Understand Your Bill

Understanding the components of the electric bill can help you better manage your energy usage and costs.

1 Account Number - IDs your account. 1
2 Prompt Payment - Amount due by the prompt payment date. This will say "Automatic Payment Plan," if you are enrolled in that program. 2
3 Due Date for Prompt Payment - Date your Prompt Payment is due. 3
4 Late Payment - Amount due if paid after the Prompt Payment date. This will say "Automatic Payment Plan," if you are enrolled in that program. 4
5 Amount Paid - Write the amount paid here. 5
6 Next Meter Reading Date - Date of your next scheduled meter read. 6
7 Service Period - Dates covered by this bill. 7
8 Meter Readings - The difference in readings is used to calculate your bill. 8
9 Usage - How much electricity you used. (A kilowatt-hour is a unit of measurement for electricity usage.) 9
10 Demand - Most business customers have a billing demand charge. Billing demand is typically based on the highest amount of power used over a 30-minute period of your current service period. Learn more about billing demand. 10
11 Current Billing Information - Includes account balance, payments received and current balance. 11
12 Bill Message - Account reminders. 12
13 DP&L Charges - broken down into specific components. 13
14 Rate Number - Your electric rate number. 14
15 Previous 12 Months Usage - Your usage history. 15

Term	Definition
Actual Reading	A reading taken from your meter.
Customer Charge	The fixed monthly basic distribution charge to partially cover costs for billing, meter reading, service line maintenance and equipment.
Distribution Charge	Charge for moving electricity over electric distribution lines to your home or business.
Transmission Related Charges	The amount the utility or a supplier charges for operating and maintaining the electric transmission system.
Estimated Reading (EST or E)	On the months we do not read your meter, we calculate your bill based on your past usage. Adjustments may be needed later when we take an actual meter reading. If you would like to read your own meter to avoid estimated bills, call the account information number on the front of the bill with your meter reading.
Generation Charge	Charge associated with the production of electricity.
Generation Rider Charge	Charge for Provider of Last Resort service. All customers pay this charge even if they choose to switch to another generation supplier.
Kilowatt-Hour (KWH)	The unit measure of electricity. For example, you use one kilowatt-hour of electricity to light a 100-watt bulb for 10 hours.
Late Payment Charge	A 1.5% late charge added to the overdue amount if you do not pay your bill by the due date for prompt payment.

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