Why is my bill so high this month?
There are many factors that can affect your bill. Learn what those factors are and how you can work around them to control energy use and save money.
Weather
Heating and cooling are the largest energy expenses for your home and can account for as much as 50 percent of your energy bill. You may notice a significant increase in your bill after extreme weather days. Heating and cooling your home on extreme weather days can require more power to maintain a comfortable temperature.
While you can’t control the weather, you can control your thermostat. Keeping your thermostat set at 68○ F in the winter and 78○ F in the summer can help reduce your utility bill. If you are looking for more energy saving, consider a programmable smart thermostat that can learn the temperatures you like and create a custom schedule for your home. Switching to an all-electric heat pump is another saving option. Heat pumps are the most energy efficient and economical way to keep your home comfortable year-round.
Changes at Home
Behavioral changes like spending more time at home, using electronics and appliances more, and additional people in your home may have contributed to an increase in your energy usage. You can track your usage and stay on top of your energy habits with the My Power Usage tool.
Longer Billing Cycle
Some billing cycles are longer than others, which can account for a higher bill. Look at the “Service Period” on your bills to see if the current billing cycle was longer than average.
Rate Schedule Change
You may experience a higher bill if the price of electricity increased due to a recent Alabama Power rate change or if you changed your billing or rate plan. You may be able to bring down your next bill by checking out our pricing and rate plans.
Appliance Problems
An appliance that is not running at peak performance can impact your utility bills. If you have old appliances that may be increasing your energy usage, you may want to consider a new model. Newer appliances offer more energy-efficiency and smart features for your convenience.
Unpaid Balance
Your bill may be higher if there is a balance due from a previous month. If you’ve missed a payment, consider setting your payment to automatically be sent from your bank account every month. There is no fee, and you will continue to receive your monthly bill.
Additional Charges
There may be other service fees and charges added to your bill. For example, your bill may be higher if you purchased an item from our Appliance Sales team. Likewise, you may also notice other adjustments made to your bill, like credits. Please refer to the details listed on your bill, where you can see your current usage, your plan and the total amount of your current electric services.
