Why is my bill higher than normal?

1. Check your meter reading. 
   Pella Cooperative Electric uses automated meter reading technology that helps prevent human error in calculating bills.  Check the reading on your meter and compare with the reading on your statement.  If the reading on your meter is higher than the one on your bill, it is likely that your bill is accurate.
   
   
2. Think back to the month in question. 
   By the time you receive the bill, a few weeks have passed since you used the electricity.  (For example, a bill due on September 1 is for electricity used during the month of July.)  Were temperatures extremely hot or cold?  Did you have visitors in your home?  Did you add additional energy-using products?
   
   
3. Call the cooperative.
   We have many resources available to help determine why a bill was higher than normal, like providing you with daily use reports or performing assessments or audits on your property.  

Preventing future high bills

Preventing high bills starts with understanding your energy usage.  The resources below are a few of our favorites:

• Touchstone Energy Home Energy Online Audit
  This is a comprehensive evaluation of your energy consumption, highly customized to your home.  You'll find out what is using the most energy, and what changes you can do to lower your monthly bills.
• Use Energy Wisely
  This guide has an overview of the average energy usage of many items around your home and on the farm.  It includes a great project for parents to help their kids understand what uses energy.
• Energy Star @ Home
  Understanding where energy is used most in a home.  This resources provides general advice about equipment and its maintenance and care.
• Energy Efficiency
• Energy Conservation

You may also consider signing up for budget billing to even out the highs and lows throughout the year.  Instead of paying each month as you go, you pay a consistent amount each month based on your average usage, which is reviewed annually.