Electricity Bills

7 independent, fact-checked articles about electricity bills.

Why Your Electric Bill Keeps Going Up (Even When You Use Less Power)

National electricity rates have climbed roughly 25% since 2022 — and most of that increase has nothing to do with how much power you personally use. Here's what's actually driving it, and how utility rate increases get approved in the first place.

5 min read

Tiered Electricity Rates: Why Your Last 100 kWh Can Cost Double Your First 100

Under a tiered (inclining block) rate structure, the price per kWh rises as your monthly usage climbs — meaning your average rate isn't your marginal rate, and one hot month can cost far more per kWh than the number on your last bill.

4 min read

Fixed vs. Variable Electricity Rates: What Each One Actually Protects You From

In the roughly 18 states where you can choose your electricity supplier, the fixed-vs-variable decision matters more than which company you pick. Here's what each structure actually protects against, and what it doesn't.

4 min read

Demand Charges Explained: Why Two Homes Using the Same Electricity Can Get Very Different Bills

Demand charges bill you for your single highest 15-minute burst of power draw, not your total usage — a structure that's spreading from commercial accounts to some residential rate plans, especially for EV owners and all-electric homes.

4 min read

Budget Billing: Does Paying the Same Amount Every Month Actually Save You Anything?

Budget billing smooths your payment, not your cost — and the 'true-up' at the end of the cycle is where households most often get caught off guard. Here's exactly how the math works.

4 min read

Time-of-Use Electricity Rates: How to Tell If You're Losing Money

Time-of-use rates can save disciplined households money, or quietly cost more than a flat rate would have — the difference comes down to when you actually use electricity, not just how much.

2 min read

How to Read Your Electric Bill (And Find What's Actually Driving the Cost)

Most bills bury the one number that matters — your rate per kWh — inside a stack of fixed charges and fees. Here's how to find it and what to do with it.

3 min read