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Seasonal Fluctuations in Your Bill



We understand that bill fluctuations are cause for concern. Fluctuations can be caused by changes in the cost of electricity or in the amount of electricity used.

Increases in the cost of electricity in Texas are closely tied to the cost of natural gas. That's because a significant portion of electricity generated in Texas is fueled by natural gas.

For a home, higher seasonal usage is usually caused by electric heating and air conditioning equipment operating longer than usual. The more your heating and cooling system operates, the higher the energy usage, and the higher the bill.

TXU Energy understands that a higher electric bill creates difficulties for our customers. While we can't do anything about natural gas prices, or the weather, we can offer programs to help you use energy more efficiently, and make your bills more predictable.   As always, we urge you to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.

Please select one of the following for more information on factors for bill fluctuations:

NON-USAGE FACTORS

Review Your Billing History
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. When doing so, please consider the following examples as possible explanations of the difference in billing amounts. Each possible explanation is followed by a sample:

  • Is there a balance brought forward from a previous month? 
  • Is there an additional service charge shown on the bill?
  • Is there a balance transferred from another address?
  • Is this the first bill affected by a standard seasonal change in a price component?   
  • Is your bill based on more billing days than the usual number of 28-32 days? 
  • Is there a deposit request shown on the bill?
  • Is there an additional charge from a Deferred Payment Agreement? 

ENERGY USAGE FACTORS

As you probably know, the cooling or heating of your home may account for the majority of your electric bill. Even if you have not changed your thermostat setting, significant swings in outside temperature may make your heating or cooling equipment run longer and use more energy. It only takes a few days of extreme temperatures to cause your bill to be noticeably higher.

An easy way to reduce your home's energy usage, and bill, is to raise your thermostat in the summer and lower it in the winter. A summer thermostat setting of 78ºF or above and a winter thermostat setting of 70ºF or lower can reduce your bill, while keeping your home comfortable.

Electric Efficiency
Take a free online analysis of your home's energy usage and pinpoint possible energy savings by accessing the TXU Energy Home Energy Advisor.   This website will help  analyze your home's energy use to answer the following questions:

  • Is my home energy efficient?
  • Which appliances use the most energy?
  • How much can I save?

Energy Solutions
The Energy Solutions section also provides a variety of information and suggestions for managing your energy usage.  Some of the useful topics include:


Reading Your Meter
Reading your electric meter is an easy way to keep your own record of your electric usage. Reading your electric meter on a monthly basis can help you verify the amount of electricity that you are using and monitor your energy saving efforts. 


Other Conditions
If none of the non-usage fluctuations seem to apply, consider the following as a possible explanation of the difference in billing amounts:

  • Were you out of town? Remember appliances such as refrigerators and water heaters stay on.
  • Has the attic and ductwork insulation been checked? 
  • Has a room been added to your home? 
  • Was the recent temperature unusually high or low? 
  • Have air conditioning/heating filters been changed or cleaned once a month? 
  • Have you upgraded to larger appliances or added new ones? Replacing appliances with larger models or adding new appliances could cause increased electrical usage.
  • Have you added a pool/spa recently? 
  • Have there been additional people living in the residence? 
  • Is this the first bill at a new address (move-in) or the last bill at a previous address (move-out)?

Energy Solutions

TXU Energy Service Plans and Services
In addition, TXU Energy also offers several options for billing and payment, so you may conveniently manage and pay your bills.

Billing and Payment Options