SRP Budget Billing

[PhoenixSomeday]

Originally Posted by hikernut

Just do it yourself. You don't need to get SRP in the loop. When October hits, calculate your average bill over the past 12 months and then start paying that amount each month. You'll build up a balance during the winter, and use it up next summer.

Well I suppose that's an idea. I can even enter and leave the "program" at will.


So long as SRP keeps the extra and doesn't pay it back. What little observation I have so far is that they do keep the extra and just use it toward the next bill.

[observer53]

When I first went on it, they were not estimating as accurately, and didn't review as often. I ended up with at least one free month. As time went on, they moved toward the current system, and it pretty much comes out even. What adjustments they make, in my experience, are not huge, and minor changes in the bill are still better than the hundreds of dollars higher summer bills.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by observer53

When I first went on it, they were not estimating as accurately, and didn't review as often. I ended up with at least one free month. As time went on, they moved toward the current system, and it pretty much comes out even. What adjustments they make, in my experience, are not huge, and minor changes in the bill are still better than the hundreds of dollars higher summer bills.

Not free though, just prepaid, right? I don't think this plan actually saves you any money.

[PhoenixSomeday]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

Not free though, just prepaid, right? I don't think this plan actually saves you any money.

I just assumed he meant there was enough overpayment that resulted in one month not needing a payment from him, since there was enough credit.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

Not free though, just prepaid, right? I don't think this plan actually saves you any money.

Originally Posted by PhoenixSomeday

I just assumed he meant there was enough overpayment that resulted in one month not needing a payment from him, since there was enough credit.

It isn't for saving money, it's just a managed payment plan to make budgeting payments easier and avoiding those crazy high summer bills. The way they handle it now, you don't build up enough credit for a "free" month, (yes, that is what I meant) but you do have the convenience of knowing what your bill is going to be. If you use a time of use plan also, then you can also save money.

[DougStark]

IMO, the downside to "same bill every month" plan is that you're less likely to notice some anomaly in your summer bill that may be caused by some malfunction of your AC unit. Fortunately my cash flow allows me to pay exactly what I used.

[Chanygirl]

Why not use M-power? I was a SRP customer for several years on M-Power. I knew the day I moved in in February what my bill would be in July and purchased my power in accordance with that. Plus, I could manage my power usage on a daily basis..I loved having that much control instead of having to wait for the bill. As far as I know APS doesn't offer this.

[goolsbyjazz]

Originally Posted by Chanygirl

Why not use M-power? I was a SRP customer for several years on M-Power. I knew the day I moved in in February what my bill would be in July and purchased my power in accordance with that. Plus, I could manage my power usage on a daily basis..I loved having that much control instead of having to wait for the bill. As far as I know APS doesn't offer this.

This^^^^^^^^
We switched to M-power and said goodbye to $300-$400 summer cooling bills!

[Hal Roach]

Planning all year to pay an extra 2-500 $ in the high months? I dont get it. Reminds me of a group of teachers crying about 10 month pay...they trust you teaching 170 students and you are not capable of the most basic home economics/banking?

[yukon]

Originally Posted by Chanygirl

Why not use M-power? I was a SRP customer for several years on M-Power. I knew the day I moved in in February what my bill would be in July and purchased my power in accordance with that. Plus, I could manage my power usage on a daily basis..I loved having that much control instead of having to wait for the bill. As far as I know APS doesn't offer this.

I have MPower and like it. I looked at changing to a time of use plan, but I wouldn't have saved all that much (MPower is a flat rate 24/7). I like being able to see what is a power hog and what isn't. I find I manage my power consumption much better and I'm not hit with a big bill that I can't pay on slow months.