Budget Billing FAQ
Q&A
Is there a fee for using the budget billing plan?
No. The budget plan is a free service to our customers.
How is the budget amount calculated?
Your initial monthly budget payment will be:
(The previous 12 months' actual bills at your current residence + your current account balance) divided by 12.
Each month thereafter, your budget bill amount will be reviewed using the average of your previous 12 months' actual bills. (July 2007 bill uses August 2006-July 2007; August 2007 uses September 2006- August 2007, and so on.) Your budget amount will be changed only if the recalculated budget amount differs 10 percent or more from your current budget amount. Factoring in a threshold allows you to maintain greater stability in your monthly amount due.
Once a year, on your budget billing anniversary date, your payment will be totally recalculated:
(The previous 12 months' actual bills at your current residence + your current account balance) divided by 12.
I'm on the CheckLINE automatic payment plan. How will I know when my budget amount changes so that I can plan my banking accordingly?
You will continue to receive a monthly statement advising how much your next payment will be, and when that amount will be taken from your account. A bill message also will alert you when your amount has changed.
How often will my monthly budget bill amount be adjusted?
Adjustments will depend on fuel costs, weather and usage. Black Hills Energy conducted a review of residential customer bills over a 3 year period. On average, the budget billing amount would have been adjusted five times during that time. Each adjustment would have been about $10. Under the old StreamLINE budget plan, there would have been an average of three adjustments at $20 each.
Can I be removed from the budget billing plan?
The budget plan is the most beneficial payment option for you, as it reduces fluctuations in your bills while offering payment stability. However, we can return you to traditional billing if you would rather pay for your actual energy used each month, which could potentially result in high seasonal bills.
24-hour Customer Service
Quick and easy, Black Hills Energy's touchtone service puts the information you need at your fingertips. Just call Customer Service and follow the prompts. 1-888-890-5554 or contact us online.