With Stream Energy, you have the opportunity to take matters into your own hands and are empowered with the ability to check all your important account information online. Simply visit us online at https://myaccount.streamenergy.net/ and take control. You can do many things like:

• check the amount you owe on your current bill
• find out the due date
• make a payment
• change your billing address
• and make changes to your personal contact information and much more.

You can select what’s called “Recurring ACH”. That’s where Stream Energy will initiate an automatic deduction from your checking account each month your bill is due. The payment will be withdrawn from your account on the date your bill is due. So, whatever the Bill Due-Date is on your bill, then that’s the date which the funds will be taken. This way, you’ll never have to worry about missing a payment.

You can check to see whether your payment was received and credited toward your Stream Energy balance in real-time by going online and checking your account at https://myaccount.streamenergy.net/.

These are charges the local Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) – poles and wires company – assesses to all non-residential or demand meters. They are simply passed through to you, the end-use consumer (where applicable). However, for residential customers, these charges are bundled into your already competitive rate.

There are a number of factors that can affect your bill. Here are a couple quick checks that you can do.

• Some of the largest users of electricity in your home are your refrigerator, your dishwasher, your clothes dryer, and your computer. Most consumers think only the air conditioner is responsible for increased energy usage. Many times, it is these other appliances which still use electricity even when turned off.
• What service plan are you on? Variable Price Plan or Fixed Rate? Now, pull up some bills from a few months ago and see if anything has changed. A Variable Price Plan can change without advanced notice. Remember, a Variable Price Plan may only be right for you if you wish to avoid a contract with an early termination fee. Otherwise, the risk you take is a potential fluctuating rate!
• How much are you paying in cents per kWh? In other words, what is your rate?
• If you have access to last year’s bills, go back and compare last year’s bill for the same month or billing cycle and do an apples-to-apples comparison to see how they match up. Be mindful of your energy rate, any weather anomalies (last year may have been slightly warmer or cooler than this year for the same time period), and any additional changes in your consumption pattern.
• If you feel that your meter may have been read incorrectly, then you are entitled to a meter re-read. You can ask for one by simply contacting your local Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP) and making a request for such. However, please note that if you ask for a meter re-read, then you may be subject to charges by the TDSP (that is only in the event the results come back correct, confirming that the meter read in dispute is accurate). Also, keep in mind that over 99% of the time this request is made there is no problem with the meter. More often than not another variable is causing the high bill such as an estimated read, varied weather patterns, a behavior change that is affecting usage or something else.

A TDSP Meter Surcharge (or “Advanced Meter System” charge) is a charge that the poles and wires company in your local area charges customers to cover the cost of deploying advanced meters (also known as “smart meters”). These charges are approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

To learn more, visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of one of the following poles and wires companies:

• Oncor Smart Meter FAQs
• CenterPoint Smart Meter FAQs