WE Energies Budget Billing
WE Energies customers who are tired of the volatility of their monthly energy bills can utilize a free Budget Billing service provided by WE Energies. This is a helpful tool that makes budgeting a little easier.
Here’s how the program works:
An average monthly payment is calculated based on an analysis of past energy bills. For the first six months, the customer is charged the same monthly payment. In addition to seeing the monthly payment due on the bill, customers will see the actual energy they have used and the actual charges. The difference between the monthly payment and the actual charge is tracked as a settlement balance.
A review is done at the end of six months. If energy use is not in line with the prior six months of billing then an adjustment is made to the monthly payment due.
At the end of the twelve month period the customer’s account is reviewed again. If an adjustment is necessary, those enrolled in the Periodic Plan will have a settlement balance automatically added or subtracted to the bill in the 12th month. Those enrolled in the Continuous Plan will have the settlement balance included in the calculation for the next years monthly bill amount. In the long run, customers will always pay for their actual energy useage.
WE Energies recommends that customers track the settlement balance on each bill. This will avoid any surprises during the seventh or twelfth months of the billing cycle.
To review the terms and conditions and information how to enroll, visit the WE Energies Budget Billing webpage.
Are you a fan of the Budget Billing process? Any helpful hints to share with our readers? Leave a comment here.
We regularly feature energy savings tips to help Milwaukee area consumers reduce their utility bill. Follow this link to see all of our previous energy savings tips.
Comments
4 Comments on WE Energies Budget Billing
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Aaron on Thu, 7th Jan 2010 10:21 AM
With budget billing you evidently are paying part of your winter heating bill during the summer. Are you paying it the summer before or the summer after? In other words, is the consumer giving We Energies an interest free loan for 6 months or vice versa? Or is there an interest rate built in so it isn’t interest free?
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Milwaukee Consumer on Sat, 9th Jan 2010 8:37 PM
Aaron,
You bring up some great questions. We contacted WE Energies today and spoke with a very helpful customer service associate. She said that customers can sign up for Budget Billing anytime. Therefore, to answer your question if customers are giving an interest free loan to WE Energies, or vice-versa, it probably depends on when the customer is setting up the Budget Billing. If setting the program up at the beginning of winter, it seems more probable that the customer would carry a debit settlement balance throughout the winter months, and then the settlement balance would even out in the summer months.
Also, the Budget Billing is based on the previous activity on the account. If circumstances change for a customer, such as a new stay at home mom keeping the furnace on for the entire day, it is important to understand the effect on the settlement balance. Keeping an eye on the settlement balance each month will help eliminate any surprises down the road.
If any of our readers are considering the Budget Billing option, we’d recommend calling WE Energies and discussing their questions and concerns with customer service.
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Aaron on Sat, 9th Jan 2010 8:47 PM
Ah, excellent research. Thanks!
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Tracy on Mon, 15th Feb 2010 9:51 AM
Thanx for tha info on this. This will save me some cash. Winter gas bills are killin me yall.
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