How to read my electric bill

UES' electric rates reflect the cost of providing safe, reliable service to our customers. They also reflect the complexity of that task, with fixed fees, usage-based charges and surcharges that can be difficult to understand. The following summary offers explanations for the terms you'll find on your monthly bill, including links to details posted elsewhere on this website.

Jump to a section:   Delivery Services  |  Power Supply Charges  |  Surcharges  |  Taxes and Assessments


Delivery Services

UES Bill Sample 1The charges listed in this section of your bill recover the cost of delivering power to customers. These charges reflect the cost of poles, wires, transformers and other infrastructure; employees and contractors who install, operate and maintain that equipment; and other necessary business expenses.

The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) sets rates that divide responsibility for these costs among different types of customers — residential, small business, large business and industrial — based on their typical energy usage patterns. UES' rates are designed to recover the appropriate portion of these costs from each customer group through a combination of fixed fees and usage-based charges.

Power Supply Charges

 

UES Bill Sample 2This section of your bill includes usage-based charges to cover the cost of generating or buying energy for customers.

Surcharges

 

UES Bill Sample 3UES is using more renewable power and helping customers save energy. Some of the costs associated with these efforts are recovered through usage-based surcharges approved by the ACC and listed in this section of your bill.

Taxes and Assessments

 

UES Bill Sample 4The charges on your bill are subject to government taxes and fees. UES forwards all of the money collected from these charges to the appropriate authorities.

PPFAC

The Purchased Power and Fuel Adjustment Charge, or PPFAC, is a usage-based charge that reflects changes in the costs UES incurs to fuel its power plants and purchase energy for electric customers.

Read more about Purchased Power and Fuel Adjustment Charge

DSM Surcharge

The Demand Side Management, or DSM, charge is a monthly, usage-based charge established by the Arizona Corporation Commission to pay for cost-effective energy efficiency programs.

Read more about Demand Side Management Surcharge

TCA

The Transmission Cost Adjustor, or TCA, is a monthly charge or credit that allows UES to recover a portion of transmission costs associated with serving retail electric customers. The TCA was first applied to bills in June 2014 and is reset annually to reflect updated cost calculations. Read more about Transmission Cost Adjustor.

LFCR Charge

The Lost Fixed Cost Recovery, or LFCR, surcharge helps ensure that energy efficiency and renewable power projects don't compromise UES' ability to maintain safe, reliable service. Natural gas and electric customers pay separate LFCR charges. Read more about Lost Fixed Cost Recovery Charge

REST

The Renewable Energy Standard Tariff, or REST, funds UES' investments in renewable energy.

Read more about Renewable Energy Standard Tariff