How we calculate your estimated bill

TrueBill uses the same published formula for every plan, built from publicly available plan data. Whenever we can read a plan's energy charges from its Electricity Facts Label (EFL), we use those charges directly. When we can't, we estimate from the prices the EFL publishes at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh.

The formula

Your estimated monthly bill is calculated as:

Energy, base charge, credits and fees come from the plan's EFL. Delivery (TDSP) charges are your utility's published monthly and per-kWh charges as recorded with the plan's data; we never estimate them with split ratios. If the utility has changed its charges since then, the plan card shows the newer rate.

When an EFL's energy rates can't be read

Electricity Facts Labels must show the plan's average price at three usage levels: 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh. For most plans we also read the actual energy charges from the label, so an estimate at, say, 1,200 kWh uses the plan's own rates.

For some labels the energy charges can't be read reliably. For those plans we work back from the three published prices: we take out delivery charges, bill credits and minimum-usage fees, then estimate the energy cost at your usage on a straight line between the published points. Below 500 kWh we scale the 500 kWh energy cost in proportion to your usage; above 2,000 kWh we extend the 1,000 to 2,000 kWh segment. Delivery charges, credits and fees are then calculated at your actual usage.

When your usage falls between the published points, the bill breakdown on the plan card notes: “Estimated between the plan's published prices at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 kWh.” The estimate is anchored to the label's published prices. Between them it can differ from the provider's actual bill, most often near a tiered rate or a credit threshold, so check the EFL before choosing one of these plans.

Bill credits and threshold logic

Bill credits have a threshold—you must use at least X kWh to receive the credit. Our calculation logic:

• If your usage ≥ threshold → credit applied
• If your usage < threshold → no credit

This means the comparison you see reflects whether you'd actually get the credit at your specific usage level.

Minimum usage fees

Some plans charge a fee if your usage falls below a certain amount. The logic:

• If your usage < threshold → fee added to bill
• If your usage ≥ threshold → no fee

How we rank plans

Plans are ranked by estimated bill at your usage level. When two plans come within 49 cents a month of each other, documented risk tie-breakers decide the order (see how we rank plans).

We don't use:

• Subjective "value" scores
• Provider preference weighting
• Commission relationships
• "Featured" or "sponsored" boosts

Outside those near-ties, the cheapest plan at your usage is ranked #1, the second-cheapest #2, and so on.

Data quality and validation

We parse pricing data from EFLs using automated tools. When our parser can't confidently extract a field (like bill credit amount or minimum usage fee), we:

• Flag the plan with a validation warning
• Show you the confidence level
• Encourage you to verify details in the EFL

We'd rather show you uncertainty than pretend to know something we don't.