I would like to explain to you today how to understand your electric bill from Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power.

When you open your bill, your eyes are going to be drawn to that colorful bullseye on the left column, about half-way down the page. Like the statistics box that stays on the TV when you watch a ball game, this circle gives you the full and simple breakdown on your bill. So, I’d like you to focus on that blue bullseye.

Take a look at the center of the circle. It is divided into a black top and a white bottom. In the white lower-half is the amount of money you currently owe for last month’s service. Just above that is a black half-circle. The portion of the circle includes “kWh” and a number. That tells you the amount of electricity you used, shown in kilowatt hours, for the billing period.

Let’s now move to the circle’s outer rim. It is divided into three colors: dark blue, light blue, and purple or maroon. The dark blue part reflects the cost of purchasing and supplying your electricity and should be the largest part of the bill. This shows the charges for the cost of the production and transmission of electricity you used.

Next, the light blue area should be the second-largest part of the circle. This reflects the cost for delivering electricity to your home or business. Finally, the purple or maroon section of the circle shows you what taxes and fees you must pay on your electric service. These are pass-through charges from local government. And the company says this money is often used to benefit schools and city and county services, such as emergency 911.

The remainder of the bill is fairly straightforward. The amount due and the date its due should be prominent at the top of the right-side of the page in a light blue field. What you owe is the bold black number. This box also tells you when the bill was mailed and your 11-digit account number. The next line in white on the left is the address being billed for service.

I know these bills can sometimes be confusing and appear to be very complex. I hope I have helped simplify this process a little for you.

(Lane is chair of the West Virginia Public Service Commission)