Billing Glossary
Account Number
A unique number that is assigned to your Stream Energy account. It helps identify your service delivery points and any other pertinent account information with you, the account holder. Keep this number handy when contacting Stream Energy’s contact center or when wanting to make a payment at any of Stream’s online or retail walk-up pay stations.
Actual Meter Read
Electricity consumption as determined by your local Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) either in-person or by other electronic means when they read your electric meter each month.
Adjusted Meter Read
Electricity consumption as determined by actual reading in person after an estimated or incorrect meter read was taken. This is to reconcile any meter read discrepancies and/or disputes. It is likely that the Adjusted Meter Read may occur close to the time the estimated or incorrect meter read was taken or upon the following month’s meter read date.
Advanced metering charge
A charge assessed to recover a TDU’s charges for Advanced Metering Systems, to the extent that they are not recovered in a TDU’s standard metering charge. Abbreviation: Advanced Meter.
Amount Due
The amount due to bring your account current.
Average Billing Plan
This plan was created for the budget-minded individual. It provides peace of mind and security for those who are budget-constrained or need to know in advance how much to allocate towards their electricity bills each month.
Base Charge
A charge assessed during each billing cycle without regard to the customer’s demand or energy consumption.
Billing Address
The physical address to which your monthly Stream Energy bill is sent. Depending on your scenario, the Billing Address may often-times be different than the address where the electricity is being provided. If you are not receiving an invoice each month please contact our Customer Care Department.
Billing Cycle
Each monthly bill accounts for service provided by Stream Energy for a specified period of time, beginning with a Service Period Start Date and ending with a Service Period End Date. The number of days in each Billing Cycle and the day of the month in which the Billing Cycle relates to is approximately the same each month. However, please note that the Billing Cycle can vary on average between 28 – 34 days – this is mainly due to weekends and holidays.
Bill Date
This is the date the bill is mailed to you, the customer.
Competition Transition Charge
A charge assessed to recover a TDU’s charges for nonsecuritized costs associated with the transition to competition. Abbreviation: Competition Transition.
Current Bill
Calculates the total amount due for all electric service charges based on electric consumption during the specific Billing Cycle. The charges assessed in the Current Bill include all costs related to the provisioning of electricity to your premise and already consumed.
Current Stream Charges
Provides detail regarding the usage and billing for the account.
Current Taxes
The amount of taxes charged on specific billing cycle invoice.
Demand Charge
A charge based on the rate at which electric energy is delivered to or by a system at a given instant, or averaged over a designated period, during the billing cycle.
Disconnect Fee
This fee is passed through and is charged by your local Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) for the disconnection of electrical service at your premise or service delivery end point. The fee is tariff-based and depends on the type of disconnection.
Due Date or Payment Due Date
The date whereby Stream Energy suggests payment be received prior to the assessment of any associated late fees. A one-time five percent (5%) late fee is assessed in the event that payment is received after the designated Due Date.
Emergency and Outage Information
Who you should contact in the event of an emergency or outage.
Energy Charge
A charge based on the electric energy (kWh) consumed.
Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery Factor
A charge assessed to recover a TDU’s costs for energy efficiency programs, to the extent that the TDU charge is a separate charge exclusively for that purpose that is approved by the Public Utility Commission. Abbreviation: Energy Efficiency.
ESI ID or Electric Service Identifier
A unique number that is assigned your premise and identifies your specific service delivery end point to your service address. It is possible to have multiple ESI IDs with the same service address. Without the ESI ID number, we would not know to which meter you wish to receive Stream Energy’s services.
Estimated Meter Read
Electricity consumption as determined by your area Transmission and Distribution Service Provider by taking an estimate of your energy usage either by looking at the past history for your premise or by trending your usage over time using historical data. An Estimated Meter Read is typically done in situations where the meter is not easily accessible (either due to obstruction, inclement weather, or potential hazards), thereby preventing the meter reader from getting an up-close and accurate meter read.
Always allow clear access to your meter for the authorized meter reader to perform their responsibilities. Also, DO NOT ever touch or disconnect your meter or you may be subject to tampering charges and fines for doing so by the TDSP and they may even refuse to reconnect electricity to your meter.
Final Bill
The last and final bill for which you will be financially responsible for paying and ensuring you have a zero balance. A final bill may be subject to true-up in which case you may receive another “final bill” from your provider. Failure to make your account current by paying your Final Bill may result in Stream Energy taking further legal and remedial actions toward recovering such expenses incurred by you as a customer. If you wish to have your Final Bill mailed to you at your new address, then please contact Customer Care or make the adjustment online using your My Stream Account at https://myaccount.streamenergy.net/.
