Glossary of Billing Terms

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Advanced metering charge - A charge assessed to recover a TDU’s charges for Advanced Metering Systems, to the extent that they are not recovered in a TDU’s standard metering charge.

Base Charge - A monthly charge assessed by Champion Energy to each meter regardless of consumption to recover fixed costs of providing service.

Competition Transition Charge - A charge assessed to recover a TDU’s charges for non-securitized costs associated with the transition to competition.

Current Meter Read - The meter reading at the end of the period for which the customer is being billed.

Demand Charge - A charge based on the rate at which electric energy is delivered to or by a system at a given instant, or averaged over a designed period, during the billing cycle.

Energy Charge - A charge based on the electric energy (kWh) consumed.

Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery Factor - A charge assessed to recover a TDU’s costs for energy efficiency programs, to the extent that the TDU charge is a separate charge exclusively for that purpose that is approved by the Public Utility Commission.

Fuel Charge - A charge approved by the Public Utility Commission for the recovery of the utility’s costs for the fuel used to generate electricity.

kW - Kilowatt, the standard unit for measuring electricity demand, equal to 1,000 watts.

kWh - Kilowatt-hour, the standard unit for measuring electricity energy consumption, equal to 1.000 watt-hours.

Late Payment Penalty - A charge assessed for late payment in accordance with Public Utility Commission rules.

Meter Number - The number assigned by the utility to the customer’s meter

Meter Charge - A charge assessed to recover a TDU’s charges for metering a customer’s consumption, to the extent that the TDU charge is a separate charge exclusively for that purpose that is approved by the Public Utility Commission.

Miscellaneous Gross Receipts Tax Reimbursement - A fee assessed to recover he miscellaneous gross receipts tax imposed on retail electric providers operating in an incorporated city or town having a population of more than 1,000. 

Municipal Franchise Fee - A fee assessed to compensate municipalities for the utility’s use of public rights-of-way.

Nuclear Decommissioning Fee - A charge approved by the Public Utility Commission to provide funds for decommissioning of nuclear generating sites.

Previous Meter Read - The reading on the beginning the period for which the customer is being billed.

PUC Assessment - A fee assessed to recover the statutory fee for administering the Public Utility Regulatory Act.

Sales tax - Sales tax collected by authorized taxing authorities, such as the state, cities, and special purpose districts.

System Benefit Fund - A non-bypassable charge approved by the Public Utility Commission, not to exceed 65 cents per megawatt-hour, that funds the low-income discount, one-time bill payment assistance, customer education, commission administrative expenses, and low-income energy efficiency programs.

TDU Delivery Charges - The total amounts assessed by a TDU for the delivery of electricity to a customer over poles and wires and other TDU facilities not including discretionary charges.

Transmission Distribution Surcharges - One or more TDU surcharge(s) on a customer’s bill in any combination. Surcharges include charges billed as tariff riders by the TDU. 

Transition Charge - A charge assessed to recover a TDU’s charges for securitized costs associated with the transition to competition.