LMB: Easy Way to Manage Your BTES Bill

By Lara Hull, Customer Experience Manager

We know that managing household budgets can be tricky, especially when unexpected expenses arise. Our Levelized Monthly Billing (LMB) program is designed to help you manage your monthly BTES bill, leveling the highs and lows of fluctuating energy usage and bill amounts that often come with the changing seasons.

One of our customers recently reached out after receiving an unusually high bill – over $800, which was well above what she typically pays. After working with our Customer Experience team, the customer followed some recommendations and had her heat pump serviced. It turned out there was a small pin-sized freon leak, which was causing her HVAC system to work harder than usual. Thankfully, this discovery helped her address the issue! What made this situation more manageable for the customer was being enrolled in our Levelized Monthly Billing program. Instead of facing that unexpected high bill all at once, the customer paid her typical levelized amount, which made it easier for her to budget and avoid the stress of a larger one-time payment.

This is just one example of how Levelized Monthly Billing can help make your BTES bill more predictable and easier to manage.

How Does Levelized Billing Work?

Levelized Monthly Billing is based on a 12-month rolling average of your energy usage. This means you pay approximately the same amount every month, even as your actual energy usage fluctuates due to seasonal changes or unexpected issues, like the one I mentioned earlier. With our program, there is not a “true-up” month, meaning there’s no big surprise bill at the end of the year. Instead, your bill is re-averaged each month to reflect your most recent usage, and any differences will be factored into your monthly amount.

A Few Tips for Managing Your LMB

While Levelized Billing is designed to help you keep your payments steady, it’s still important to keep an eye on your actual energy usage. If you notice a significant increase in your usage, it may take a few months for the levelized amount to adjust accordingly. So, it's always a good idea to track your energy consumption regularly and address any issues promptly – like our customer did by having her heat pump serviced. If you notice any issues with your energy usage, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re here to help!

Are You Eligible for Levelized Monthly Billing?

If you've been a BTES customer for at least 12 months, you may be eligible for Levelized Monthly Billing. If you’ve been a BTES customer for less than 12 months, you may be eligible for Budget Billing. For more information about your account’s eligibility for these programs, give us a call at 423-968-1526.