Every so often, my electricity provider sends me a letter saying I should sign up for its guaranteed bill program. With this option, customers pay the same amount every month based on an average of their past usage. The amount the customers pay is the guaranteed to be the same for 12 months, regardless of whether our electricity usage or the rate increases.
Right now, we do something similar. We pay an average, but it fluctuates based on the previous 12 months. For instance, in June, we'll pay an average based on usage from last June through May. In July, the amount we pay will be based on our usage from last July through this June. There is a lot less fluctuation from month to month than we'd have if we paid only for what we use every month, but we still have some.
The benefit of the guaranteed program is that, should our usage or rate increase to beyond what we're scheduled to pay, we never owe the difference. At the end of the 12 months, the utility company considers us paid in full. However, to arrive at our payment, the utility averaged our previous 12 months billing then added about $10. Our average bill for the past year is $109; our guaranteed payment would be $119. This is a good deal only if our rate or usage increases beyond that extra $10 a month or $120 a year. Should we decide to unplug everything but the refrigerator, we wouldn't realize any savings until the utility assesses our usage for the next 12 months.
Maybe this would be the better option for us, but I don't see how it can be.
Right now, we do something similar. We pay an average, but it fluctuates based on the previous 12 months. For instance, in June, we'll pay an average based on usage from last June through May. In July, the amount we pay will be based on our usage from last July through this June. There is a lot less fluctuation from month to month than we'd have if we paid only for what we use every month, but we still have some.
The benefit of the guaranteed program is that, should our usage or rate increase to beyond what we're scheduled to pay, we never owe the difference. At the end of the 12 months, the utility company considers us paid in full. However, to arrive at our payment, the utility averaged our previous 12 months billing then added about $10. Our average bill for the past year is $109; our guaranteed payment would be $119. This is a good deal only if our rate or usage increases beyond that extra $10 a month or $120 a year. Should we decide to unplug everything but the refrigerator, we wouldn't realize any savings until the utility assesses our usage for the next 12 months.
Maybe this would be the better option for us, but I don't see how it can be.
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