How Much Energy do you Use?


How much Electricity do you Use?

Whether you want to know how much you pay for electricity or just better understand your bill, this simple guide will show you how.

First, find your utility bill  

EL Consumption is the total you spend on electricity. It includes a customer charge and a volumetric use charge that is determined by how much you used and how much each kWh costs

What is the fuel surcharge? If hydropower is unavailable, the diesel generators must be used. Each year, CBS budgets for fuel for generator maintenance, planned outages, and short unplanned outages. If this amount is not enough and more diesel must be used, this cost is passed on to consumers.



Where did the blue and yellow numbers come from?
Rates are seasonally set in Sitka. Look at the current customer fact sheet and find the information highlighted below.

The numbers above reflect rates and charges as of August 2024 and may look different on your bill. 


Calculate how much you spend on energy

To find out how much on energy in total, you will need more than just your utility bill. 

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Transportation

Money spent on vehicle travel, typically cars, but can include air and boat travel

Space Heating

Money spent on heating your home, water or foodThis can include fuel oil, wood, or natural gas. If your home heat is electric, or other appliances, it will be included under the electricity portion.

Electricity

The portion of your utility bill that you spend on electricity. If your home heat is electric, or other appliances, it will be included here.

Your Energy Spending


Energy spending calculators vary greatly. Bolded items are most commonly used across the country



Compare Energy Affordability

To compare energy spending, there are a few tools that can be used that use a metric called energy burden. Energy burden can be calculated by taking the total spent on energy and diving it by income. Multiplying this number by 100 will yield a percent. For housing energy burden, energy bills that consume more than 6% of a single household’s income are defined to constitute a high energy burden by the 2020 ACEEE Report. Energy bills that consume more than 10% of a single household's income is considered severely energy burdened.

Low-Income Energy Affordability Data
(LEAD) Tool

 Defines energy costs as the amount of household expenditures spent on electricity, gas (utility and bottled), and other fuels (including fuel oil, wood, etc.). 
Excludes transportation

State and Local Planning for Energy
(SLOPE) Tool

Defines energy costs as the amount of household expenditures spent on electricity, gas (utility and bottled), and other fuels (including fuel oil, wood, etc.). 
Includes housing and transportation energy.


Announcements

The public comment period closes December 22nd, 2024. Please submit comments to sustainability@cityofsitka.org.
If you need additional assistance commenting, please contact (907) 747-1856
Not sure where to start? Guiding questions to help start your public comment can be found here.


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To be considered at the next Assembly Meeting, submit applications to the Clerk's Office today!