Glossary of Billing Terms
Find straightforward definitions for terminology on your bill. Click on the letter the term starts with or browse the entire glossary.
Account
A unique number that identifies your electric account. Your account number is defined by your service address. If you have more than one service address, you have more than one account number. If you need to contact TXU Energy, have this number ready. You will also need this number when paying your bill in person at payment locations.
Average Billing Plan Balance
If you participate in the Average Billing Plan, your bill shows the Average Billing Plan Balance. This is not the amount on your bill you pay. Instead, you pay the Total Amount Due. The Average Billing Plan Balance is the accumulated difference between the cost of your actual usage and the amount you were billed. This difference will fluctuate over time as your actual usage varies from the average amount you are billed.
Balance Forward
The amount you owe on your previous bills.
Billed Deposit
A deposit that is sometimes required when you set up new service, or if your service has been interrupted due to TXU Energy not receiving payment. It is not prepayment of your bill. You must still pay each month for the energy you use. This deposit is held until twelve consecutive months of timely payments have been made, or until the account is closed. If you transfer service with TXU Energy, the deposit is transferred and applied to the new service location. Possible waivers will vary for each customer.
Billing Address
The address to which your bill is sent. This address may be different than the address that is receiving service.
Billing Cycle
The start and end dates for a specific bill. Information in the Customer Summary pertains to activity within this timeframe only. These dates are approximately the same each month.
Bill Date
Your meter read date. It is also the last day included in the charges on a particular bill.
Connection Fee
A one-time fee charged by your Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) to connect electric service at an address. Normally, it is included on your first bill and is due by the Due Date specified.
Current Bill
Amount due for electric charges based on usage during the most recent billing period. This is only one component of the bill you pay. If you have unpaid charges from the previous billing period they will be included in the Total Amount Due. The Current Bill amount includes the Customer Charge, Energy Charge, and Sales Tax, but it excludes any applicable Late Fees, Surcharges, and any prior unpaid Balance Forward. It reflects electricity consumed in the current period.
Current Bill On Average Billing Plan
Amount due for customers on the Average Billing Plan during the most recent billing period. This is only one component of the bill you pay. If you have unpaid charges from the previous billing period they will be included in the Total Amount Due. The Current Bill amount includes the Customer Charge, Energy Charge and Sales Tax, but it excludes any applicable Late Fees, Surcharges and any unpaid Balance Forward.
Current Meter Reading
The Current Meter Reading represents the current reading taken when your electric meter was read on the date indicated. The previous month’s meter reading is subtracted from the current month’s meter reading to determine how many kilowatt hours (kWh) of consumption you should be billed for. This reading is supplied by the Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) and is usually obtained when reading the meter. Meter readings occur approximately every 28-32 days.
Customer Charge
Monthly fixed fee to cover costs of billing and administration. This is also called the Base Customer Charge.
Deferred Payment Plan Balance
Unpaid balance (amount you owe from previous bills) that is billed in increments over time. Any deferred payment plan amount due is included in the Total Amount due.
Disconnect/Reconnect Fee
Amount charged by your Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) to disconnect and/or reconnect your service (turn off or turn power back on) at a particular location in the event of non-payment of the electric bill. This amount varies based on the type of disconnection. It cannot be waived.
Distribution Company Charges
Amount charged for services (such as running new service wires, installing a meter, conducting a voltage test, or disconnecting or reconnecting service) provided by your Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP). It may also be called Discretionary Charges. The amount is determined by the TDSP, not TXU Energy.
Due Date or Payment Due Date
The date by which TXU Energy should receive your payment to avoid any associated late charges. Late charges are typically 5% of the amount you owe.
Energy Charge
An amount equal to the electricity usage (kWh) multiplied by the base consumption charge. In addition, some price plans include a charge for a natural gas component.
ESI ID or Electric Service Identifier
An identifier that the industry uses to uniquely identify the home, business or guard light location.
Final Bill
The last bill for service at your location. It can be mailed to any address you request. If you transfer service, the final bill amount will be seen twice. It will appear on a final bill for the old location and it will be listed as a Prior Balance on the first bill you receive at your new location.
Guard Light Amount
A predetermined monthly fee for electric service to a guard light (outdoor light for security purposes). This fee is based on the wattage or size (such as 75, 100, 150, 200, or 400 watt) of your specific guard light.
Guard Light Kilowatt-Hours Used
A predetermined amount of electricity, expressed in kWh, that you are charged for your guard light in a given month.
Interest Applied
The interest accrued on your original deposit amount at the rate approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. This amount is credited back to your account each January. In the event your deposit is returned before January, the pro-rated interest will also be applied to your bill.
Kilowatt-hours Used
The amount of electricity (kWh) used in a month. This is calculated by subtracting the prior month's meter reading from the current month's meter reading.
kWh (kilowatt-hour)
The unit of electric energy for which customers are charged.
Late Fee or Late Payment Charge
A fee that is equal to 5% of the current portion of any unpaid bill (amount owed to TXU Energy). It is charged when TXU Energy has not received the payment by the Due Date.
Meter (Meter Number)
The number identifying the meter at your service location. A meter is a device that measures your electricity usage.
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Actual - Usage determined by your Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) reading the meter assigned to your service address.
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Estimated - Usage determined by an estimate of your past energy use or past history of your location. For example, usage may be estimated when your meter cannot be accessed due to a locked gate.
- Adjusted - Usage determined by an actual reading in person performed after an estimated read to make sure the estimated read was accurate. This adjusted read may occur close to the time of the estimated read, or it may occur at the next month's regular meter read date.
Mult (Multiplier)
For some meters, the actual amount of energy used is too large to be registered and the meter displays a fraction of the actual energy used. A multiplier is then applied to the difference between the present and previous reads to determine the customer's actual energy usage.
Payments
The total amount of funds TXU Energy has received up to the date a bill was generated.
Previous Bill or Previous Charges
The amount owed from your previous bill. This amount includes any unpaid balance from your previous bill.
Previous Meter Reading
Meter reading from the prior billing statement. This reading may be actual, estimated, or adjusted.
Rate
Identifies your account's rate plan which determines the rate you are billed.
Sales Tax
State tax as set by the state, city, special purpose district and/or county of the service location.
Statement Date
The date the bill was generated. Therefore, the bill covers the usage prior to that date as indicated by the current meter reading date; it does not cover the usage between the Bill Date and the date which you receive the bill.
TDSP (Transmission and Distribution Service Provider)
The utility that owns or operates the equipment or facilities that transmits or distributes electricity to your location. The TDSP is also responsible for reading your meter, and setting prices related to your Distribution Company Charges (if applicable).
Total Amount Due
Total amount that you currently owe TXU Energy. It includes any unpaid amount from your previous statement plus the Total Current Charges (Customer Charge, Energy Charge, Sales Tax, and additional charges such as Late Fees, Surcharges, and Deferred Payment Plan Balance).
