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Understanding Your Bill
- ACCOUNT SUMMARY: Streamlined to provide important account information such as what you paid last month and how much you owe this month.
- MESSAGE CENTER: Redesigned with you in mind. More room for the messages that are most important to you.
- TOTAL AMOUNT DUE: Amount owed and due date are now easier to find.
- ACCOUNT NUMBER
- ENERGY SNAPSHOT: Includes the average outdoor temperature, a monthly usage comparison, and an average daily cost comparison giving you a clear picture of how your current bill and usage compare to previous months. Detailed information such as the customer charge and energy charges are now located under this section as well.
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General Billing Terms
A unique number that identifies your electric and/or gas account. Whenever you contact CoServ, have this number ready so we can quickly locate your records. You’ll also use this number when paying your bill.
A billing period is the period between two consecutive meter reading dates and typically ranges from twenty-eight (28) to thirty-three (33) days. For details, see Section 324.2 of the Tariff.
You may notice the length of your billing cycle varies slightly from month to month. Billing cycles can vary between 28 to 33 days. Here are a few reasons why this can occur:
- Calendar Differences: Since months have different numbers of days ranging from 28 to 31, our billing cycles must adjust slightly to align with the calendar.
- Weekends and Holidays: To ensure smooth operations, we avoid running the billing process on weekends or holidays when our offices are closed, which can cause the billing cycle to be slightly longer or shorter.
- Meter Reading: The meter reading schedule can vary monthly, particularly for those with natural gas service. This is because gas meters must be read in person by meter readers. For Members with dual service, we do our best to align the reading communicated from the electric meters with the reading manually read from the gas meters.
CoServ Members are connected to one of the most reliable, smart and secure electric grids in the state, according to our System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) score.
The CoServ Customer Charge helps pay for the operation and maintenance of the distribution lines, transformers, substations and meters that deliver electricity to your home or business. The Customer Charge also helps pay administrative costs for billing, records and other expenses.
A tax charged by the state of Texas on the gross revenues of a utility doing business in a city with a population greater than 1,000. This is a pass-through charge based on your gas usage. For details, see Section 203.6 of the tariff.
Some cities charge a fee to use street rights-of-way for the placement of distribution lines. Only those Customers who live in a city that requires CoServ to pay this charge have a Franchise Fee on their bills. This is a pass-through fee that goes back to your city. (If you live in a quasi-government area, such as Savannah, this charge is called a District fee.) For details, see Section 203.6 of the tariff.
Participating Customers’ bills are rounded up to the nearest dollar, and the extra change is donated to the CoServ Charitable Foundation, which supports worthy causes right here in your community. The average Customer contributes $6 per year.
Electric Terms
As a member of an electric cooperative, you invest in CoServ Electric through your annual kilowatt-hour purchases. Click here to learn more about Capital Credits.
A tax set by the city of your service location. For details, see Section 203.6 of the tariff.
DEL: When your house is using more energy than your solar system is producing, energy from the grid combines with solar to supply your house, and the meter flows forward. This is the energy delivered to your home and Members will pay the full retail rate per kilowatt-hour.
REC: When your solar panels are producing more than your house’s consumption, the excess solar energy not needed by your house flows onto the grid, and the meter flows backward. This is the energy received by CoServ. This amount will not match the output registered on your solar inverter; it represents only the excess solar production that is not needed by your house. CoServ buys this electricity at the Avoided Wholesale cost and there is no limit to the amount of Received electricity CoServ can buy during each billing period.
NET: The NET is calculated by subtracting the amount Received (REC) from the amount Delivered (DEL). This is the amount you are billed on.
For details, see Section 202.15 of the tariff.
The Electric Energy Charge represents the cost of providing power to your home/business. This charge includes wholesale Power Cost Recovery Factor (PCRF) adjustments and fixed costs associated with delivery (Customer Charge).
Short for kilowatt-hour, this is a measure of electrical energy equivalent to the power consumption of 1,000 watts for one hour. CoServ's usage charge is measured in kWh. We calculate this by subtracting the prior month’s meter reading from the current month’s meter reading.
