In reference to regularly published but middle-of-the-road fiction, Oscar Wilde once said consistency is “the last refuge of the unimaginative.” We certainly welcome unexpected surprises in the stories we enjoy. That keeps us guessing and keeps things fresh. But “guessing” and “surprises” are not fun concepts when opening your monthly utility bills.
This is why Tipmont offers a variable budget-billing plan — available for free to qualifying co-op members on residential and business accounts. Budget billing helps you know and plan your monthly energy payment through a calculation of the average of your last 12 months of Tipmont electric service.
Think of it as your lunch money changing a bit each month based on what you’ve eaten over the past year and because the cost of what you eat sometimes changes. In the spring and fall, you might use less electricity. During weather extremes of summer and winter, you will likely use more electricity. Budget billing helps you have a more consistent monthly bill and avoid large surprises during any period of high use.
In budget billing, Tipmont looks at the electricity you used for the last 12 months and calculates the average. To use budget billing, a Tipmont member must have at least 12 consecutive months of service at the applicable address. In each new month, we average the 12-month billing again. When it’s very hot or cold, your payment may be a little higher because the average adjusts. The bill changes as it tries to stay close to actual use, but the typical monthly fluctuation is $10 to $20.
While Tipmont previously offered two budget-billing options, we saw that a fixed-payment option (where the amount due is the same each month) could create a catch-up payment higher than expected. There’s that surprise we wanted to avoid. And if Oscar Wilde had to pay a monthly utility bill, I’m sure he’d have appreciated consistency there. So that’s what we’re trying to offer for co-op members like you with this revision to our budget billing program.
If you’re interested in signing up, you can enroll through the SmartHub website or through the SmartHub app on your phone or tablet. Learn more about the program by visiting our budget billing website.
