Although paper bills are still the most popular, utility bills are usually available in a variety of formats, including PDF, flat files (e.g., XLSX, CSV, TXT), XML, and EDI 810. Electronic formats are typically accessed via vendor websites, downloads, file swaps, or email. Let’s examine each of these formats in terms of data richness, processing speed, automation capability, vendor availability, and processing cost.
PAPER
For most accounting and energy management departments, paper acts as a safety net. It’s reassuring to point to something you can touch in your hand and read in black and white when you’re having a fight. We understand. A paper bill is rich in information, with the complete list of charges at one’s fingertips, and paper is readily available from any vendor and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.
However, for good reason, “paperless” is a very marketable feature. The actual page must travel via the mail system, where it will be opened, sorted, entered, and forwarded across departments. You hope it doesn’t get misplaced or sit on someone’s desk for too long. Late fees are alive and active because of slow bill processing.
Because the PDF (Portable Document Format) bill is an electronic version of the paper bill, it has the same benefit of containing a lot of information. And, because most merchants now publish PDF invoices online, this format is simple to see and save.
Searchable (vector-based) and image-based PDFs are the two forms of PDFs. Raw data is encapsulated into a searchable PDF file. For keeping an energy database, conversion software can convert such data to word processing or spreadsheet documents. A scanned PDF file, often known as an image-based PDF file, is simply a photo of your power bill. The image file is more difficult to convert because it requires optical character recognition to comprehend and translate it (OCR). The searchable PDF format is preferred by bill processing organizations.
Electronic Bills: Flat-File and EDI 810
Electronic bills are generally preferred over paper or PDF bills by organizations that receive a large volume of utility bills. Receiving electronic invoices has various advantages:
What does a utility bill look like?
Electricity, water, and gas are examples of utilities. You might also include sewage, trash, and recycling, as well as TV, internet, phone, and streaming services, depending on how you define utilities. The customer’s name, address, and account number are all listed on a utility bill.
What are the different types of utility bills?
Electricity, gas, water/sewage, and waste disposal are all examples of utility costs. Other services, such as internet, cable TV, and phone service, are sometimes considered extra utilities, despite the fact that they are now regarded standard in most American homes.
What does a typical power bill show?
When was the last time you looked at your power bill with a critical eye? Have you actually read it from beginning to end? You are not alone if your answer is Never.
However, as we all spend more time at home and perhaps begin to pay more attention to our energy usage, knowing how to read your energy bill can be really beneficial.
You can start making smarter decisions to lower your energy usage and save money on your energy bill after you grasp what your bill says.
An overall summary of your account information, bill summary, current charges, and electric pricing may appear on your electric bill, as well as a more detailed analysis of your energy consumption. This breakdown will usually include the following:
The date the meter was read, as well as your current and past meter readings, will be displayed on your meter information. The quantity of kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power you used during the billing period is the difference between your prior and current meter readings. If your prior meter reading was 22,000 kWh and your current reading is 22,700 kWh, you used 700 kWh during that time.
This section of your bill details all of the services involved in supplying energy to your home. Transmission charges, generation charges, customer charges, and distribution charges are common. The majority of your bill is made up of these charges.
The price per kWh for each type of charge will be different. These prices are calculated by multiplying your current kWh usage by the rate for each charge for example, if we had 700 kWh of usage, we would multiply it by the transmission charge rate.
This section is usually divided into two parts. The first will show you your total kWh usage in past months, while the second will show you your kWh usage for the current and previous months, as well as for the same month the previous year. This section will also give your daily average use and maybe daily temps.
Your usage profile provides a high-level overview of your energy usage habits. You’ll be able to monitor when you consume the most energy, allowing you to make adjustments to your energy usage patterns. This will save you money in the long term.
To truly comprehend your bill, you must first comprehend what a kWh is. The unit of measurement for power usage is the kilowatt-hour. It’s actually a combination of two measurements: speed and time. Wattage is a measurement of how quickly electricity is spent, whereas time is a measurement of how long that electricity is consumed at that rate.
