SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane has seen its first snow this season and that means it’s time to turn on the heater.
This means you'll start to see your energy bills go up. If you're concerned about the numbers dramatically increasing, your utility company may have some manageable options.
Most utility companies in the area offer two ways to pay your bill. There are the regular rates, where you get a bill every month depending on how much electricity or gas you use. But then there's a way the companies can average out your yearly usage so that you're paying about the same amount every month.
Inland Power calls it ‘Budget Billing.’ Vera Electric calls it the ‘Average Payment plan’. Avista calls it ‘Comfort Level Billing.’
With Avista, you'd sign up for the plan, and they'll take the amount of energy you use from month to month and then create an average that you'll pay for each bill through the year. They review amounts every quarter and each year from the time you sign up. They then either adjust or credit your account with the difference.
For example, if your actual usage bill is $80 but your comfort bill says you pay $60 each month, then you'll pay the $60. But at the end of that quarter, your monthly comfort bill would adjust to account for that $20 difference.
Let's say your actual usage bill is $60 but your comfort bill said you pay $80 each month. Then at the end of that quarter you'll get a check for $20 and then your comfort bill would adjust to try and even out that difference for the next quarter.
David Vowels with Avista said that this plan would likely be most beneficial for those with fixed incomes. It gives you a set amount to pay each month. At the end of the year, whether you choose the regular rates or one of these plans, you're still paying the same amount for your electricity.