GRT Reimbursement Assessment
Also known as the Gross Receipts Tax, the GRT is imposed on retail electric providers when making sales to customers in incorporated cities or towns with population greater than 1,000 and ranges from 1.997% to 0.581%. This tax reimbursement is applicable in any case of customer tax status.
Kilowatt Hours Used
The total amount of electricity (expressed in kWh) consumed in any given Billing Cycle. This is calculated by subtracting the prior month’s meter read from the current month’s meter read.
kW (kilowatt)
The standard unit for measuring electricity demand, equal to 1,000 watts.
kWh (kilowatt-hour)
The standard unit for measuring electricity energy consumption, equal to 1,000 watt-hours.
Late Payment Penalty
A charge assessed for late payment in accordance with Public Utility Commission rules.
Meter Charge
A charge assessed to recover a TDU’s charges for metering a customer’s consumption, to the extent that the TDU charge is a separate charge exclusively for that purpose that is approved by the Public Utility Commission.
Meter Number
Unique number that identifies the meter at your service delivery end point. It helps identify which meter is in use and effective with your specific ESI ID.
Minimum Usage Fee
A fee assessed per ESI ID when energy consumption is less than the kWh threshold for the billing period, as set forth in the customer’s Terms of Service.
Miscellaneous Gross Receipts Tax Reimbursement
A fee assessed to recover the miscellaneous gross receipts tax imposed on retail electric providers operating in an incorporated city or town having a population of more than 1,000. Abbreviation: Gross Receipts Reimb.
Mult (Multiplier)
A unique feature designed to slow down particular meters at premises with traditionally high usage amounts. This helps prevent the meter’s gauges from running too fast between meter reads. To calculate usage, the kWh registered by the meter are multiplied by a number (each meter with said feature has a specific multiplier assigned), the product of which then yields total usage.
Nuclear Decommissioning Fee
A charge assessed to recover a TDU’s charges for decommissioning of nuclear generating sites. Abbreviation: Nuclear Decommission.
Payment Coupon
Please detach this portion of the invoice and mail it in with your check or money order.
Previous Payment Amount
Total of all payments received since the last billing invoice due date.
PUC Assessment
A fee assessed to recover the statutory fee for administering the Public Utility Regulatory Act.
PUC Reimbursement Assessment
Also known as the Public Utility Commission Gross Receipts Assessment, it is one-sixth of one percent of gross receipts from rates charged the ultimate consumer in Texas.
Sales Tax
Sales tax collected by authorized taxing authorities, such as the state, cities and special purpose districts.
Special Messages
Any announcements or special notifications will be listed in this area.
System Benefit Fund
A non-bypassable charge approved by the Public Utility Commission, not to exceed 65 cents per megawatt-hour, that funds the low-income discount, one-time bill payment assistance, customer education, commission administrative expenses, and low-income energy efficiency programs.
TDU Delivery Charges
The total amounts assessed by a TDU for the delivery of electricity to a customer over poles and wires and other TDU facilities not including discretionary charges.
Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP)
The utility that owns and operates the equipment, infrastructure, and facilities that transmit and distribute electricity to your premise – that is, the poles and wires you see outside your residence. The TDSP is responsible for all things pertinent to the servicing of electricity to your premise, including but not limited to reading your meter, disconnecting and reconnecting your power, and responding to emergencies in the event of a power outage.
Total Amount Due
This is the total amount for which you are responsible to pay to Stream Energy for all electricity services provided (current or past) to you under the specified service plan and applicable terms and conditions.
Please note that even if a portion of your bill is under dispute, you must contact us and pay all or an agreed upon portion of your Total Amount Due.
Total Current Charges
Calculates the total amount due for all electric charges based on electric consumption during the specific Billing Cycle. The charges assessed in the Current Bill include all costs related to the provisioning of electricity to your premise and already consumed.
Total Due After Due Date
Total amount due on due date PLUS five percent (5%) late fee.
Total Due On Due Date
This is the total amount for which you are responsible to pay to Stream Energy for all electricity services provided (current or past) to you under the specified service plan and applicable terms and conditions.
Transition Charge
A charge assessed to recover a TDU’s charges for securitized costs associated with the transition to competition.
Transmission Distribution Surcharges
One or more TDU surcharge(s) on a customer’s bill in any combination. Surcharges include charges billed as tariff riders by the TDU. Abbreviation: TDU Surcharges.
