Billing Glossary 

Account Number

Your account number with Xcel Energy. Please refer to this number when requesting information about your account or when making any payments.

Averages for Billing Period

Compares usage and average daily temperature for same billing period of the previous year.

Balance As Of (date)

Total dollar amount due from any unpaid balances from previous billing periods.

Base Cost of Gas

A charge that reflects the estimated cost of natural gas purchased from wholesale suppliers and delivered to Xcel Energy via interstate pipelines.

Basic Service Charge (Customer Charge)

It is a charge that stays the same each month no matter how much gas or electricity you use. It covers some of the cost of bringing service to you, such as reading your meter and taking care of the electric lines and gas lines.

CCF

100 Cubic Feet. A common measurement of natural gas. Gas meters measure volume in CCF’s. When gas has a heat content of 100,000 British Thermal Units (BTUs), 1 CCF equals 1 therm.

City Fees

In some cities Xcel Energy is required to collect a fee on behalf of the city. The fee is applied and shown separately on your monthly bill.  Xcel Energy pays it directly to the city and makes no profit from this fee.

City Requested Facilities Surcharge

In some cities work performed at the request of the city for non-standard construction is not covered by the electric tariff. The MPUC allows Xcel Energy to recover these costs from the electric customers in that city.

City Tax

The charges for energy use, resource adjustment and city fees are subject to city and state sales taxes, where applicable.

Company Reading (date)

The readings indicated on your meter on the dates indicated. Energy (electricity in kWh and natural gas in CCF) used during the billing period is equal to the meter reading at the end of the period less the meter reading at the beginning of the period.

Controlled Air Conditioning Credit

Your incentive for participating in Xcel Energy’s Saver’s Switch program, if applicable. 

Cost of Gas

This equals the amount of gas (therms) you used multiplied by the current cost of gas. This charge reflects the monthly cost of purchased gas Xcel Energy pays its suppliers each month. Xcel Energy makes no profit on the natural gas it buys for its customers. Xcel Energy passes natural gas costs through to its customers with no mark-up.

Current Energy Charges

The sum of energy charges for this billing period as outlined in the Current Charges section.

Distribution Charge

This equals the amount of gas (therms) you used multiplied by Xcel Energy’s current gas prices. This charge covers only the delivery cost of natural gas to your home or business through our distribution system. It does not include charges for the natural gas itself.

Due Date

Date by which we must receive payment in order for your account to stay current. Please note that your account is overdue if payment is not received by this date.

Electric/Gas Charge Usage Period: (date range)

Dates for which current charges are displayed.

Energy Charge

This equals the amount of electricity (kWh) you used multiplied by Xcel Energy’s current prices.

Environmental Information

Fuels used to generate electricity have different costs, reliability and air emissions. For more information, please contact Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-4999 or online at www.xcelenergy.com. You can also contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce at 1-800-657-3710 or www.commerce.state.mn.us; the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency at 651-297-1739 or http://www.pca.state.mn.us/programs/electricity.html.

Estimate

The estimate of your usage based on previous meter readings. This is used in the event that we are unable to read your meter due to unusual circumstances.

Fuel Clause Adjustment

An adjustment to your bill based on the fluctuating cost of fuel for electric power generation. Xcel Energy makes no profit from these adjustments. 

Heat Content Adjustment

Natural gas has varied heating values. The gas we delivered this month might make more or less heat than average. The higher the heat content, the less gas you need for the same effect. We adjust the volume of gas to reflect its heat content. The adjustment is used to convert the measured quantity of natural gas (CCFs) to the heat value of the gas (Therms).

Invoice Number

Represents Xcel Energy invoicing for one service (i.e. gas or electric) for a particular billing period.

kW

A kilowatt is a measure of electrical demand equal to 1000 watts.

kWh

A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy or work equal to one kilowatt for one hour. It is a measure of energy consumption and is the normal unit used for metering and billing electricity customers. A kilowatt-hour is the average demand (kilowatt) over the metered hour. 

Late Payment Charge

Xcel Energy will assess a late payment charge on unpaid amounts two working days after the due date. Any unpaid balance over $10.00 is subject to a 1.5% late payment charge or $1.00, whichever is greater, after the due date.

Low Income Energy Discount

Energy discount is available to low income customers under this schedule subject to the provisions contained in the Low Income Energy Discount Rider.

