Read your electric bill, line by line

Start with the billing period

Record the first and last service dates, the meter identifier and whether the reading is actual or estimated. A calendar month and a utility billing period are often different. A bill issued in July can include service in June.

Use service dates for interval consumption. Keep the bill issue date separately: a tariff can specify that a change applies to bills rendered on a date, rather than electricity used on that date.

Sort the recurring charges

Energy charges multiply consumption in each period by its rate. A fixed service charge can apply even when consumption is zero. An adjustment may add to or subtract from every kWh; a percentage charge has its own defined basis.

• Energy: kWh by season and time period, and any applicable tiers.
• Service: monthly, daily or per-bill charges, with the utility’s proration rule.
• Adjustments and credits: fuel, power costs, public programs or other tariff riders.
• Taxes: jurisdiction and exemptions, including the specific taxable base.

Keep account history out of a plan comparison

An overdue balance, late fee or service reconnection charge is real money, but it does not describe the recurring cost of a different electricity plan. My Power Rates excludes those items and names that exclusion.

If your bill includes a discount, renewable subscription, medical adjustment or municipal exemption, do not assume that the ordinary residential calculation covers it. An unknown material charge leaves a partial estimate.

Reconcile quantities before totals

Check that the imported kWh and period dates agree with your bill first. Then compare the energy lines, fixed charges, adjustments and tax base. A difference in the final total may originate much earlier in the calculation.

My Power Rates exposes the component arithmetic and rounding assumptions so you can trace differences without treating its result as a certified utility bill.