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Understanding Your Bill & Energy Use

To help make your MVEA electric bill easier to navigate, we’ve created a visual breakdown that illustrates each component of your bill in an easy-to-understand format. This resource is designed to guide you through the details of your monthly charges, making it easier for you to understand what you’re being billed for and how to manage your energy usage effectively.

To learn more about MVEA’s rate options, click here.

MVEA Demand Rate Bill Resources

Demand Rate Quick Facts (Default Rate for Residential, Small Power, Net Meter Accounts)

  • Reflects both the electricity you use and the demand you place on the system.
  • Includes an Energy Charge (kWh) and a Demand Charge (kW).
  • Demand is based on your highest one-hour period of electricity use during the month, Monday through Friday.
  • Members who regularly use several large appliances at the same time may see higher bills, while those who stagger use throughout the day may see savings.

Your electric bill is made up of several components, but the two primary elements impacting your total charge are Energy Use and Energy Demand. These components work together to determine how much you owe each month. Below is a breakdown of these key areas and information on how you can monitor them to take control of your energy costs.

Energy Use (kWh)

Energy usage refers to the total amount of electricity consumed during a billing period, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). This is the primary charge on your bill and represents the energy you’ve used to power everything in your home—from lights and appliances to heating and cooling systems.

  • How It’s Calculated: Each appliance in your home has a specific energy consumption rate, and the total energy usage is calculated based on how long these appliances run during the billing period. The more electricity your home uses, the higher your bill will be.
  • How to Monitor Usage: You don’t have to wait until your monthly bill arrives to check your energy usage. Members can track their energy consumption at any time through SmartHub—our online and mobile platform. By logging into SmartHub on your desktop or downloading the SmartHub app, you can view real-time data on your energy usage, including historical trends, daily, weekly, and monthly usage. This can help you understand patterns in your consumption, identify potential areas for savings, and make informed decisions about how and when to use energy.

What is Energy Demand and What Contributes to It?

Energy demand is a crucial part of your electric bill and refers to the maximum amount of electricity your household uses at any given moment during a billing period. While Energy Usage measures the total amount of electricity consumed over time, Energy Demand focuses on how much electricity is used at the peak or highest point of demand. It’s essentially the “instantaneous” or “peak” consumption.

Understanding Energy Demand:

  • What It Represents: Energy demand is measured in kilowatts (kW) and is associated with the highest amount of electricity being used simultaneously during the billing cycle. Unlike energy usage, which accumulates over time, demand is about the rate of electricity consumption at any given moment.

MVEA Time-of-Day Rate Bill Resources

  • MVEA’s Time-of-Day Rate allows members to save by shifting energy use outside of peak evening hours.
  • On-Peak hours are 5–9 p.m., Monday through Friday. Off-Peak hours include all other times, weekends, and designated holidays.