Once you sign up to receive Usage Alerts, you'll set a specific electricity usage threshold and we'll send you an email, text or both, when you exceed that amount. For example, if you enter 23 kilowatt-hours (kWh) as your threshold, each time your electricity usage from the previous day exceeds 23 kWh, you will receive an alert via text, email or both, depending on your preference. You can add up to two email addresses or mobile phone numbers.

This is the average amount of electricity you used per day during the previous month. When you enroll, you will see your specific electricity usage from your last bill. See the image below for an example of what displays when you enroll. In this case, the average daily usage from the previous bill was 22 kWh.

This is the amount of electricity usage you need to exceed in one day in order to trigger an alert the next day.

For example, if you enter 22 kWh as your energy usage threshold, then when your previous day's energy usage exceeds 22 kWh, you will receive an alert via email, text or both. If you would like to receive daily alerts, set your usage threshold to "0."

When you enroll, you will see your specific electricity usage from your last month’s bill displayed as a guideline. You can use that number as the usage threshold to start. Or, if you’d like to do more analysis, you also have the last 13 months of your specific average daily electricity usage available on the ‘Analyze Usage’ page within your online account. This information will show you how your energy usage changes each month. See below for an example.

Energy usage thresholds can be changed at any time on the ‘Change Account Information’ page within your online account.

There is no additional charge for Usage Alerts; however, your mobile phone provider may bill you for text messages and data rates depending on your mobile phone plan. Dominion is not responsible for these charges.

Your spouse or roommate can sign up if they created their own online profile or you can add up to 2 additional emails or mobile phone numbers to your Notification Preferences. You’ll be able to see usage alert activity and history on the ‘Detailed Energy Usage’ page.

You may receive more usage alerts during certain times of the year, such as August or January, because extreme hot or cold temperatures typically cause larger increases in energy consumption. According to Energy.gov, heating and cooling can account for half of a home's energy use. Since heating and cooling systems have to work longer and harder to keep indoor temperatures comfortable when it's extremely hot or cold outside, more electricity is being used.

For example, if it's 100 degrees outside and you have your thermostat set at 75 degrees, the system has to work longer and harder to lower the temperature in your home because it's so much hotter outside. For every degree you raise the thermostat when the temperature is very hot outside, you may be able to save on energy costs. If it's 78 degrees outside and you have your air set at 75 degrees inside, your system doesn't have to work as long or hard to lower the temperature in your home, which means less electricity is being used.

When you receive your energy usage alerts, this is an early indication that your energy usage has exceeded the threshold you set. When this happens, you can take immediate steps to conserve energy, before you receive your bill. There is an abundance of information about ways to lower your bill. Here are a several sources to help you get started.

Lower My Bill Guide

Become a smarter energy consumer by following these four steps to help you reduce your usage and your bill.

Energy Saving Tips

Use these practical tips to help you save cash and conserve energy.

Energy Conservation Programs

Conserve energy and maximize savings throughout all areas of your home.

Your energy data is typically sent from the meter and updated on the usage chart within your online account. If you exceed your electricity usage threshold, you will receive an alert the next day. On rare occasions, there may be a delay or communication issue with the meter and you may not receive any alert. Or, if there are other users on your account such as roommate or spouse, they may have changed the electricity usage threshold.

You can view changes and edits made to your usage alerts within your online account.

To make changes, go to the “Notification Preferences” page in your online account and replace your old phone number with your new contact information. If you enrolled to receive a text message, an activation message will be sent to your new number. To change your primary email address, go to “My Profile” or you can add up to 2 additional email addresses on the Notification Preferences page.

You can unsubscribe by updating your program preferences on the “My Account Overview” page within your online account for both email notifications and text messages. If you have text messages, you can also reply “STOP” to unsubscribe from receiving alerts via text.

Most carriers are supported, including: Alltel, Appalachian Wireless, AT&T, Bluegrass Cellular, Boost Mobile, Cellcom, Cellular South, Centennial Wireless, Cincinnati Bell, GCI, Immix Wireless, Inland Cellular, IV Cellular, Nex-Tech Wireless, Nextel Communications, nTelos, Revol Wireless, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, United Wireless, Verizon Wireless, Virgin Mobile and West Central Wireless.

One of the main components of your electric bill is the amount of energy you consumed during the month – typically, the more you used, the higher your bill. There are also other factors that influence your final bill amount such as the number of days in the billing cycle, taxes, distribution, generation and fuel charges, but the part you can control is your electricity usage.

Electricity usage is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). One kWh equals 1,000 watts of energy used continuously for one hour. Each appliance, light bulb, device, water heater, heating and cooling systems and other household items that use electricity have a certain amount of wattage, which add up to kWh. Each kWh used has a cost.