High Bill Alert AMI FAQs
Why did you send me this alert?
We hope these alerts can provide an early warning if you are headed towards a high bill. You'll have time to reduce your energy use before you get your next bill, so there will not be any surprises when your bill arrives.
My alert says I am using more energy. How is this being calculated?
We will send you an alert when your energy use and costs are projected to be at least 30% higher than this same billing period last year. We take into account energy use and cost, so you do not get nuisance alerts just because your rate might be higher over time. If you receive an alert, it means you are using more energy.
Note: 30 percent is the default, but this percentage can vary by utility.
I see I need to start saving more energy. What should I do next?
Our utility offers multiple programs to help you save energy. I can help you learn more about these programs. To see energy saving tips on your own, log in to the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Web Portal and click on the Ways to Save tab.
Can I opt out of these alerts?
Yes. You can opt out in a number of ways. The options available will depend on your utility's setup and program design.
From the web: The recommended method is to use the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Web Portal Account and Preferences section to change your preferences. If you unsubscribe in this way, you will be able to subscribe again in the future.
Note: Some utilities choose to host their own account services. If your utility does not offer the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Web Portal as part of their program, contact your utility for more information about account management.
From an email: Click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email and follow the instructions to opt out.
Warning: If you click Unsubscribe in the email and then click to unsubscribe from all emails, this action is permanent, and you will not be able to opt back in. If you click to opt out of High Bill Alert AMI emails only, then you can opt back into them at a later time.
From a text alert: Reply STOP to the alert. This method blocks all communications through that specific channel. If you reply with STOP, you will never receive an SMS again.
From a voice alert: Press the appropriate number on your phone as described in the message. This method permanently unsubscribes you from the voice alerts, and you will be unable to subscribe at a later time.
Can I opt back in after I have opted out?
It depends on how you originally opted out.
- If you changed your alert preferences through the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Web Portal, you can opt back in again. Log in to the web portal, go to Account and Preferences, and select how you want to receive alerts.
- If you clicked Unsubscribe at the bottom of an email and opted out of all emails, you cannot opt back in again. However, if you opted out of High Bill Alert AMI emails only, you can opt back in again.
- If you texted STOP to unsubscribe from a text alert, or dialed a number to unsubscribe from a voice alert, you cannot subscribe again. However, you can go to the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Web Portal and add an additional, different email address to receive alerts again through the email channel.
Moreover, you can always check your energy use in the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Web Portal. The Home page has a module that will notify you how much energy you are projected to use and how this usage compares to the same billing period last year.
What other ways can I find out if I'm heading towards a high bill?
You can receive High Bill Alerts AMI by email, text message, and voice message. I can help you sign up for these types of alerts. You can also check your energy usage in the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Web Portal. The Home page has a module that will tell you how much energy you are projected to use and how this usage compares to the same billing period last year.
My bill was not as high as my alert projected. Why?
Forecasts are estimated projections. Although we try to make them as accurate as possible, we cannot account for every single variable that can affect the final cost of your bill. For example, due to a variable like drastic weather change you may receive a higher projection than your actual bill.
My bill was higher than projected even though I reduced my usage. Why?
Forecasts are estimated projections. Although we try to make them as accurate as possible, they do not include costs like taxes, fees, and any additional changes.
I know someone else in this utility who can receive alerts, but I don't have the option. Why?
Thank you for your interest in the program. There are a number of reasons that some customers are not included in the program. For example, at this time, alerts are not available to non-residential customers, and customers with a limited history of energy use at a specific address. We may expand the program to include other customers in the future.
If I sign up to receive alerts, how many will I receive?
You should not worry about receiving too many alerts. You will not receive more than one alert of each type (email, text, or voice) during a billing period.