How to read a laundromat electricity bill

What is on the bill

An Australian business electricity bill normally has usage charges (kilowatt hours, kWh, at one or more rates), a daily supply charge, and sometimes extra items such as demand charges, metering fees or solar export credits. GST is added on top, or included, depending on the retailer.

1. Usage charges and time bands

Many business plans split usage into peak, shoulder and off-peak periods, each with its own rate. The bill should print the hours and months that count as peak. For a laundromat open long hours, the split matters because you cannot easily move washing to a cheaper time. Check that the kWh in each band add up to your total and that each band multiplied by its rate matches the printed amount.

2. The daily supply charge

Same idea as gas: days in the period × daily rate. Electricity supply charges are often a large fixed part of a small shop's bill, so a change in the daily rate matters more than it looks. Compare it with the previous bill every time.

3. Demand charges

Larger sites can be on a tariff with a demand charge, billed on the highest short burst of power you draw in a month, not the total energy used. If you see one, find the demand figure (in kW or kVA) and compare it with earlier months. One unusually high reading, for example when several machines start together, can set the charge for the whole month.

4. Controlled load and separate meters

Some premises have a second meter, such as a hot water system on a cheaper controlled-load rate. Make sure each meter appears once and is billed at its own rate.

5. Meter reads

As with gas, check whether the read was actual or estimated, and that this bill's start read equals the previous bill's end read. Estimated reads can lead to a catch-up bill. See estimated reads and catch-up bills.

6. Fees, credits and GST

Check late fees, paper bill fees, credits and any adjustment for a reissued bill. GST is 10 percent. Confirm whether the rates you are comparing include it.

A quick checklist for every electricity bill

• Days in the period are right.
• kWh by band adds up to total usage.
• Rate × kWh equals the printed amount for each band.
• Daily rate × days equals the supply charge.
• Any demand charge matches the demand figure shown.
• Fees and adjustments make sense; the total and GST add up.

Where this fits

Once the bill is checked, the next question is what the energy cost you per wash and per dry. Read utility cost per cycle. To have every line recalculated for you, see the electricity bill checker.