A fixed account or service fee that can appear even when electricity usage is low. Learn where it appears on an electric bill, whether it is controllable, and what to check first.
Electric bill
$226
All-in rate
$0.246 per kWh
Best next check
Cooling hours
A fixed account or service fee that can appear even when electricity usage is low.
On a real bill, this may appear as Customer charge, Basic service charge, Monthly service fee. The exact label depends on the utility, supplier, regulator, and rate plan.
What to check: If usage dropped but the bill did not fall much, fixed customer charges may be keeping the total high.
Customer charge check
A customer charge is usually a fixed account, service, meter, or basic monthly fee. It often appears before any kWh are priced, so it can limit how much a low-usage month or efficiency step reduces the total bill.
Estimate fixed feesFixed account line
The fee may cover meter service, billing, account access, or local utility readiness.
Low kWh still pays
A vacant home or low-use month can still owe the customer charge.
Savings limit
Reducing kWh lowers usage-based lines, but not the fixed customer charge.
Best next check
Separate customer, delivery, riders, taxes, and usage before setting a savings target.
Separate delivery, fixed charges, usage, and bill-line effects.
Open pageBrowse the full glossary for common electric charges, fees, and readings.
Open pageA minimum monthly amount charged even when usage is very low.
Open pageThe usage-based part of the electric bill, usually calculated from kWh used during the billing period.
Open pageA charge for moving electricity through poles, wires, meters, transmission, and local distribution infrastructure.
Open pageThe cost of the electricity itself, separate from delivery in many deregulated or retail choice markets.
Open pageA charge based on peak power demand during a period, more common on commercial or some special residential plans.
Open pageA rate plan where electricity costs more during peak hours and less during off-peak hours.
Open pageShort answers for search visitors and bill-checking moments.
A fixed account or service fee that can appear even when electricity usage is low.
Customer charge is usually fixed. If usage dropped but the bill did not fall much, fixed customer charges may be keeping the total high.
Compare kWh usage, billing days, and the all-in cost per kWh before deciding which line item caused the increase.