Meter Number

The serial number of the meter. On an electric meter this number is located on the face of the meter. On a gas meter this number is located on the faceplate of the meter

Meter Reading Information

This section includes the serial number of the specific electric and/or gas meter, the Company Reading used for the previous billing cycle and the current Company Reading used for the current billing cycle. The actual meter readings indicate the end dial positions on your meter(s) used to calculate actual energy usage. The number is entered into our system either manually or by using an upload file from a hand-held or electronic meter reading device. The total number of days in the billing cycle and total consumption in kWh (electric) or CCF (gas) is also displayed.

Next Scheduled Meter Reading Date

This is the date we are likely to read your meter again. It is not a commitment to read your meter on that date. Most meters are read within 2 business days before or after a scheduled meter reading date.

Payment Received As of (a date)

This reflects the dollar amount received for your account as of the previous billing period.

Pipeline Refund Credit

This one-time credit on Minnesota natural gas bill statements is the result of refunds combined from two sources: 1) natural gas transmission service companies and 2) non-paid out 2004 employee incentive compensation (a Minnesota Public Utilities Commission rule states that when Xcel Energy awards lower-than-expected employee incentive compensation in any year, funds not paid out must be credited to customer accounts). 

• About 450,000 Minnesota natural gas customers are receiving the one-time credit.
• The total refund amount is about $12.2 million, most of which comes from the transmission service company portion of the combined refund.
• This credit will appear between November 3 and December 2, 2005 on the bills of Minnesota natural gas customers with accounts that are active as of October 22, 2005.

Please Pay

This is the total amount due for your account. The total may include: gas and/or electric service plus any additional products and services you subscribe to for which you may incur a charge. Please read through your bill for a complete explanation of charges.

Pressure (Correction) Adjustment

Some gas meters allow more gas to pass through them than others. This billing adjustment accounts for differences in the measured amount of gas calculated by different types of meters based on pressure delivered to your home or building.

Previous Balance

This reflects the dollar amount that was due on your previous bill.

Processing Charge

A charge that covers some of the extra cost of setting up an account for a new customer or a new address.

Purchased Gas Adjustment (MN)

Adjustment to the Base Cost of Gas that reflects the actual cost of natural gas purchased from wholesale suppliers and delivered to Xcel Energy via pipelines. The adjustment typically changes monthly due to conditions in the wholesale gas market and is included as part of the Minnesota Gas Resource Adjustment.

Residential Electric Service

(Rate code A01) Electric service that is supplied to your home via overhead power lines unless specified as “underground” service. Your consumption is measured by your electric meter and billed each month. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approves the price for the service. It is available to any residential customer for domestic purposes only in a single private residence and qualifying farm customers.

Residential Firm Service

Gas rate available to any residential customer for natural gas service that is delivered to your home. Your consumption is measured by your gas meter and billed each month. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approves the price for the service.

Residential Underground

Electric rate available to any residential customer for domestic purposes only in a single private residence where service is provided via underground cable vs. overhead power lines. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approves the price for the service.

Resource Adjustment (electric)

This is the sum of a fuel clause adjustment (an adjustment to your billed to reflect changes in the cost for generating electric power for which Xcel Energy makes no profit) and a surcharge for conservation and renewable development, costs as well as costs associated with the Reliability Administrator / Sustainable Building Guidelines as defined by Minnesota state legislation.  The fuel portion goes up or down each month based on the price of fuel for making electricity and the amount of electricity you used. The conservation portion is a set percentage of your bill approved by the state regulators to pay for Xcel Energy programs that help customers use energy efficiently.

Resources Adjustment (gas)

This is a surcharge for conservation costs and Sustainable Building Guidelines as defined by Minnesota state legislation. The surcharge is a set price per therm on your bill approved by state regulators to pay for Xcel Energy programs that promote energy efficiency.

State Tax

The charges for energy use, resource adjustment and city fees are subject to city and state sales taxes, where applicable.

Statement Number

This number identifies all the invoice numbers for each of your services, gas and/or electric service, for an individual statement.

Subtotal

This dollar amount reflects the total charges for the specific service (gas or electric), due for the current usage period, excluding any city and state taxes or fees.  

Therm

A measure of the heat, or energy content of natural gas. One Therm equals 100,000 British Thermal Units (Btu). We use this term to note that the gas amount you used reflects heat content.

Total

Total dollar amount due to Xcel Energy at this time for all your services. This includes any balances still owed at time of billing (“Balance As of ”) plus any new charges for this billing cycle (“Current Energy Charges”).

Total Amount

This dollar amount reflects the total charges for the specific service (gas or electric), due for the current usage period, plus any city and state taxes or fees. Any past due amounts would be added to this figure and reflected as the overall “Total” (see above).