Guides

Plain explanations with numbers from the data on this site.

• What SAIDI and SAIFI meanSAIDI and SAIFI explained with 673 U.S. utilities: median 99 minutes in 2024, best and worst large utilities.
• How to read your electric billWhat is on an electric bill, with a quick estimate method, 2025 average prices and typical bills for every state.
• Net metering explainedWhat net metering is, with 5,415,460 U.S. installations and the utilities with the most home solar per customer.
• Why electricity prices differ by state2025 home electricity prices by state: from 11.8 to 40.6 cents per kWh, and the fastest rises since 2015.
• How to compare electric companiesA four-step way to compare utilities on price and reliability, shown with eight large Ohio utilities and owner-type medians.
• TDU vs REP: who delivers and who sells your electricityHow wires companies and suppliers split a bill in states with choice, with 2024 EIA-861 data: 15 states and DC, Texas TDU delivery rates.
• Net metering by stateNet-metered installations and MW by state from EIA-861 2024: 5,305,160 systems, 56,569 MW, plus what the data cannot say.
• Electric shutoff rules and winter protectionsDisconnection-for-nonpayment rules for all 50 states and DC: winter and heat protection, notice, payment plans, source and confidence for each; rule text read for 49.
• Heat pump vs gas: how to compare running costHow to compare a heat pump and a gas furnace per MMBtu, with 2025 prices for 45 states, break-even COP and degree days.
• EV charging at home: what it costs by stateWhat it costs to charge an EV at home in every state: 27 kWh per 100 miles, 13,476 miles, 2025 EIA prices. From $430 to $1,477 a year.
• kWh vs kW and demand chargesWhat kWh, kW and demand charges are, with EIA definitions, the 84% AMI share and 2025 sector prices.
• Why your electric bill changes by seasonMonthly typical bills for every state in 2025, summer and winter peaks, and NOAA degree days. U.S. gap 71% between the highest and lowest month.
• Solar payback: the simple formulaPayback = net cost over yearly savings. State price and sun proxy table for 43 states, with what the IRS says about the 30% credit.
• Energy burden explainedDOE's energy burden definition and a state comparison of typical electric bills over median income, from 1.3% to 3.6%.
• Electric bill line by lineA worked example of an electric bill with a Texas delivery rate from EIA-861 (5.19 cents per kWh), plus a four-step check.
• Demand response programs explainedWhat demand response is, how it differs from time-of-use rates, and the 2024 EIA-861 numbers: 10,950,828 customers enrolled and 12,322 MW of actual peak savings.
• Community solar explainedHow community solar works, who it can help, what to check in a contract, and the EIA-861 2024 virtual net metering numbers: 4,205 MW and 182,398 customers.
• How to read an electric rate scheduleWhat the parts of a residential rate schedule mean, with data on 6,298 open home plans at 2,588 utilities and a worked example of the fixed charge.
• Time-of-use electricity plans explainedHow time-of-use plans work, with EIA-861 2024 data: 15,832,411 home customers on dynamic pricing, offerings in 49 of 51 places, and a worked bill example.
• Power outage: what to do, and how long food stays safeWhat federal sources say about a power outage: a fridge keeps food safe about 4 hours, a full freezer about 48. Steps before, during and after, with 2024 outage data.
• Portable generator safety and carbon monoxideWhat CPSC says about portable generators and carbon monoxide: more than 100 deaths a year, the 20-foot rule, alarms, and what the staff report found for 2012 to 2022.
• Heat waves and air conditioning costsWhat air conditioning costs to run in a hot summer, with NOAA cooling degree days, 2025 prices, FEMA heat wave risk ratings and a central AC scenario of $360.
• Home energy audit and weatherization assistanceWhat a home energy audit must do under the DOE weatherization rule, who qualifies for the program (about 32,000 homes a year, $372 average yearly savings), and how to start with your own bills.
• LED and appliance savings: what actually savesWhat an LED swap and a new appliance save, with DOE's formula, ENERGY STAR median kWh for 14 products and 2025 prices by state.
• Smart thermostats: what they save and what they do notWhat ENERGY STAR requires of a smart thermostat (8% heating and 10% cooling run time cuts), where degree days give it more to do, and what the data cannot say.
• How utilities set electric rates: rate cases in plain wordsA rate case in plain words, from the South Dakota PUC's guide, with utilities counted by ownership type and price change by state, 2015 to 2025.
• Electricity deregulation and retail choice, explainedHow a split electricity market works, which 15 places have supplier service (EIA-861 2024) and how home prices compare with other states, 2010 to 2025.
• How to dispute an electric billSteps to dispute an electric bill, with commission contacts and complaint pages for 51 places, checked 2 October 2026, and what the rule texts say.
• Moving: how to set up electricity serviceSet up electric service at a new address: find your utility, pick a supplier in choice states, and see typical bills in 51 places (EIA 2025).
• Small business electric bill basicsBusiness against home electricity prices in every state (2025: 13.41 against 17.30 cents per kWh), demand charges in plain words and a small-shop scenario.