Energy Usage Alerts

Energy Alerts are notifications sent by text, email, or both when your energy use or bill amount goes over the limit you set. They help you stay informed and stay within your energy or budget goals.

To be eligible for Energy Alerts, you must have a smart meter, an online account and a valid email address and/or mobile device that accepts text messages. If you’re on Budget Billing, you won’t be eligible to sign up for Energy Spend Alerts.

No, Energy Alerts are a free service available to eligible customers.

Usage Alerts track your energy use in kilowatt-hours (kWh), while Energy Spend Alerts track your estimated bill amount in dollars. You can choose the one that best fits your goals or use both.

Your default value is based on your average energy usage at your address. If you’re new and don’t have any history, a typical average is used to help get you started. You can keep it as is or adjust it to better fit your needs. To get the most out of the alerts, consider updating your limit seasonally to reflect changes in your energy habits.

If you’re unsure on where to start, a suggested limit is provided based on your past energy usage. If there’s no history available, an average amount is used to get you started. To get the most out of Energy Alerts, it’s a good idea to adjust your limit seasonally, especially as your energy use may change with heating or cooling needs. Viewing your usage history can help you determine the right amount to set your limit at, so it reflects your typical energy patterns throughout the year. You can access your usage history by signing in to your online account.

Usage Overview is available in your online account and gives you a quick look at how much energy you use over time: daily, weekly, or monthly. It’s a great starting point when setting your limit. For example, if you usually use around 1,000 kWh a month, you might set your alert a little above that to catch any unexpected spikes. It helps you choose a limit that fits your routine, so you can stay on top of your energy use and avoid surprises on your bill.

It depends on your goals. If you're focused on budgeting, tracking by dollar amount may be best. If you're more interested in conserving energy, tracking by kWh gives you a clearer picture of your usage.

Yes! You can update your alert type and limit amount anytime by signing into your online account. You’re always in control and can adjust your limit whenever your needs or goals change.

While you can’t set multiple limits at once, you can update your limit anytime to reflect seasonal changes in your energy use. For example, you might set a higher limit during summer or winter when heating or cooling is used more often.

Yes, you can add up to two email addresses or mobile numbers to make sure the right people in your household stay informed.

You can manage your preferences anytime by signing in to your online account. While there isn’t a “pause” button, you can disable alerts and re-enable them when you're ready.

You can re-enroll in Usage Alerts anytime by signing into your online account and viewing the alerts available under “Usage Programs.” 

You’ll receive an alert letting you know you’ve gone past your set limit. This gives you the chance to adjust your energy use. If you think you set your limit too low, you can sign in to your online account and readjust. You have full control to change your limit anytime, so it always fits your needs.

If you're on our basic Schedule 1 rate for residential customers, you can download this Bill Calculator Worksheet (MS Excel .xls format) to estimate your bill.^* Here are some steps to follow to use the bill calculator to estimate how your bill is trending throughout the month:

1. Sign into your online account.
2. Go to the Detailed Energy Usage page.
3. Add up your daily energy usage readings and plug that number into the total kWh column of the Bill Calculator Worksheet.
4. Add up the number of days from the energy usage readings you're using and plug that number into the Current Billing Days column of the Bill Calculator Worksheet. For example, by adding up your daily energy usage readings for 15 days, you calculate 1,000 kWh of energy has been consumed, so you'd enter “1,000” in the total kWh column and “15” in the current billing days column.
5. Now you can see what your estimated bill is half-way through the month, before getting your final bill amount. If you don't like where the number is trending, it's time to take immediate actions to lower your energy consumption.

^* The bill calculator is just an estimate, and your final bill amount may be different based on taxes in your specific area and other factors.