Electric bill line by line
A bill is a list of small calculations. If you can redo three of them with your own numbers, you can check the total.
A worked example
Take 1,000 kWh in a month in the Oncor area of Texas. Oncor's delivery revenue was 5.19 cents per kWh in the EIA-861 2024 file, taken from the data. The supplier's energy price and base charge below are made-up round numbers, because EIA publishes no plan prices.
| Line | How it is computed | Amount | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy charge (supplier) | 1,000 kWh at 10.0 cents | $100.00 | Assumed plan price |
| Monthly base charge (supplier) | flat | $4.00 | Assumed |
| Delivery charge (wires company) | 1,000 kWh at 5.19 cents | $51.90 | Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC, EIA-861 2024 delivery revenue per kWh |
| Total before taxes and local fees | $155.90 | Sum of the three lines | |
| Average cost per kWh | 15.59 cents | Total over kWh |
Source: Energy price and base charge are assumptions for illustration; the delivery rate is EIA-861 2024 delivery revenue (including all other charges) divided by kWh delivered for the named TDU. Not a real plan or tariff. Retrieved 2026-10-02. CSV, 5 rows.
The result is 15.59 cents per kWh, well above the 10.0 cent energy price, because delivery and the base charge are added. That is why the average price in our data is higher than a plan's headline rate.
Where the example's money goes
United States, Worked example: monthly bill by line, 1,000 kWh in the Oncor area: EIA-861 2024 delivery rate; energy price and base charge are assumed.
CSVThe usual lines
| Line on a bill | What it usually is |
|---|---|
| Customer or base charge | A flat monthly amount regardless of use. Pays for the meter, billing and the connection. |
| Energy or supply charge | kWh times a price per kWh. In choice states this comes from the supplier. |
| Delivery charge | The wires company's charge for poles, wires and meters. In choice states it is set by the state and is the same whichever supplier you pick. |
| Fuel or power cost adjustment | A line that changes with the cost of fuel or purchased power; some utilities have it and some fold it into the rate. |
| Riders and surcharges | Programs added to the bill by the utility or state, such as efficiency programs or storm cost recovery. |
| Taxes and fees | Set by the state or city; vary by address. |
Plain-language descriptions of common bill lines. Names and rules differ by utility; read your tariff.
Check your bill in four steps
1. Find the kWh used and compare with the last 12 months on the bill: a jump with no reason is worth a call. 2. Check whether the read is actual or estimated; an estimate is corrected later, but a run of estimates is not normal. 3. Multiply kWh by the price per kWh on each energy and delivery line and see if it matches. 4. Add the flat charges, riders and taxes and see if the total matches.
Keep one bill from each season so you can see the swing: see the seasons page on this site.
What this site adds
The U.S. typical home bill in 2025 on this site is $152 a month at 878 kWh, energy only. It is an average of kWh per customer times the monthly price from EIA, so it leaves out fixed charges and taxes. Your bill will be higher by those lines. We cannot see your tariff: no data on fixed charges or riders by utility.
Key facts and where they come from
| Fact | Value | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery revenue per kWh, Oncor home customers | 5.19 cents | EIA-861 2024 Delivery_Companies | 2024 data |
| Oncor home accounts | 3,477,215 | EIA-861 2024 Delivery_Companies | 2024 data |
| What EIA's average price is | Revenue divided by kWh sold | EIA retail sales | 2025 |
| U.S. home price | 17.30 cents per kWh | EIA retail sales, 2025 | 2025 annual |
| U.S. typical home bill (energy only) | $152 per month | EIA monthly sales 2025 | 2025 |
| U.S. average home use | 878 kWh per month | EIA monthly sales 2025 | 2025 |
| 1 kWh | 1 kW for 1 hour; 3,412 Btu | EIA Energy Glossary, eia.gov/tools/glossary | retrieved 2026-10-02 |
| Demand charge | Part of the bill based on maximum capacity usage | EIA Energy Glossary, eia.gov/tools/glossary | retrieved 2026-10-02 |
| Net metering | Credit for exported energy against billed energy | EIA Energy Glossary, eia.gov/tools/glossary | retrieved 2026-10-02 |
| Delivery-only reporting (Part C) | Wires company reports delivery without energy | 2024 EIA-861 Instructions, Schedule 4 Part C | 2024 form |
Related guides
Questions
What is on an electric bill?
A base charge, an energy charge, a delivery charge, any fuel adjustment, riders and taxes. Names vary.
Why does my bill not match the price per kWh?
Base charge, delivery, riders and taxes sit on top of the energy price.
What is a delivery charge?
The charge from the wires company for moving power to you. In choice states it is the same whichever supplier you pick.
What is an estimated read?
The utility did not read the meter and guessed your use. It is corrected on a later bill.
How do I check my bill?
Redo kWh times price for each line and compare. Check use against last year's same month.
What does Oncor charge?
EIA-861 shows 5.19 cents per kWh of delivery revenue for home customers in 2024. Its current tariff may differ.
Where is the real tariff?
On your utility's website and your state commission's site. This site does not list tariffs: no data.
Is the example a real plan?
No. The energy price and base charge are assumed round numbers.