As of November 1, 2024, the CoServ Membership fee is $0 to join the cooperative. Active Members who paid the $15 membership prior to this date will have the fee refunded when their current account is closed and/or they move out of the service territory. For details, see Section 204.2 of the tariff.
For residential Members on the Summer Savings rate plan, there are different charges based on the time of day from May through October.
The On-Peak hours upon which the On-Peak Energy Charge is based shall be the hours from 3:00 p.m., CT, through 8:00 p.m., CT, during the months of May through October. All other hours during the months of May through October shall be classified as Off-Peak hours.
For details, see Section 202.21 of the tariff.
A Power Cost Recovery Factor (PCRF) allows CoServ to adjust for changes in wholesale energy costs. Because wholesale costs can fluctuate from month to month, CoServ uses the PCRF to calculate your bill. When our wholesale power costs go up, the PCRF increases, and vice versa. The PCRF is either subtracted or added to the base rate to calculate your bill. We do not markup our wholesale energy costs for profit. For additional details, see Section 203.1 of the tariff.
The Securitized Charges Recovery Factor (SCRF) is used to calculate amounts that CoServ must recover from Customers to repay and administer the securitized bonds issued by CoServ under Texas Senate Bill 1580. The proceeds of these bonds were used to pay qualified costs and expenses relating to Winter Storm Uri in February 2021. At least every six months, the amount that is charged on a per kWh basis will be reviewed, and adjusted as needed, to ensure CoServ is collecting the appropriate amounts. For additional details, see Section 203.2 of the tariff.
Visit CoServ.com/Securitization/ for more information.
Non-Residential Electric Terms and Rates
CoServ's self-contained electric meters are designed to read up to 320 amps. CoServ Members whose service exceeds 320 amps have special Instrument Rated Meters, equipped with CTs (current transformers) that reduce the amperage the meter reads. The CT Meter safely and accurately measures the lower current and sends the reading to CoServ headquarters. CoServ Billing then applies an Electric Meter Multiplier to get an accurate reading of the full electricity usage. The ratio at which the amperage is reduced is the multiplying factor applied to the meter readings for billing.
Short for kilowatt, it equals 1,000 watts. It’s the measure of power or the rate at which something uses energy, such as a light bulb. CoServ measures kilowatts in 15-minute intervals to calculate demand charges.
Non-residential accounts with less than 35 kW are defaulted to the Commercial Rate.
Non-residential accounts with more than 35 kW are defaulted to the Industrial Rate plan.
Both of these plans have the option of going on Time-of-Use Rates.
Schools and churches are defaulted to one of the Public Building Rates.
There's a separate rate plan for:
- Under 35 kW
- Over 35 kW
- All are eligible for Time-of-Use Rates.
There are two types of Commercial Time-of-Use Rates that Members with more than 10 kilowatts (kW) of service can sign up for. Both Rates encourage businesses to shift their electric usage away from peak times.
There's the standard Commercial Time-of-Use Rate has a higher rate per kilowatt-hour during the following times:
- May-October: 3 p.m. CT to 8 p.m. CT
- November-April: 3 p.m. CT to 8 p.m. CT and 6 a.m. CT to 8 a.m. CT
There's also a Commercial Time-of-Use Demand Metered Rate, which is based on the greater of:
- The highest kilowatt usage during a 15-minute interval during the peak periods for that billing period:
- May-October: 3 p.m. CT to 8 p.m. CT
- November-April: 3 p.m. CT to 8 p.m. CT and 6 a.m. CT to 8 a.m. CT
Or
- 50% of the maximum On-Peak Billing Demand measured in the past 11 months
It includes a separate Non-Coincidental Peak (NCP) Demand Charge based on the following:
- The highest kilowatt usage during a 15-minute interval during the entire month, on-peak or off-peak.
Non-residential accounts with service greater than 35 kilowatts (kW) can sign up for an Industrial Time-of-use Rate. It encourages businesses with high loads to shift their electric usage away from peak times.
