Dominion Energy tacks on automatic surcharge starting next month – see if your state is affected... - The US Sun

Dominion Energy tacks on automatic surcharge starting next month - see if your state is affected | The US Sun

Dominion Energy tacks on automatic surcharge starting next month – see if your state is affected

CUSTOMERS might see a higher utility bill next month as a major energy provider has added on an additional surcharge.

Some homeowners in Virginia will be paying more in their energy bill as the state has reinstated a monthly surcharge for everyone who pays for a Dominion Energy account.

This is because the state is charging extra for carbon allowances made through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Virginia will be leaving the energy initiative at the end of the year, but the charges start September 1.

Each customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month will be charged $4.44, based on the approval from the State Corporation Commission on July 12.

Previously, Dominion customers were forced to pay $2.39 for the same reason, but those charges ended in July.

Dominion originally asked state regulators for the money to cover its prior carbon allowances as well as those moving into the end of 2023.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative was designed to lower emissions from power plants through its cap-and-trade system.

The initiative sets a cap for power sectors of all the states in the system, and the cap gets lower and lower every year.

When Dominion buys an allowance outside of the cap on carbon emissions, services become more expensive for customers.

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All allowances purchased by power generators like Dominion are given back to the state, which has used them for flood resilience and energy efficiency.

A total of $657million has been raised over time through the initiative.

WAYS TO SAVE ON YOUR ENERGY BILL

If you’re expecting the extra cost on your next energy bill, there are other ways to reduce your monthly payment.

Energy experts have recommended various strategies to end up with the lowest utility bill possible at the end of the month.

The first thing you should do is look outside your own home.

If you have shade surrounding your house, it will easily keep your house cooler, which adds up to hundreds in savings over time.

So, by planting a tree in your front or back yard, you’re not only helping the environment – you’re also saving money for the future you.

For the best results, you’ll want to plant tall trees on the south side of your home and broad trees to the west and east.

That’s because the sun tends to target those sides with the greatest direct sunlight.

You should also take care to cover your windows because around 30 percent of a home’s heating and cooling energy can be lost there, according to the DOE.

If you have a solar or mesh window screen, you can prevent the energy loss before it takes place.

Your thermostat also has a role to play when it comes to curbing your energy usage.

If you switch to a smart thermostat, you’ll be able to adjust the temperature of your house according to the time of day.

Some smart thermostats on the market even allow you to adjust the temperature from your phone.

While the initial cost to get a smart thermostat installed can be $300, you’ll save 10 percent off your overall bill if you increase your thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees higher than normal for eight hours a day.

Beyond the ways you can keep your home cool without using up extra energy, you should also look at your household appliances.

For instance, refrigerators tend to use a large amount of energy – approximately 20 percent of all household electricity usage – so this is a key area to curb your costs.

One way is by making sure the condenser coils in the fridge are clean. This has been estimated to save around 30 percent.

On average, Americans pay about $2,060 per year for home utility bills, according to EnergyStar.gov, and if 20 percent of that goes to the refrigerator, that’s $412 per year.

This means, if you could bring down your refrigerator’s energy usage to 10 percent, you could save $206 per year.

MORE FEES

Dominion Energy is far from the only company that is adding on additional fees that customers may not know about.

In the phone space, Verizon has also been known to slap on $10 fees for customers who ask to set up payment arrangements.

They are also subject to be hit with a late fee if the past-due balance surpasses $7, according to Verizon.

Another phone provider, T-Mobile, has also applied a $2 fee for customers to receive a more detailed bill with their basic breakdown of charges and purchases.

While the detailed bill offers an itemized description of all local, long-distance, and roaming calls, it can add up to a hefty cost.

Over the course of the year, you’ll hand over $24 in change.

When it comes to retailers, Kohl's has gotten some heat for adding a 15 percent fee to returns that are over 150 pounds and sent by freight.

If the item is being returned due to a defect the fee will be waived, however.

Levi's also tacks on a $7.50 processing fee on mailed returns.

Members of Levi's membership program, Redtab, can avoid the fee.

Similarly, Urban Outfitters charges a $5 "restocking fee" for all items returned in the mail.

The only way to avoid it is to make returns in person.

AT&T is also adding on an additional surcharge for customers this year.

Plus, here’s a way to save hundreds on your next energy bill, and you don’t need any special settings to do it.