service

Budget billing smooths payments; it does not erase the cost of energy used. Compare your payments with actual charges and track any running balance. Utilities differ in how often they recalculate payments or settle the balance. PG&E, for example, uses a rolling monthly calculation and applies a remaining balance when you leave.

Sources: MD PSC · PG&E

Multiply the kWh you charge by your all-in rate. Ask your utility whether an EV or time-of-use rate is available; switching to one usually isn't automatic. The federal home-charger credit ended for property placed in service after 2026-06-30.

Sources: U.S. DOE AFDC · Internal Revenue Service