NES Introduces New Balanced Billing Program

Nashville, Tenn. – Based on feedback from our customers, NES has decided to discontinue its Budget Billing program effective March 31, 2010 and replace it with a new program for residential customers called Balanced Billing. With the new Balanced Billing program, a customers electric bill will vary slightly each month for the entire 12 months to help guard against drastic changes in their bill. Here is how the new program works: A customers monthly bill will be a rolling average of their kilowatt-hour (kWh) usage for the previous 11 months plus their kWh usage for the current month. That amount will be divided by 12, taking into consideration the current months electric rate. During the 12th month, NES will compare the cost of their actual usage to the total amount they paid for the year. If there is an overpayment, their account will be credited, or they may request a refund. If they have underpaid, then NES will send them a bill for the difference. Residential customers can sign up for Balanced Billing at any time, provided theyve had service at their present address for at least one year and are current on their NES bill payments. NES launched the old Budget Billing program more than 25 years ago as a way for budget-conscious customers to pay their bill. For 11 months, customers would pay the same amount. On the 12th month, NES compared the customers actual usage to the total amount they paid for the year, and their account was credited or they received a bill for the remaining amount owed. Unfortunately, over the past few years, TVA rate increases and the Fuel Cost Adjustment have caused many customers to have larger, more unpredictable bills during the 12th month than they had in years past. For more information or to enroll in the new Balanced Billing program, call NES at 615-736-6900.