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How to Understand and Analyze Your PSEG Electric Bill?

pseg delivery and system charges

If you’re like most power consumers, you probably look for only one thing when you receive your energy bill; the outstanding balance. That’s an important detail, of course. Probably the most important as you want to know how much the charges are. You’ll also need the information so you can allot the money for your utility payment.

Have you noticed, though, how much power prices have risen? And the trend isn’t likely to change. If you want to save money on your electricity expenses, you’ll have to lower your energy consumption. But before you can do so, you’ll need to understand the charges on your bill

PSEG Electric Rate

PSEG is a utility company. That means it delivers energy to homes and businesses in its service area. PSEG works with retail electricity companies that sell energy plans to consumers. One of the tips in lowering your electricity bills is choosing the company that offers the best rate. 

To help you find the energy company that fits your needs, here are some of the power providers working with PSEG.

Plan Name and ProviderPlan LengthRate
Live Brighter 18 (Direct Energy)18 months13.59 cents / kWh
Live Brighter 12 (Direct Energy)12 months14.29 cents / kWh
Live Brighter 36 (Direct Energy)36 months14.39 cents / kWh
36 Month Home Power Plan (Constellation Energy)36 months14.59 cents / kWh
Clean Power 24 (Verde Energy)24 months14.99 cents / kWh

Electric Bill Sample

Here’s a sample of an electric bill. We broke down the different components to help you better understand your PSEG bill

pseg sample bill

Your typical energy bill contains the following information: 

  1. Your account details 
  2. Energy usage 
  3. Energy usage history 
  4. Delivery charges 

This portion of your bill has the following items: 

  • Monthly service charge 
  • Charges for delivering electricity to your home or business depending on your kWh usage 
  • The total electric delivery charges 
  1. Supply charges 

This portion of your bill has the following information: 

  • The cost of electricity supplied by PSEG depending on kWh usage 
  • The total electric supply charges 
  1. The total charges 

Reading Your Bill

Now let’s see what those numbers and charges on your bill mean. 

  1. Account information: This section contains the data about your account. These include the account number and rate type
  2. Energy usage: This shows your electricity consumption in the previous month. It consists of the meter reading in the last month, the last meter reading, and the number of days plus the kilowatts used during the specified period. 
  3. Energy usage history: This comes in the form of a graph. It displays your home’s power usage in all the months of the year. With this graph, you can compare your consumption to learn how to manage your expenses. 
  4. Delivery charges: This portion is divided into the basic service and delivery charges. You pay a fixed amount for the basic charge no matter how many kWh you use. Meanwhile, how much you pay for the delivery charge depends on your power usage
  5. Supply charges: These are the pass-on costs of the electricity the utility purchased on your behalf. 
  6. Total charges: The numbers in this section are the sum of all the charges in your bill. 

Additional Details on PSEG Bill

Along with the account information, consumption, and charges, other essential information also appears on your PSEG bill. Through these, you’re assured that you have the correct bill with the correct charges and billing period. 

These details are the following: 

  • Account number 
  • Invoice number 
  • Date 
  • Contact numbers for inquiries, concerns, and emergencies. 
  • Meter number along with recent usage readings 

System Charges

System charges refer to the cost of operating and maintaining the power distribution network. These include the power lines, poles, and cables that bring electricity from the national grid to the consumers.  

Delivery Charges

This amount is a fixed cost set by utility companies like PSEG. It covers components used in operating and maintaining the electric system. Other expenses such as funding customer service, taxes, and other charges are also included in the delivery charges. 

Distribution Charge

The distribution charge covers the cost of transmitting electric power from the generation site to the consumers. This is a tiered charge. As such, the amount you pay depends on your consumption. The fee also goes into the maintenance of the power delivery infrastructure. These include power lines, transformers, and other equipment. 

Service Charge

This refers to the monthly fee that PSEG charges for the equipment it provides. The amount goes into the maintenance of electricity meters as well as for billing services. You pay a fixed rate for this charge. 

Supply Charges

The supply charges go to your power provider and pay for the electricity you use. The amount depends on your consumption, which is measured in kilowatt-hours. The cost can vary from month to month, depending on your electricity plan. 

What Is an Electric Charge?

how much is pseg a month

Electric charges are the fees you pay for your electricity use and service. They are further broken down into other charges that cover the different aspects of your bill. These include the following: 

  • Service charge 
  • Distribution charge 
  • Supply charge 

What Is PoD ID

You may want to switch away from your current provider for one reason or another. Some do it for better rates, while others hope for better service. You’ll need your PoD ID to transfer to a new provider. It means the point of delivery ID, and it establishes the point where the electricity is delivered and drawn. You can find it next to the “Details of your electric charges” section.

Finding Your PSEG Bill

If you want to know how much you’ll need to set aside for your electricity expenses, you can easily view your PSEG bill. You can do so by going to the PSEG website. You then log into your account to access your bill details. If you encounter trouble logging in or finding your account, give their customer service a call. Their number is 1-800-436-7734. 

PSEG Electric’s Price to Compare

The Price to Compare refers to the rate your power distribution company charges per kWh. That goes to the generation costs. You can choose to get your electricity supply either from a third-party supplier or from PSEG. If you pick the first option, you won’t have to pay the Basic Generation Service Charges (BGS) to PSEG. 

You can find the rate per kWh of PSEG’s PTC in your bill. Their current PTC price is also on the company’s website. 

Different Ways to Pay Your PSEG Bill

PSEG wants to remove the hassles associated with paying your bills. That’s why they’ve come up with several ways for you to settle your balance due.  

Paperless Billing

Paper bills can add to the clutter in your home. If you want to reduce the mess and save on paper, paperless billing is the way to go. The company notifies you via email regarding your amount due and due date with this option. The correspondence will have a link that will show you the full details of your bill. 

Automatic Billing

Are you worried about forgetting to settle your amount due? You can sign up for PSEG’s Automatic Bill Pay. Your monthly electricity bills get paid directly from your designated bank account. That means one less chore you’ll need to remember. 

Online Payment

You can also enjoy the convenience of online payment. Settle your accounts due through your checking or savings account. The service is free of charge if you choose this option. You can pay with your Visa, Discover, MasterCard, or American Express credit cards, too. However, paying with credit cards requires a $3.95 third-party processing fee. 

Do you want to settle your account using your phone? Just download PSEG’s app and log in using your My Account password. If you use the credit cards mentioned above, you’ll be charged the same third-party processing fee. 

Other Billing Options

If you find it difficult to avail of the previous payment methods, you still have other options to choose from. That’s PSEG’s way of making it more convenient for you to receive and pay your energy bill. 

Equal Payment Plan (EPP)

Electricity rates dip and spike depending on several factors. You can avoid the seasonal surges in your power bill through the Equal Payment Plan (EPP). With this plan, PSEG bills you a fixed amount for 6 months. They estimate the amount using your electricity usage history for the previous year and divide that into equal monthly payments. 

Your account undergoes review after 6 months to compare the energy you’ve used vis-a-vis the monthly payments. The billing amount gets adjusted depending on the result. 

Deferred Payment Arrangement (DPA)

Deferred Payment Arrangement (DPA) is available for those who get behind on their payments. You can pay the overdue bills over a specified period through this method. After putting a down payment on your current amount due, you can opt for this payment method. In the succeeding months, you’ll pay your regular bill along with the DPA amount until you bring your account up to date. 

About PSEG Electric

Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSEG) is a diversified energy company that started operations in 1903. Since then, it has grown tremendously and now serves more than 2.3 million power consumers. Headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, the company employs over 13,000 workers. It also ranks 317th on the Fortune 500 list for 2020.  

The company has long played a significant role in driving New Jersey’s economy and upgrading the state’s quality of life. It has four service territories: the Central, Southern, Palisades, and Metropolitan areas.  

PSEG Electric Customer Support

You won’t have to worry if you encounter any problems with your electricity service or account. PSEG’s customer support will be happy to help with your concerns.

Customer Service

Their customer service representatives are ready to answer your calls from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Monday – Friday. You can reach them at 800-436-7734 (PSEG). They also have an automated telephone service which is available 24/7. 

Contact Information

Here’s detailed information on how to reach the company depending on your problem or concern. 

  • Safety issues (downed power lines, gas leaks, and other safety concerns): Call 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) or their Emergency Line at 1-800-880-PSEG (7734). Available 24/7 
  • No Heat: Schedule an appointment through My Account or call 1-800-436-PSEG (7734). Available 24/7. 
  • Power Outage: Report through My Account or call 1-800-436-PSEG (7734). Available 24/7. 
  • Streetlight Out: Report through My Account or call at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) 
  • Billing Issues or Questions: Log in to My Account 24/7 or call 1-800-436-PSEG (7734). Customer representatives are available from Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
  • Trouble Paying Your Bill: Log in to My Account or call 1-800-357-2262. Customer representatives are available from Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
  • Moving In, Away, or Transferring Service: Log in to My Account (current customers) or call 1-800-436-PSEG (7734). Customer representatives are available from Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Automated options are available 24/7. 
  • Meter Reading: Through My Account or call 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) 
  • Scams, Fraud, and People Claiming to Be PSEG Employees: Call 1-800-436-PSEG (7734). 

FAQs

Why does PSEG charge for delivery?

The generated electricity needs to get to your home to be of any use. PSEG distributes the electricity from the generation facilities to the consumers. Delivering electric power costs money, and that’s what PSEG’s delivery charges are for. 

Why does PSEG charge so much?

The electricity rate depends on many factors. The price of fuels used to generate electricity is one of those. Natural gas, which is used to produce electricity, experienced hikes in prices. The costs have doubled compared to last year’s prices. This has led to higher utility PSEG charges. 

Is PSEG WorryFree legit?

Yes, PSEG WorryFree is legit. The company has a pool of expert technicians to do the job of repairing your appliances or electronics. The WorryFree plan will let you avoid the hassles of dealing with unexpected repair costs. 

What is the average electric bill in New Jersey?

Electricity users in New Jersey pay around $102.38 per month on average for their electric bills. This is more than $9 lower than the national average of $111.67. 

Conclusion

Understanding your electric bill is a step towards reducing your energy expenses. By knowing what charges you’re paying, you become more conscious of how indiscriminate electricity use drains your greenbacks. PSEG provides a straightforward billing and payment process. That makes it easy to plan your budget. Settling your bills is also a breeze so you’re less likely to put off the task.

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