Phone: 903-846-2311 or 800-794-2919
Report an Outage: 877-707-2232
Report an Outage: 877-707-2232
Your monthly electric bill is full of useful information about your account and can help you understand your energy use and charges. Here are some things to look for:
1. Account info - Meter number, account number, and other important information, all in one place.
2. Energy Charges - The energy (kWh) used by your household within the service date range for that billing cycle, billed at the seasonal base rate*, plus the Customer Service fee of $22.50. BCEC meters accurately record the kilowatt-hours used with a register that counts in ascending order. Your actual usage is calculated by subtracting your official reading before your last bill (a) from your most recent reading (b) to get the total kWh used (c), multiplying by the base rate*, plus the Customer Service fee.
*Base energy rate is $0.05184 in Jan & Feb, $0.0648 the remainder of the year. For more Rate, Security Light, and Fee information, see Residential Electric Service and Commercial Electric Service.
3. Power Cost Recovery Factor (PCRF) -The PCRF or Power Cost Recover Factor is simply the cost difference between what the cooperative has in our established rate and the price we actually pay for wholesale power. Wholesale power costs are never stagnant. They fluctuate with the cost of fuel used for generation. Our current residential rates (set in 1993) allows for $ .03501 per kWh. If wholesale power costs are about $ .085 per kWh, for example, then the difference is roughly 5 cents per kWh. That difference is passed on to the member as a $ .0500 per kWh PCRF. Power costs are always pass-through costs, meaning we charge the member the same rate we are charged.
4. Security light - Any security lighting is listed here. Security light usage is listed to help calculate the P.C.R.F. of the security light.
5. Total Amount Due - This is the total amount due for the current billing cycle added to any past due balance.
6. Usage graphs and info - Handy chart showing the past year of usage, as well as daily fluctuations and outside temps for the past two months.