Five tips to help manage your bill

Surprises can be fun when you find $5 in the pocket of a long-time unworn coat, but not much fun when it comes to your energy bill. With unpredictable temperature fluctuations anticipated this season, here are five things to help you understand, manage and avoid high bills.

1. Keep in mind that the number of days matters. While most bills are for 30 days, there are times when the billing cycle is shorter or longer. If there are more days in the bill, your bill total could be higher than expected.
2. Look at the average kilowatt-hour (kWh) use per day. At first glance, your bill may look higher, but if your average use is similar to this time last year (or when compared to a month with similar extreme temperatures), it’s a normal bill.
3. If you have a smart meter, check online to see if a daily usage analysis tool is available. Smart meters collect usage information by the hour, so checking spikes throughout the month – by day and even hour – can show what appliances and behaviors are increasing your bill.
4. Don’t have a smart meter? You can receive usage alerts when hotter or colder weather may be causing your bill to trend higher than the month before. We send these alerts before you receive your bill – so you can take steps to lower your usage before your bill comes.
5. Download the Duke Energy app. The app gives you access to manage your account, making it easier to stay on top of your energy usage and bills. You can also take advantage of our energy- and money-saving products and services.

The more you know about your energy use, the more opportunities you have to save.