In addition to the usual energy charge, Members on the Industrial Time-of-Use Demand Metered Rate are billed on two additional factors:
The On-Peak Demand Charge is based on the greater of:
- The highest kilowatt usage during a 15-minute interval during the peak periods for that billing period:
- May-October: 3 p.m. CT to 8 p.m. CT
- November-April: 3 p.m. CT to 8 p.m. CT and 6 a.m. CT to 8 a.m. CT
Or
- 50% of the maximum On-Peak Billing Demand measured in the past 11 months
Non-Coincidental Peak (NCP) Demand Charge
- The highest kilowatt usage during a 15-minute interval during the entire month, on-peak or off-peak.
Schools and churches have the option of signing up for the Public Building Time-of Use-Rate, which encourages Members with high loads to shift their electric usage away from peak times.
Because schools don't let out until later in the afternoon, the Public Building Time-of-Use plan has a lower Intermediate Peak Billing Demand period before the full peak demand period begins.
The Intermediate Peak Billing Demand is based on the greater of:
- The highest kilowatt usage during a 15-minute interval from
- 3 p.m. CT to 4:30 p.m. CT
Or
- 50% of the maximum Intermediate Peak Billing Demand measured in the last 11 months.
The On Peak Demand Charge is based on the greater of:
- The highest kilowatt usage during a 15-minute interval during the peak periods for that billing period:
- May-October: 4:30 p.m. CT to 8 p.m. CT
- November-April: 4:30 p.m. CT to 8 p.m. CT and 6 a.m. CT to 8 a.m. CT
Or
- 50% of the maximum On-Peak Billing Demand measured in the last 11 months
Non-Coincidental Peak (NCP) Demand Charge
- The highest kilowatt usage during a 15-minute interval during the entire month, on-peak or off-peak.
Click here for more information.
Gas Terms
The Railroad Commission of Texas has been authorized to assess an annual program fee on natural gas distribution operators subject to the Commission’s pipeline safety jurisdiction under Texas Utilities Code, Chapter 121, to fund the Commission’s pipeline safety and regulatory programs.
The amount of gas (in Ccf) you used during the billing cycle. We calculate this by subtracting the prior month’s meter reading from the current month’s meter reading.
Some residential gas accounts have a multiplier added to them. CoServ Gas calculates the pressure when the meter is first set at a home. If the pressure is greater than 4 ounces, the multiplier (1.12) then applies for billing purposes.
During the recent rate case, CoServ Gas incurred legal and consulting fees to prepare and pursue the rate case. Pursuant to the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) order, CoServ Gas reimbursed the legal and consulting costs of the municipalities that intervened in the rate case. The RRC allows CoServ Gas to recover these costs over an approximately 24-month period at of rate of $0.003240 per Ccf consumed. The recovery of these fees is annually reviewed by the Commission and in the event of an over-recovery, the over-recovery amount is ultimately returned to the customers.
This number represents our wholesale costs for the gas you used during the billing cycle. The Purchased Gas Factor (PGF) does not include any profit or markup. It reflects only the wholesale cost of the gas itself, plus the cost we pay to transport it from our supplier to CoServ. Because complete information regarding our gas costs isn’t available at the time we send your bill, the PGF is an estimate. If wholesale costs are higher or lower, CoServ Gas accounts for that by raising or lowering the PGF. Learn more about the PGF.
The usage/volumetric rate is the charge for delivering natural gas through the CoServ Distribution system.
During the December through May billing periods, you'll notice a line item called the Weather Normalization Adjustment (WNA) – which affects the monthly Ccf usage charge. WNA is standard within the natural gas utility industry and protects both the customer and the gas provider. The calculation is based on normal temperatures, and it provides an adjustment if temperatures are higher or lower than normal. When the weather is colder than normal, the WNA will reduce the Ccf usage charge to a normal level. When the weather is warmer than normal, the WNA will increase the Ccf usage charge to a normal level. Learn more about the WNA.