Understanding Your Bill

Wondering what the numbers on your bill really mean? View our Understanding Your Bill brochure which includes an illustration of an actual bill with an explanation of charges. For your reference, an explanation of many items is also included below.

• Account Number: Your account number appears in the lower right portion of the bill. This unique number identifies the specific account set up under your membership. It is important that you provide the account number in question any time you need information on your account or report a concern.
• Energy Charge: This is billed based on the number of kilowatt hours of electricity you use, and is comprised of two elements:
  • The wholesale cost of the electricity we buy from power plants and deliver to your home or business.
  • A portion of the cost to build and maintain our electric distribution system that is not captured in the customer charge.
  Power Cost Adjustment (PCA): The power cost adjustment (PCA) is also billed based on the number of kilowatt hours of electricity you use. The PCA varies from month-to-month to compensate for the regular fluctuations in the price of the coal and natural gas used to generate the electricity you consume. Since fossil fuel prices are extremely volatile and difficult to predict, the PCA allows us to adjust the price of electricity each month so our rates always reflect the real cost to serve you – no more and no less.
• Service Availability Charge: This is a fixed fee that recovers a portion of the cost required to deliver power to your home or business. This includes a variety of expenses including customer service, metering, poles, wires, and transformers. The actual cost of this infrastructure is significantly higher than what we recover through the service availability charge. The remainder of this expense is captured in the energy charge.
• Meter: Your meter number appears under the blue bar. Many of our members have more than one meter - one for the house, one for the barn, et cetera; if you are calling to report a problem, have this number on hand so we can address the specific meter.
• Rate: This appears under the blue bar, and reflects the rate class assigned to your account. Rate categories are assigned according to the type of account (residential, commercial) and your energy consumption. For more information, visit our Rates page.
• Meter Readings: Your bill lists both the previous and present readings on your meter, as well as the kilowatt hours used during the billing period, which is the difference between the two readings. Our meters are read by Tri-County employees; it is each member's responsibility to ensure we have access to these meters. Locked gates, unfriendly dogs and other obstacles can result in incorrect meter readings.
• kWh Used: Your electricity usage is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). A kilowatt hour (kWh) is the standard unit of measure for your electricity usage. It is the amount of electricity required to power a 1000-watt device for one hour. For example, a 100-watt light bulb running for one hour uses one-tenth of a kWh. If electricity cost 10 cents per kWh, that 100-watt light bulb would cost one cent per hour to operate.For example, if you were to burn a 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours, it would consume one kWh of electricity. To learn how to increase your energy efficiency and decrease your monthly bill, visit the page on Reducing Your Bill.
• Franchise tax is the fee charged by local governments to use public rights of way for the poles and wires that bring power to your home.
• Other Tax is the Oklahoma gross revenue tax that supports local school districts.
• Device charge is the rental fee for security lights.
• Device PCA is the power cost adjustment for energy used by security lights.
• Line Extension Charge recovers construction costs associated with building special service on private property to devices such as irrigation systems.
• Carbon Tax was recently added to all bills in January 2010. The tax reflects legislation that is currently under review by your elected representatives. If passed, the cooperative may be required to pay a carbon tax that will be reflected in the rates that members pay as per the cooperative’s Rules and Regulations of Service. Until the legislation is finalized, this line will read zero dollars.

Tri-County Electric bills members on a monthly basis. Bills are due on the date of mailing and they become delinquent after 20 days. After 20 days, late penalties of two percent are added. The date will appear on the bill and other notices. The cooperative may terminate service for non-payment of bill 25 days from the date of mailing. If service has been discontinued because of non-payment or for a violation of the Rules and Regulations of Service, the member shall pay the full amount due plus all applicable fees including security deposit, if applicable, prior to restoration of service. The cooperative shall restore service within a reasonable time during normal working hours. If customer desires to be reconnected after normal working hours, an applicable fee shall apply.