The five numbers that explain your electricity bill
The amount due is the end of a calculation, not the beginning of an explanation. Start with the current electricity charges and work backwards.
Start with the right total
A utility statement can include a previous balance, late-payment fees, water, gas or other services. For an electricity analysis, use the current-period electricity charges. Keep payments and balances outside the comparison. If the bill includes a credit, enter it separately so you can see why the total changed.
Put consumption in context
Find the kilowatt-hours (kWh) and the number of days in the billing period. Divide kWh by days to get daily consumption. A 900 kWh bill over 30 days and a 1,050 kWh bill over 35 days both average 30 kWh a day. The second bill is larger without the home using more per day.
Separate energy from everything else
The energy line usually changes with electricity consumption. Delivery may include both fixed and variable components. Administration fees may be fixed. Taxes and credits are separate again. Add the line items and subtract credits; the result should match the current charges.
Calculate two different rates
Energy charges divided by kWh gives a blended energy rate for the period. Total current charges divided by kWh gives an all-in effective rate. The first can help estimate appliance use; the second helps explain the whole bill. Neither automatically tells you the marginal price of an additional kWh under a tiered plan.
Put the idea into numbers.
Open the calculatorHAUSE Energy · Reviewed September 8, 2026. For current program rules or prices, use your utility’s published documents and the regional source guide.