By no means are they normal. Some retail electric providers’ plans charge fees for consumers who don’t use a certain amount of electricity. Others offer discounts to customers whose usage exceeds a certain level. The net effect is the same: Customers with energy usage below a certain threshold – often 800 to 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month – can wind up paying for electricity they didn’t use. You can see if the plan you’re considering has a minimum usage fee in its Electricity Facts Label or Terms of Service.
Minimum usage fees can nullify the savings customers might expect when they conserve power. Customers in smaller homes, including apartments, should pay particular attention to these fees. Check your old bills to see how much power you consume throughout the year to get a sense of how often you’ll likely have to pay the fee.
