Your energy bill is confusing on purpose. Line items, fees, fine print - it’s hard to tell where your payments are going. But once you understand each section, you’ll know when it’s time to stop overpaying and switch providers. 

Base Power is an energy company on a mission to improve the US power grid and pass savings directly to our members. We lower your monthly bill through our network of home batteries across Texas - and we know what a simple, transparent bill should look like.

We’ll use a Champion Energy Services bill as an example, but you can follow along with any provider.

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1. What’s a kWh?

kWh, or kilowatt-hour, is one “unit” of electricity - think of it like a “gallon” of water. The more appliances you run, the more kWh you use. It climbs when you turn on the A/C in summer and the heat in winter. Charging your EV, running the dryer and leaving the lights all add up.

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2. Pay close attention to your energy rate

This is what you pay per kWh. It goes to energy producers - power plants, solar companies, and more - that generate your power.

It will vary per utility.

This electricity bill shows $0.126/kWhm for 993kWh. 

On the other hand, Base Power’s fixed rate is $0.082/kWh.

On a home using 1,706 kWh a month (the Texas average), that’s about $78 more a month - roughly $940 a year. These differences add up.

How are we able to offer a lower rate? Most suppliers set your rate around the price per kWh during the most expensive hours of the year - summer evenings and winter mornings - when everyone needs electricity. Base doesn’t. 

Your rate is the most important lever on your bill.

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3. Delivery charges - the part we all share

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You pay this to the utility that owns the poles and wires on your street. It will rise and fall based on how much electricity you use, but the rate itself, per kWh, is the same for you and every neighbor on the line. No provider can change that. 

So when comparing bills, focus on the energy rate - the part you can actually control.

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4. Your current provider may keep you stuck with early termination fees

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If you switch your provider before your current contract is up, you may be charged an early termination fee. Base Power offers a credit up to $150 to help - because we know that a lower rate pays for itself quickly over time. 

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If you're unsure whether you're overpaying, we built a tool to help you compare. Bring your bill,  rate, or even just your provider's name, and we can help.

‍Almost 7 in 10 Texans find out they need to switch providers → Compare your bill

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