Recognizing Other Billing Factors

A billing cycle is the number of days included in each bill. The number of days can change each month, but will usually be between 25 days and 35 days. The number of days varies based on several things, some of which include the number of days in each month, when weekends and holidays fall and whether or not your meter is accessible to the meter reader.

Your Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) is responsible for reading your meter. Meters are usually very accurate, but there's a chance your reading may have been inaccurate. If this happens, your next bill will be adjusted to make up the difference. You can always verify your meter reading yourself if you suspect an error.

• How to Read Your Meter (analog/dial)
• How to Read Your Meter (digital)
• FAQs About New Smart Meters
• Smart Meter Benefits

Meter re-reads and meter tests may result in additional charges.

Estimated Meter Reads
Sometimes an estimated bill is issued because your Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) can't read your meter due to weather, a locked entrance, a menacing dog or blocked meter. If your reading was estimated, your next bill will be adjusted to make up the difference so you only pay for your actual usage. If your usage was estimated, this will be indicated on your bill.

Often, there is an indication on the bill itself of why you have seen an increase in a billing amount due for a particular month. This can be identified by reviewing the billing summary section of your bill.

• Use Brighten^SM Power Monitor, an in-home energy monitoring device that helps you save electricity by understanding how and when you consume electricity and what that consumption costs (subject to availability).
  
  
• Check out the fully Web-enabled Brighten^SM iThermostat to set up and program your thermostat from any Internet-connected device (subject to availability).
  
  
• Energy-efficient and hassle-free solutions are just a click away! Start saving today. Click here to purchase energy-efficient products online.

Check out these easy-to-use tools and find out how to save electricity, calculate your current costs, monitor your usage, and track your savings.

Here are just a few:

• Answer a couple of quick questions to get a personalized checklist through our Personal Energy Advisor.
  
• Identify the phantom power sources in your home with the Energy Thieves Calculator.
  
• Learn how you can improve your home's energy efficiency with the Power Saver Challenge Simulator.
  
• Use our Interactive Thermostat Tool to see how much you could save on your electricity bill by adjusting your thermostat.
  

Access the Energy Savings Guide tips on ways to save electricity. Get more energy-saving tips for your heating and cooling system, lighting and electronics and other home improvement projects.

Help smooth out the seasonal highs and lows of your electricity bill. It's free! Your bills will be more equal throughout the year instead of spiking when it's really hot or cold outside. Learn more

TXU Energy Aid is the largest bill-payment assistance program among electricity companies in the nation. Through TXU Energy Aid, we partner with selected social service community partners statewide to deliver bill-payment assistance. Through 2012, TXU Energy is investing $5 million annually in addition to donations from customers and employees to help customers in critical situations. Learn more

Provides a discount of approximately 20% to qualified low-income customers. This program is funded through the state of Texas System Benefit Fund and provides discounts to eligible customers from May - September. Learn more

TXU Energy is investing $125 million through 2012 in a special year-round low-income discount program. TXU Energy is the only retail electric provider in Texas that voluntarily provides an approximate 10 percent discount for participating low-income customers. This discount is in addition to LITE-UP TEXAS, which is provided through the state of Texas' System Benefit Fund - the state directed program for low-income assistance on energy bills. As of April 2010, almost 135,000 TXU Energy customers have been enrolled to receive the discount. The program is available to TXU Energy low-income customers in all competitive areas across Texas.

Qualifying customers who are designated as low-income, ill or disabled, or who are at least 62 years of age can avoid disconnection of service due to non-payment by contacting TXU Energy at 1-800-242-9113 and enrolling in one of the Summer Moratorium payment plans. Learn more

Working with local social service agencies across the state, TXU Energy will provide grants for turnkey energy-efficiency services as well as funds for agencies to purchase energy-efficient products to help reduce energy usage in low-income single-family homes and apartment complexes. For the turnkey services, energy audits will be conducted to determine the exact upgrades needed for the home or apartment complex.