How to Read Your 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 your 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.

Changes to your LIPA Bill

As of October 2012, on the back of the bill, you'll see a completely redesigned usage graph that gives you a quick snapshot of how and when you use electricity throughout the year. When you understand your electric use, you can better understand how to use less of it and become more energy efficient! The more you know, the more you save - browse our Frequently Asked Questions

Residential Bill | Commercial Bill
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 side of the bill gives you a look at more than a year of your electricity usage. Up to 13 months of usage is displayed in 13 bars (monthly billed) or 7 bars (bi-monthly billed) showing the electricity usage recorded at each meter reading. The bar color indicates whether the usage was actual (black) or estimated (white).  Directly below the graph is a quick comparison of the current billing period with the same period one year ago, showing the number of days in each  period, the average daily usage, cost and temperature during each period. The length of a billing period and temperatures during it can impact the amount of  your bill. For customers on a Time-of-Use rate, separate graphs are shown for Peak and Off-Peak usage.

4. Delivery and System Charges: The cost 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: Charges for costs associated with the purchase of fuel (e.g. oil and gas) used to produce electricity and for the purchase of power.
Learn more about the Power Supply Charge

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.

Have more questions about your bill?
If you have any further questions, be sure read our Frequently Asked Questions