Many of you have contacted us with questions regarding increases in your electric bills. We understand seeing a bill that is higher than normal can be concerning and want to help you better understand what is impacting your bill, steps you can take to save energy and money, as well as available bill payment and assistance programs.
Summer heat continues to drastically impact the way customers use energy. Unusually high temperatures in our region have increased energy use for our average customer by as much as 20% in June and July compared to 2023, and in some cases higher. Residential customers also experienced a 20% overall bill impact due to recent rate increases over the last year, including:
- A 13% bill impact due to supply rate increases from July 2023 through July 2024 – which our company does not set. This rate is the baseline purchase cost of the electricity you use daily and is set by market demand.
- A 5% bill impact due to distribution rate increases in December 2023 and February 2024. Distribution rates allow us to continue investing in reliability upgrades and programs to better serve customers.
- A 2% impact due to increases associated with other charges.
To help you save energy and money, we offer several programs and tools that you can use to manage your bill and control your energy use:
- Tools to Save Energy: Our new Smart Energy Network enables tools in My Account that can help you save energy and money, including hourly usage reports, high usage alerts, projected bills, and home energy reports and tips.
- Energy Efficiency Programs and Rebates: Quick Home Energy Check-ups can help you find opportunities to save all around your home at no-cost. You may also qualify for appliance recycling, HVAC and Energy Star rebate programs and discounts. Learn about the different programs offered at atlanticcityelectric.com/WaysToSave.
- Bill Pay Options: Payment arrangements and due date extensions are available to customers who may be having challenges.
- Budget Billing: You can sign up for Budget Billing, which averages your annual energy costs to create a balanced and predictable monthly bill.
- Bill Payment Assistance: State programs, including the Residential Energy Assistance Program (REAP) and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), can provide financial relief to eligible households.
We encourage you to take advantage of available programs and tools to manage your energy use and to lower your bills. If you have questions or concerns about your bill, please reach out to us either by visiting a new page on our website dedicated to helping customers with higher-than-expected bills or by reaching out to our Customer Care team directly by submitting questions through our online portal or calling 1-800-642-3780.
We understand the impact that higher bills can have on individuals and families and are committed to helping keep you informed on changes to your bill and available support. It’s an honor to serve you and the broader South Jersey community as we strive to balance maintaining a strong electric grid with cost impacts to customers in every decision we make.