The remaining amount that was not paid on the previous bill and was carried over to the current bill. This may include an unpaid balance, returned check charges, late payment fees or other adjustments. If your previous bill has been paid in full, your balance forward will be zero dollars.

A serial number assigned for both gas and electric service. Each customer has a unique meter number to track their exact energy usage for their home or business. Meter numbers are located on your bill or the meter.

A practice that allows marketers and local governments to pool the electric or natural gas consumption of multiple customers, or residents as in the case of local governments, in order to purchase the electricity or natural gas at a bulk rate.

Program offered by regulated electric companies that spreads out the cost of energy used during high-demand times of the year.

The electrical generation resources, transmission lines, and interconnections with neighboring systems, and associated equipment, generally operated at voltages of 100 kilovolts (kv) or above.

The capability to generate electrical power, usually measured in megawatts (MW) or kilowatts(kW).

The carrier owns the pipes and wires through which the energy flows. They still need to acquire energy from an outside source before they deliver it to a home or business. Once you sign up for a plan with your new alternative energy supplier, they will connect with your local utility “carrier” who delivers the energy to your home or business.

The rate at which energy is being used (measured in kW). Measuring demand allows local utility companies to anticipate and plan for the maximum electrical needs of all users in the area. This ensures that facilities are properly sized to handle customer energy needs and that individual customers are charged fairly based on energy capacity requireme [..]

The use of processes and equipment to reduce the use of electricity or to shift use away from periods of high electrical demand.

Independent of your electricity consumption. This charge typically covers the fixed costs associated with rendering electrical service, such as billing and customer service.