Your DLC bill is designed to be clean and clear. Click the links below for explanations on each section of your bill and where to find important information.
What Impacts My Bill?
You have access to the same tools our representatives use to analyze your bill. Simply complete the checklist below to analyze your usage to determine the likely cause of the change in your bill.
Check for significant changes in usage compared to last month and last year. View your usage patterns to determine changes and see when you are using electricity.
Changes in generation, transmission or distribution rates may occur throughout the year.
Rate changes go into effect within your billing cycle. When a rate change occurs, you receive a bill that shows two separate supply rate lines under the Supply Charges section on page three of your bill.
Supply rates can change. If you are enrolled with an electric generation supplier, compare your current supply rate with DLC's default service (also known as the Price to Compare) or other electric generation suppliers' rates. Learn more about Customer Choice and how to shop for a supplier.
What was the weather like during the billing period?
Scroll down to Weather History on the Usage Summary screen.
How old are your appliances? Consider what happens throughout the seasons:
- Summer:
- Hot weather makes your appliances run longer and more often, using more electricity. Consider your refrigerator motor, attic fans, air conditioners and dehumidifiers also use more electricity during the warmer months.
- If you have central air conditioning, a heat pump or an add-on heat pump, your furnace fan is working in the summertime too to help circulate the cool air through your house
During normal winter weather, the furnace fan on your home's gas- or oil-heating system operates about 10 hours per day, and much longer during very cold weather.
- Winter:
- Humidifiers are run often, and heat tape added to exposed water pipes is turned on, both of which use electricity
- Since there is less daylight, your lights will be on longer. You also may spend more time at home, using your entertainment system and other electronics more frequently
- The holiday season, with its extra lights, house guests and special cooking, can also contribute to more usage
Complete your
Home Energy Analysis.
How was the electricity being used in the home? Moving into a new home, bringing home a new baby, starting a new hobby, and hosting guests -- can cause an increase in your electric bill.
How old are your appliances?
- Appliances often use more electricity over time because they become less efficient. For example, electric coils in your water heater may not function as when they were new. Follow the manufacturer's service guidelines to make sure that your appliances are operating efficiently
- New appliances and electronics continue to become more efficient. An older refrigerator can use up to 50% more electricity than newer models, especially in summer months. Check for the Energy Star symbol and rating on any new appliances that you purchase to see what savings you may achieve.
Watch this brief video below to learn more about your bill: