Understanding Your Bill

An explanation of what appears on your PUD bill.

Here’s a brief explanation of the parts of your PUD bill. The numbers below correspond to the circles on the example bill shown at top:

1. Contact Information

Ways to contact us about your bill or account are clearly noted on your bill. You can always reach us here on our website or by calling (503) 397-1844.

2. Account Summary

The most important information regarding your bill is placed inside a circle in the top center of your bill. Accounts with past due notices will be flagged with a red circle and red text indicating when a payment must be received to avoid a late fee.

3. Service Address

The address where the PUD is providing service for this bill. This may be different from the mailing address.

4. Meter Readings

This table shows meter data associated with the current bill. It indicates your service type, meter number, and meter readings. This is your actual energy usage and demand usage for the billing period. We measure energy usage in kilowatt hours (kWh) and demand usage in kilowatts (kW).

5. Account Activity

Any changes to your account since your last billing statement, including your most recent payment.

6. Billing Details

A detailed listing of the charges on your current bill. If you have been assessed a late fee, it will appear here.

7. Important Messages

This area displays messages related directly to your account or service, and other messages from the PUD.

8. Payment Stub

If you are paying by check, please return this stub with your payment to ensure the payment is properly credited to your account. The payment stub also provides you with your account number, account summary, and amount due.

9. Billing Summary

This section provides the account balance. If there is a past due amount, it will be clearly shown.

10. Donate to GLOW

Check this box to round up your bill to the next dollar and donate the change to provide emergency bill payment assistance to low-income customers.

11. Energy Use Comparison

The amount of energy you consumed during this billing period compared with the previous billing period and with the same billing period a year ago.

12. Demand Usage Comparison

Your average peak demand during this billing period compared with the previous billing period and with the same billing period a year ago.

13. Important Information

This section explains the terminology used on the bill and provides other important information about your utility.

14. Graph of Electric Usage vs. Temperature

This graph shows your monthly energy usage over the past 13 months compared with the temperature. You can use this information to track and manage your usage. We recommend comparing your usage for the same period last year. The more difference there is between the temperature outside and the thermostat setting inside, the harder your heating and/or cooling system will have to work and the more energy it will use, even if you don’t adjust the thermostat.

15. Return Stub for Comments or Questions

If you have comments or questions for us, simply fill out this portion and return it with your payment and a PUD employee will contact you. You can also update your contact information by filling out and returning this stub.

16. Payment Methods

There are several convenient ways to pay your bill. Each is identified in this section.