Alternatively, multiply the wattage of any device by the number of hours you use it, then divide by 1,000 (one kilowatt equals 1,000 watts), and you’ll have the kWh measurement for that appliance. Take, for example, a Samsung 65-inch curved TV with a 72-watt output. Multiply 72 watts by five hours, then divide by 1,000 to find out how much energy the TV used over five hours of binge-watching your favorite show. You’d gain 0.36 kWh as a result. You can do this with almost any appliance because the wattage is usually stated on the unit.
In actual life, what does one kWh look like? Here are some examples of how one kWh can be used:
Your monthly energy expenditures are determined by where you live, the type of housing you live in, and the number of people you share your home with.
Your monthly payment for a one-bedroom apartment will likely be around $30-50 if you only use electricity and not heat. That is, however, without air conditioning. The expense of running air conditioning is around $250-300 per year. However, because you usually don’t use your air conditioning all year, the cost isn’t stretched out over a year. You’ll likely pay an extra $50-80 per month on your electric bill during the months when you do use your air conditioner. It might be closer to $80-90 per month if you live somewhere with longer, warmer seasons.
The average home uses 897 kWh of energy each month, according to the Energy Information Administration. The average household monthly power cost was $117.65 in 2018 (the most recent year for which data is available). However, electricity rates vary greatly depending on where you live; the average Hawaiian household spends $203 per month on electricity.
Is it possible to use a bank statement as a utility bill?
Is a bank statement the same thing as an energy bill? A bank statement is not the same as a utility bill. A bank statement is not a utility bill; it is simply a clear and succinct breakdown of the contents of your bank account, as well as a handy way for you to examine what your bank is currently doing in terms of interest rates and other matters.
Is a cell phone bill considered a utility bill?
Is a telephone bill considered a utility bill? Phone bills are commonly classified as utility bills. However, this only applies to landlines, not mobile phones. Telephone companies’ invoices are utility bills, and they, like energy suppliers, provide a service to the general public.
How much does it cost to run a household?
Household bills are divided into several categories.
- Charges for connecting to the internet. When you move in, you may be requested to pay a connection fee for electricity, gas, or phone service.
Is Netflix a monthly utility bill?
Utilities are the essential services that maintain your home, apartment, or business comfortable and functional. Water, sewer, electric, gas, trash, and recycling are all common utilities. Cable TV, internet, security, and phone service are all examples of technology subscriptions that might be called utilities.
With one key exception: who pays the utility bills, home utilities are comparable to apartment utilities. Utilities may be divided between the renter and the landlord in an apartment. In a house, however, the homeowner is responsible for contracting and paying for the essential services.
Water and sewer
You are responsible for establishing water and sewage services with your city municipality when you purchase a home. Depending on where you reside, you may be charged a monthly flat cost, a seasonal rate, a water budget-based rate, or another form of payment for water.
Electric and gas
Although natural gas may not be required in your home, electricity is a must! Electricity prices vary by state, and we track them down to the cent here at EnergyBot every day. Homeowners can save money on electricity and gas by installing high-quality insulation in their walls and utilizing energy-efficient equipment.
Trash and recycling
You must pay a monthly charge if you want the city to take up your trash and recyclables every week. Rates for curbside rubbish collection vary by area, and contracts for household waste collection are usually overseen by your local city government.
Technology
Contact your favorite service providers to connect your home to amenities such as cable TV, internet, and phone service. These aren’t required services, so you can pick and choose the provider and service level you want. Homeowners can save money on technology by purchasing a modem and router rather than renting them, and by opting for streaming services rather than cable.
Security
Home security isn’t a must-have feature, but it can help you sleep better. Prepare to pay for installation and equipment up front, as well as a monthly monitoring cost, when choosing a security system.
What method do you use to calculate utility costs?
To get an estimate of your electricity bill, enter your address into our tool. We estimate what you may owe1 by multiplying the address’s previous energy usage by 10 cents per kWh or an average power price of your choice.
Find the kWh of each appliance and multiply each value by your current electricity rate to get a more precise estimate. To accomplish this, take these four steps:
- Calculate the wattage of the appliance and multiply it by the number of hours it is utilized.
- To convert watts-hours to kilowatt-hours, multiply the amount by 1,000. (kWh)
- Repeat these steps to determine the cost of energy for each item, then add them all up to determine the monthly cost of energy for your complete home.