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Programs & Services

Budget Billing

 

 
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Sign up for Budget Billing and smooth out the seasonal changes in your energy bills.

If you've been a customer of O&R, Rockland Electric or PCL&P for at least 12 months, why not sign up for Budget Billing? Budget Billing is the payment plan that lets you levelize your payments throughout the year, sparing you from unpredictable bills that result from seasonal usage variations.

Budget Billing does not reduce your overall energy expense. It simply lets you spread out your annual energy expense over a 12-month period and let you know ahead of time what your monthly payment will be. So you'll be able to manage your household budget a whole lot easier.

How it works

Based on your previous 12-month usage history, plus anticipated energy costs and other factors, we estimate your energy usage for the year ahead. We then divide the total by 12 to arrive at your monthly Budget Billing payment amount.

Periodic reviews

We estimate your Budget Billing installment amount as accurately as possible. However, changes in cost of energy, weather and lifestyle can happen at any time. To avoid a significant difference between the the budget that you're billed and the cost based on the actual amount of energy you used, we conduct periodic reviews of your account.
(O&R and Rockland Electric accounts are reviewed on the 6th month; PCL&P accounts are reviewed every four months.)

Payment adjustment

After a periodic review, your Budget Billing payment amount could stay the same or it could be adjusted up or down, depending on the cost of your actual usage. A payment adjustment is designed to help you avoid a large over- or underpayment at the end of your Budget Billing year.

Year-end settlement

On the 12th month, we'll compare the cost of your actual usage to the total amount paid.

If there's an overpayment, the amount will be credited to your account until it's used up. Or you may request a prompt refund, as long as you've made all 12 monthly payments.

If there's an underpayment of at least $50, you can pay in six monthly installments, added to your regular monthly payment amount at the beginning of the new Budget Billing year.

If you want to pay the entire amount at once, please call Customer Assistance toll-free at 1-877-434-4100.

Interest is not applied to any over- or underpayment.

To enroll

To find out what your Budget Billing payment amount is and to enroll online, go to My Account and log in with your 10-digit account number. Once you're logged in to your account, click on the Budget Billing prompt below your account status, or on "Budget Billing Enrollment" to the left.

You may also use our computerized phone system to enroll by calling us toll-free at 1-877-434-4100 at any time of day or night. Have your 10-digit account number handy. Select 3 from the Main Menu and follow the voice prompts for Budget Billing. After entering your account number, you'll be given your Budget Billing installment amount. If you like what you hear, you can enroll on the spot.

Satisfaction guaranteed

If you're not completely satisfied, you may stop Budget Billing at any time.

Use the online form or call Customer Assistance toll-free at 1-877-434-4100, weekdays, 8 a.m. until 7 p.m.