What Caused My High Electricity Bill?

A Bill Payer’s Checklist for Their Home’s Electrical System

When your electric bill is bigger than expected, you probably
wonder what caused it. Sometimes you can remember that
you had company, or filled a pool with water, or thawed a pipe by turning on a space heater. Sometimes it seems as though nothing changed. Sometimes things beyond our control, like the weather, may cause a high bill. If you do not remember what changed—
use this checklist.

Can the Cause be Found?

Yes, in many cases the cause can be identified, but it takes time. And it takes effort on your part. Do the following steps:

Step #1
Connect to Quick Check. Quick Check lets you compare your bill with a brief calculated estimate after you answer a few questions about your home.

OR:

Complete the Bill Analysis questionnaire. Bill Analysis will provide an estimate of what your bill might be for a typical month. Compare it with your current bill.

Step #2

Do daily meter readings to track energy consumption. This avoids surprises when the next bill comes in. It also lets the meter tell you what is happening electrically in your home.

Step #3 (advanced level )

Check electrical circuits to identify which circuits use a lot of electricity in your home. Use the procedure and instructions provided. Use caution while doing this. Bangor Hydro recommends completing this step with a licensed electrician.

Still Need More Help?

With your Bill Analysis results and your daily meter reading work sheet at hand, call our Customer Service Center. The results of your readings can be discussed with a Customer Service Representative.

Call: 947-2414 (Bangor) or 1-800-499-6600 (toll free).

Return to Energy Manager