Account
A unique number that identifies your electric account. Your account number is defined by your service address. If you have more than one service address, you have more than one account number.

Adjusted Federal Income Tax Credit for Ike Restoration (ADFIT) 
TDU credit for deferred federal income tax benefits associated with Hurricane Ike restoration costs.  Only applicable in CenterPoint’s service territory.

Advanced Meter Charge
A charge assessed to recover a TDU's charges for Advanced Metering Systems, to the extent that they are not recovered in a TDU's standard metering charge.

Base Charge
A charge assessed during each billing cycle without regard to your demand or energy consumption.

Billing Address
The address to which your bill is sent. This address may be different than the address that is receiving service.

Billing Cycle
The start and end dates for a specific bill. These dates are approximately the same each month.

Competition Transition Charge (CTC)
A charge assessed to recover a TDU's charges for non-securitized costs associated with the transition to competition.

Connection Fee
A one-time fee charged by your TDU to connect electric service at an address. Normally, it is included on your first bill and is due by the Due Date specified.

Current Meter Reading
The current reading taken when your electric meter was read on the date indicated. The previous month's meter reading is subtracted from the current month's meter reading to determine how many kilowatt hours (kWh) of consumption you should be billed for. This reading is supplied by the TDU and is usually obtained when reading the meter. Meter readings occur approximately every 28-32 days.

Customer Charge
TDU charge for the cost of billing REPs for the electric service of their customers.

Disconnect/Reconnect Fee
Amount charged by your TDU to disconnect and/or reconnect your service (turn off or turn power back on) at a particular location in the event of non-payment of the electric bill. This amount varies based on the type of disconnection. It cannot be waived.

Distribution Company Charges
Amount charged for services (such as running new service wires, installing a meter, conducting a voltage test, or disconnecting or reconnecting service) provided by your TDU. Also referred to as Discretionary Charges.

Distribution System Charge
Charge that covers the TDU costs of transporting electricity from transmission facilities over distribution lines and through transformers to a customer’s service lines.

Energy Charge
A charge based on the electric energy (kWh) consumed.

Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery Factor
A charge assessed to recover a TDU's costs for energy efficiency programs, to the extent that the TDU charge is a separate charge exclusively for that purpose that is approved by the Public Utility Commission.

ESI ID or Electric Service Identifier
An identifier that the industry uses to uniquely identify the home or business.

Hurricane Cost Recovery Factor
This is a charge from your TDU to cover the cost of repairs and restoration from hurricanes.

kW
Kilowatt, the standard unit for measuring electricity demand, equal to 1,000 watts.

Kilowatt-hours Used
The amount of electricity (kWh) used in a month. This is calculated by subtracting the prior month's meter reading from the current month's meter reading.

Late Payment Penalty
A charge assessed for late payment in accordance with Public Utility Commission rules.

Meter (Meter Number) 
The number identifying the meter at your service location. A meter is a device that measures your electricity usage.

Metering Charge
A charge assessed to recover a TDU's charges for metering a customer's consumption, to the extent that the TDU charge is a separate charge exclusively for that purpose that is approved by the Public Utility Commission.

Miscellaneous Gross Receipts Tax Reimbursement
A fee assessed to recover the miscellaneous gross receipts tax imposed on REPs operating in an incorporated city or town having a population of more than 1,000.

Nuclear Decommissioning Charge
A charge assessed to recover a TDU's charges for the dismantling and decontamination of nuclear generating sites.

Previous Meter Read
Meter reading from the prior billing statement. This reading may be actual, estimated, or adjusted.

PUC Assessment
A fee assessed to recover the statutory fee for administering the Public Utility Regulatory Act.

Rate Case Surcharge
TDU surcharge that reimburses the TDU for its expenses and the expenses of other interveners required to be paid by the TDU to participate in a rate case.

Sales Tax
Sales tax collected by authorized taxing authorities, such as the state, cities, and special purpose districts.

Statement Date
The date the bill was generated. Therefore, the bill covers the usage prior to that date as indicated by the current meter reading date; it does not cover the usage between the Bill Date and the date which you receive the bill.

Storm Recovery Charge
A charge from your TDU to cover the cost of repairs and restoration from storms.

Storm Recovery Tax Credit
A credit from your TDU for deferred federal income tax benefits associated with storm restoration costs.

System Benefit Fund
A required TDU charge that helps fund low-income assistance, customer education, and energy efficiency programs.

System Restoration Charge
TDU charge for the recovery of costs for replacing and repairing electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Ike (CenterPoint only).

TDU Delivery Charges 
The total amounts assessed by a TDU for the delivery of electricity to you over poles and wires and other TDU facilities, not including discretionary charges.

Transition Charge
This is a charge from the TDU to recover costs for moving from a regulated market to a competitive market. This charge is based on actual energy use.

Transmission Cost Recovery Factor (TCRF)
A charge from the TDU that covers the incremental cost of changes to the transmission system. TDUs are allowed to make changes to the TCRF twice a year on March 1st and September 1st. TCRF charges are reconciled when the TDU files for a complete rate case.

Transmission Distribution Surcharges
One or more TDU surcharge(s) on a customer's bill in any combination. Surcharges include charges billed as tariff riders by the TDU.

Transmission System Charge
TDU charge that covers the cost of transporting electricity from generators over high voltage transmission lines to distribution facilities.