Residential Billing questions

This past summer was a scorcher. In Louisville, the National Weather Service reported there were 20 days in August with above normal temps and at least nine of those days were in the 90s. Across Kentucky, the trend was similar. Louisville was also the 5th rainiest August ever. All total, there were more than 50 days this summer with high temperatures above 90 degrees.

Now that those hot days are behind us, and fall brings in cooler temperatures, we can enjoy the milder weather. But, winter is just around the corner, which means turning up the thermostat to keep youR home warm and cozy. 

Cold weather and your energy bill

Last winter, the region experienced several days of sub-freezing temperatures and, as a result, people saw a spike in their monthly bills. That’s because the frigid temperatures have a major impact on your HVAC system, your energy usage and your heating bill. 

The amount of energy to heat a home rises sharply in time of extreme cold. The cold temperatures force your HVAC system to work overtime to heat your home. This weather calendar is a helpful tool to compare temperatures to that of the previous year, and illustrates when there are several days of extreme temperatures, which can ultimately impact your energy bill.

How can you prepare for cold weather, and still try to keep your energy bill manageable? There are a number of energy-saving tips you can follow to keep your home as energy efficient as possible and help save costs. LG&E and KU also offers a Budget Payment Plan to help customers better anticipate their monthly bills by averaging out a customer’s payment over a 12-month period.

Heating assistance programs

We encourage you to contact us right away if you find yourself faced with a bill you don’t think you’ll be able to manage. We can help customers identify available programs that can help you manage your bills, as well as other area assistance programs and options available in the community.

• LG&E Community WinterHelp, KU WinterCare Energy Assistance Fund and WinterShare Fund offered by Old Dominion Power (ODP), the name under which KU operates in Virginia – are operated by area third-party nonprofit organizations.
• The agencies make this financial assistance available to community members who may be struggling this winter to pay their heating bills.
• The company matches customer donations to these programs.

LG&E customers should call 502-589-1444; KU customers should call 800-981-0600 Customers can also visit lge-ku.com/helpingyou to find more information on available resources.
 

Meter readers physically collect the energy-usage information needed to calculate your bill from each meter. (For perspective, we read more than 1 million meters manually each month, with the exact figure being a little more than 1.3 million.)

Occasionally, due to various circumstances, meter readers are unable to collect the necessary information, and we predict the amount of energy you would have used based on several factors, including usage from the previous year and current weather conditions.

1.  How can I tell if my bill is based off an actual, verified or estimated read?

In the Current Usage section of your bill, you will see “Estimated (E)” under Meter Reading Information:

You may also see these types of meter reads on your bill: 

• Actual Reading/Regular Reading: Meter read by a Meter Reader. This is typically how your bill is calculated.
• Verified Reading:  The meter was read a second time and verified by a meter reader while still physically at the meter.
• Self- Read: You may read your own meter and then contact the company to have the reading entered in the system. Timing is important in this instance — a self-read is only accepted on our My Account website during the 3-day Meter Reading Window and only if it is comparable based on previous history and weather conditions.

2.  What are the common reasons why meters are estimated?

• No access to meter – gate locked, aggressive animal that’s a safety risk, overgrown vegetation, etc.; this is the most common cause of repeated estimated bills.
• Inclement weather – ice, snow, storms, etc.
• Periodic Estimation – planned estimates may occur periodically.

3.  What if I think my estimate isn’t accurate?

Estimates may be inaccurate if usage patterns have changed a great deal. For example, a home was vacant during the same period last year and had minimal energy usage. The current customer living there this year receives an estimate that may be unrealistically low.

Following an estimated bill, an actual meter reading will be taken. The bill issued based on the actual reading will be for the difference between the actual reading and the previous estimated usage. In cases like this, the bill will “catch-up” the following month. Any usage difference between your “Estimated” read and Actual Reading is automatically adjusted the next time your meter is read by a meter reader. Only the energy actually consumed will appear on the next bill.

We strive to deliver accurate bills to our customers every month. However, if you feel you’ve received a bill that is not accurate, you can read your meter and compare that reading with the one on your bill. Learn more on how to read the meter.

4.  How are estimates calculated?

We start with the last actual reading, and we now know the current actual reading. The usage is divided differently over the two-month period because of the estimated reading but, the overall usage for the two month period is correct.

Example:

How can I tell if this is correct for January and February?

• Add the total number of days in the billing period.
  • 31 days + 28 days = 59 days 
• Add the total usage billed.
  • 2000 kWh + 500 kWh = 2,500 kWh 
• Divide the total usage by the total number of days for a daily usage.
  • 2500 kWh usage divided by the 59 days to equal 42.37 kWh per day.

Result:

• January — 42.37 kWh per day x 31 days in billing period to equal 1313 kWh (estimated at 687 kWh above average usage). Compare this to the daily usage for other billed periods.
• February — 42.37 kWh per day x 28 days in billing period to equal 1186 kWh (instead of 500 kWh).