Frigid winter temperatures and soaring summer heat can lead to drastic changes in monthly electric bills. The PUD’s budget billing plan can help normalize monthly average billing year-round.
What is Budget Billing?
Budget billing provides customers with more predictability by averaging actual power usage over the previous 12 months into each monthly utility bill. The calculated amount is a rolling average for the previous 12 months of usage, meaning bills stay at a predicable level, no matter the weather. Please note: The amount each month is not a fixed amount. Totals can vary slightly month-to-month based upon previous usage, but changes will be small and provide the least surprises. See example chart below.
Does your Home Qualify?
Customers who have at least twelve months (12) of billing history at a service location may request to be placed on the plan.
How Do I Sign Up?
Signing up for Budget Billing is easy through SmartHub or by calling customer service to enroll: 360-385-5800.
New Rolling Average Option
For customers whose bills grew considerably during a twelve month cycle, or who carry a large balance, the annual re-averaging can lead to a large change between their July & Aug. bills.
To help these customers, the PUD is introducing a new rolling average option for Budget Billing users. The rolling average is calculated from the twelve months preceding each month’s bill. Each bill will be slightly different, but the changes will be small and provide the least surprises. See chart below:
To sign up for either version of budget billing or to switch from the old program to the new, call customer service at (360) 385-5800 and they can set you up in minutes. Notice: new applicants for budget billing must have 12 months of billing history and the account needs to be at zero to set up for budget billing.