Explain a bill with higher use and a higher rate
A renter compares two equal-length electricity periods and sees both usage and the stated flat rate rise. The bill increases by more than either change alone explains.
Open CalculatorInputs and calculation
| Tool input | Value |
|---|---|
| Currency | USD |
| Utility | Electricity (kWh) |
| Previous usage | 200 |
| Current usage | 250 |
| Previous flat rate (USD/unit) | 0.2 |
| Current flat rate (USD/unit) | 0.24 |
| Previous bill (USD) | 50 |
| Current bill (USD) | 75 |
Usage: (250 − 200) × 0.2 = 10. Rate: 250 × (0.24 − 0.2) = 10. Actual bill difference: 75 − 50 = 25. Residual: 25 − (10 + 10) = 5. All effects are in USD.
Tool result · USD 25.00
| Tool input | Value |
|---|---|
| Currency | USD |
| Utility | Electricity (kWh) |
| Previous usage | 200 |
| Current usage | 250 |
| Previous flat rate (USD/unit) | 0.2 |
| Current flat rate (USD/unit) | 0.24 |
| Previous bill (USD) | 50 |
| Current bill (USD) | 70 |
Usage: (250 − 200) × 0.2 = 10. Rate: 250 × (0.24 − 0.2) = 10. Actual bill difference: 70 − 50 = 20. Residual: 20 − (10 + 10) = 0. All effects are in USD.
Tool result · USD 20.00
What the comparison shows
The energy lines explain 20 of the observed 25 increase. The last 5 could reflect a fee, adjustment or tax; the totals cannot distinguish those explanations.
Assumptions and limits
Use current-period charges, excluding balances brought forward. The remainder requires a line-item check.