Following is a list of billing-related terms to help you better understand the language used on your bill.

Advanced Metering Charge
A charge assessed to recover a TDU’s charges for Advanced Metering Systems.

Average Rate
Average price you paid for electric service this month (in cents per Kilowatt hour including other recurring charges)

Base Charge
Monthly fee per ESI ID.

Contract documents
The Terms of Service document (TOS), the Electricity Facts Label (EFL), and Your Rights as a Customer document (YRAC).

Contract expiration date

The date when the term contract is completed.

Current Meter Read
The numeric counter displayed on your meter used to calculate monthly usage up to your current meter read date.

Current Meter Read Date
The most current date your meter was read according to your scheduled meter read cycle (as defined by your TDU).

Energy Charge
A charge based on the electric energy (kWh) consumed.

Fixed rate product                                                                                                                                          
A retail electric product with a term of at least three months for which the price (including recurring charges) for each billing period of the contract term is the same throughout the contract term. Note that the price may vary from the disclosed amount to reflect actual changes in the Transmission and Distribution Utility (TDU) charges, changes to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) or Texas Regional Entity administrative fees charged to loads or changes resulting from federal, state or local laws that impose new or modified fees or costs on a REP that are beyond the REP’s control.

Gross Receipts Reimb.
A fee assessed to recover the miscellaneous gross receipts tax imposed on retail electric providers operating in an incorporated city or town having a population of more than 1,000.

Indexed product
A retail electric product for which the price, including recurring charges, can vary according to a pre-defined pricing formula that is based on publicly available indices or information and is disclosed to the customer, and to reflect actual changes in TDU charges, changes to the ERCOT or Texas Regional Entity administrative fees.

kW

Kilowatt, the standard unit for measuring electricity demand, equal to 1,000 watts

kWh

Kilowatt-hour, the standard unit for measuring electricity energy consumption, equal to 1,000 watt-hours

Late Fee

A charge assessed for late payment in accordance with Public Utility Commission rules.

Minimum Usage Fee
A per ESI-ID fee assessed when the energy consumption value is less than or equal to the specified amount per billing period.

Month-to-month contract

A contract with a term of 31 days or less. A month-to-month contract may not contain a termination fee or penalty.

Non-Tiered Rate
Rate is not based on usage amount.

Previous Meter Read
The numeric counter displayed on your meter used to calculate monthly usage as of your previous meter read date.

Previous Meter Read Date
The previous date in which your meter was read according to your scheduled meter read cycle (as defined by your TDU).

PUC Assessment

A fee assessed to recover the statutory fee for administering the Public Utility Regulatory Act.

Recurring charge
A charge for a retail electric product that is expected to appear on a customer’s bill in every billing period or appear in three or more billing periods in a twelve month period.

Sales Tax
Sales tax collected by authorized taxing authorities, such as the state, cities and special purpose districts.

Taxes
Sales tax collected by authorized taxing authorities, such as the state, cities and special purpose districts.

TDU or TDSP
Transmission and Distribution Utility or Transmission and Distribution Service Provider. Facility that transmits and/or distributes electricity, and whose rates for Transmission Service, distribution service, or both is set by a Governmental Authority.

TDU or TDSP Pass Through Charge

One or more TDU surcharge(s) on a customer’s bill in any combination.

Term contract
A contract with a term in excess of 31 days.

Variable price product
A retail product for which price may vary according to a method determined by the REP, including a product for which the price, can increase no more than a defined percentage as indexed’ to the customer’s previous billing month’s price. For residential customers, a variable price product can be only a month-to-month contract.

Additional Energy Glossary can be found at:
http://www.eia.gov/tools/glossary/