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In the Balance

The weather in the Rocky Mountain West this year has been totally psychotic. It was atypically over 100 degrees for many days in June, then it dropped into the low 60s for a high in mid-August. Then there was the monsoon rain…ugh.

This kind of discrepancy in temperatures is enough to drive one crazy and sure does a number on your heating and air conditioning system. But, if you plan it well, it doesn’t have to do one on your energy bill.

If you have been in your current residence long enough, and if you are current on your energy bill, you can check into what’s called an equal-payment (aka balanced payment, level payment, or budget billing, depending on where in the country you live–there may be other names) plan. Basically, the energy company averages your last 12 months charges (the total you’ve paid during those 12 months divided by 12) and bills you that average amount. It makes budgeting much easier.

Now, sometimes your utility company will want to charge you extra for this. Don’t do it. Ask them to remove those charges, or just budget for the average amount (the total you’ve paid during the last 12 months divided by 12) yourself. Just don’t spend what you’re putting away. If your energy bill is low in the month of September, save the extra so you can use it in January.

Too bad we can’t do that with the weather.

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