How to Read Your Residential LIPA Bill

LIPA follows all New York State regulations that dictate what must be on a utility bill so that you know exactly what makes up the cost of electric service. The front of your bill contains details about your account, balance, when your payment is due and LIPA contact information. The back portion of your bill (below) is a detailed breakdown of your current charges.

If you have any further questions, be sure to browse through our Frequently Asked Questions

As of March 2012

Reading Your Residential LIPA Bill

    1. LIPA Electric Rate: The rate you are currently billed under is listed here on your bill. For most residential customers, electricity rates are based on what is considered “general” use such as lighting and electric appliances. Some customers use electricity for home and/or water heating in addition to lighting and electrical appliances. If you have questions regarding the rate you are on please call Customer Service at 1-800-490-0025.

    2. Electric Usage: Your electric meter is where the electricity you use enters your home, and where we measure how much has been used. We measure electric use with meter readings either by a LIPA meter reader or by you. Your Electric Usage is the difference between the current reading and the last reading measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Your charges are calculated per kWh. A watt (W) is a measurement of power, and a Kilowatt-hour (kWh) is simply 1,000 watts used for one hour. For example, ten 100-watt light bulbs used for one hour require 1 kWh (100 W x 10 = 1,000 watts).
    Learn more about your electric service & rates

    3. Usage Graph: The graph on the left of the page compares your electricity use for the current month with the same period last year.

4. Delivery and System Charges are the costs to bring electricity to your home. Those poles and wires along the roadway near your home are supplying power 24/7 to run the refrigerator and the cable box. LIPA’s operating costs are reflected here. Your Basic Service Charge is a fixed daily charge for connection to the electric system.

5. Power Supply Charges are the costs associated with the purchase of fuel (e.g. oil and gas) used to produce electricity and for the purchase of power.
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6. Efficiency & Renewables Charges: The efficiency and renewables charge provides funding for the energy efficiency and renewable programs for our customers. This charge reflects LIPA’s on-going commitment to encourage energy efficiency.
Learn more about Efficiency & Renewable Energy

7. Other Charges: State and local taxes or assessments that are on your bill. LIPA is a non-profit municipal electric utility with no stock, shareholders or dividends. The Suffolk Property Tax Adjustment charge reimburses LIPA for costs of the property tax settlement. This charge does not appear on Nassau County and Queens County LIPA bills.