Billing FAQs

Arrow Why does my residential electric bill vary so much from month to month?

Residential electric bills follow uniform patterns from year to year. When a bill is higher than usual, naturally, it arouses your curiosity. The home's electricity cost varies with seasonal use and personal preferences. In most homes, more electricity is used during summer and winter than in fall and spring.

Summer means increased electricity use for air conditioners, fans, refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, and washers and dryers.

In the winter, higher bills are commonly a result of hot water heating, home heating, additional cooking, lighting, and home entertainment. The water coming into the water heater in the winter is colder, so it requires more electricity to bring it up to the desired temperature. And even where oil or gas is used to heat the home, electricity is needed to operate the pump and fan motors on the furnace. Nights are long in the winter, requiring the use of lights about twice as long as in the summer. Also, most families spend long hours watching television. Any of these reasons aren't too important by themselves, but they help explain why so many people find their electric bills higher in summer and winter than in spring and fall.

Arrow Why is my bill so high this month?

Changes in the amount of energy you use may cause your bill to increase. In addition, factors such as residential utility rate changes or weather changes are other reasons your bill may appear higher than usual. You can determine whether your bill is higher than expected by comparing your energy usage this month to your energy usage last year for the same month. Outside temperatures can affect your bill in the following ways: During the winter months, if temperatures are colder than last year, you can expect to use more energy to heat your home, so your heating bill will be higher. The same holds during the summer months. If the temperature is hotter than last year, you can expect to use more energy to cool your home, resulting in a higher energy bill.

Arrow Why do I receive my BVU Authority utility bills on different days of the month?

Your bill may be mailed later than usual for several reasons. If your statement looks out of line with past usage, we may hold it for further review and investigation before it is mailed. The bill may also be delayed if we cannot access the meter to get the readings. Also, during inclement weather, our main objective is to restore power, which could require moving resources away from meter reading functions and cause a minor delay in billing. Once the account has been billed for the current month, you are still allowed the standard number of days to pay the bill before it is considered past due.

Arrow Why is my bill sometimes estimated?

Sometimes we estimate bills if inaccessibility or weather prevents us from reading the meter within a few days of the expected date. By paying the estimated bill, you avoid paying a two-month bill when we read the meter the following month and get an actual reading to bill you for both months. On rare occasions, we may have to estimate a bill if the metering equipment malfunctions or has been damaged.

Arrow Why doesn't the meter reader come on the same day every month?

We read more than 24,000 meters each month. To do this efficiently and hold down the cost of your service, we use a cycle system under which some meters are read (and some accounts billed) 22 days out of each month. This means your meter will be read (and your account billed a few days later) at about the same time each month, with the date determined by your location. We work on a meter reading schedule that allows meters to be read during regular business hours. This schedule provides flexibility in dealing with such things as severe weather and other events that could affect our meter reading efforts. Because of this meter reading schedule, we cannot provide an exact date on which your meter will be read monthly.

Arrow May I use my credit card to pay my bill?

You can pay online by credit card. BVU Authority does not currently charge a convenience fee for using this service. For your convenience, this service is available 24 hours every day.

Arrow What do I do if I can't pay my bill?

Contact us as soon as possible if you cannot pay your bill. We understand that occasionally, a customer may experience financial problems, which may cause difficulty in paying your account on time. The sooner you contact us, the quicker we will be able to see if you qualify for a residential Payment Arrangement.

Arrow May I adjust the due date of my bill?

Residential customers may be eligible for a fixed due date payment arrangement each monthly billing cycle following proof of Supplemental Security Income and/or Disability Benefits. BVU Authority may assign residential customers a fixed due date of either the month's 8th, 18th, or 28th. BVU Authority will designate which due date the account is eligible for based on the location’s standard control number. Prior months’ utility statements must be in good standing for enrollment and program continuation.

Arrow Can I pay my bill online?

Yes, you can pay your bill online using our Customer Portal

Arrow Where do I mail my bill?

Please mail your payment to BVU Authority, P.O. Box 8100, Bristol, VA 24203-8100

Arrow When are late fees assessed on an account?

Customers have at least 15 (residential service) and 10 (non-residential service) days to pay their bill once the account has been billed for the current month. A late-payment charge is added to an account when payments are received after the due date printed on the monthly statement.