A number of factors go into determining your electric bill. Arcadia does not determine how much your utility charges you each month, but as your energy advocates we do our best to help you make sense of your utility bills.
Increased Electric and Gas Usage
The first thing thing to check for after receiving a higher than normal bill is increased usage. Changes in weather, guests, new appliances etc., can all lead to higher usage and a higher bill. Even if your thermostat is set to the same temperature year round, changes in temperature mean heaters and/or air conditioners need to work harder to keep your home consistent.
If you are concerned about your energy usage, a home efficiency audit can help you find ways to make your home more efficient. You can always track your electric usage on your Arcadia Dashboard to see if your electric usage has increased.
If you believe your meter has been misread, please contact your utility directly to have them confirm and make any necessary adjustments and then contact us at support@arcadia.com to inform us.
Price per kWh
If you choose to participate in the deregulated market, your supply rate may be higher than your utility's standard offer service (SOS) rate resulting in an unusually high bill. You can often find your utility's SOS on your monthly utility bill with a price comparison for you rate. Please feel free to reach out to one of our energy advisors if you'd like help finding this information on your utility bill.
Time of the year
During seasons with more energy demand utilities and suppliers often raise rates due to the spike in demand for energy. This happens particularly during winter and summer months. You could see your bill increase even if your energy usage has not changed.
Time of day
Some utilities have a time of use plan, if you use energy at peak hours, the rate per kWh may be higher than at another time of day. You can often find this information on your utility statement. If you need assistance locating this information, you may contact our Member Experience team and we would be happy to help you find this data on your bill.
How Can I lower my bill?
Lower your usage
There are a number of ways to lower your usage, even if you rent. Be sure to read our blog post The ultimate guide to lower electric bills.
Adjust when you use energy
Find if your utility has a time of use charge and what times of day are the least expensive to use energy. Perform high energy tasks and chores such as running the dishwasher and running laundry when it is the least expensive.
Take advantage of Arcadia's saving programs
Arcadia offers a number of energy and cost saving programs such as Community Solar. Availability does depend on location and your utility.
Want to discuss your bill with our team? Email us at support@arcadia.com. You can also reach out to us by phone at (866) 526-0083 between 9am and 5pm EST, Monday through Friday.
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