Have trouble deciphering your electric bill? Here's help.

Sue Steigerwald, an advocate for fair utility prices, has helped hundreds of Erie County residents swap energy companies — switching from FirstEnergy to Cincinnati-based Duke Energy Retail — for lower prices.The average home using 26,000 kilowatt-hours expects to save roughly $126 a year.Steigerwald explored further ways to save, including a formula that reverse-engineers how energy companies determine the amount that people pay for electricity.She shared the formula, along with other opinions on savings, during a Wednesday forum sponsored by Serving Our Seniors. The event was at the Sandusky Community Church of the Nazarene. Q: How do electric companies add up a bill?SS: Approximately half the bill is for the actual cost of electricity — suppliers such as FirstEnergy providing the juice — and the other half of the charge for companies getting the electricity to you.We don't have control over Ohio Edison's delivery or distribution charge. Nobody else will come in and build the wires because Ohio Edison has already done that. They're responsible for getting the electricity to you.Q: How can I pay less costs for using electricity?SS: You can evaluate another offer by figuring out what you are paying now.Q: How do I figure out the breakdown of what I'm paying for actual electricity use?SS: Roughly half of your bill is this charge. You need to tell from your bill if you're paying the price to compare or if you're buying from a certified supplier or city aggregator.To figure out if you pay the price to compare, defined as the rate a consumer pays if you don't go with a supplier:• Look for a line called "bypassable generation and transmission related component." That is your total charge for electric generation from Ohio Edison. It should equal the price to compare multiplied by the number of kwh used in a billing cycle.To figure out if you pay a certified supplier or aggregate:• You will see a section directly below the charges. The section will say from whom you are buying your electricity from, and at what price you're paying per kwh.Your total generation charges should equal price per kwh multiplied by the number of kwh used in a billing cycle.That is what you pay monthly for your electricity (Duke Energy Retail, city or township aggregate program, etc).Q: After figuring this amount out, what can I do to lower my electric bill?SS: Once you know that you are currently paying a certain rate, you can shop for a better price. A good starting place to look for the best prices available is on PUCO's website. It has an "apples-to-apples chart" on the home page, located at puco.ohio.gov.You can evaluate another offer, after figuring out what you are paying now through the calculations, by asking:• Is the offer a percentage off the price or a specific rate?• Is the offer fixed or variable?• How long is the term? It's usually one or two years long.• Is there an early cancellation fee? Many companies charge anywhere from $25 to $100 to cutting out on the agreement early.• What happens when the new contract expires?• Will the supplier charges be located on my Ohio Edison bill?Q: Should I have any fears of changing who supplies my energy?SS: Don't be afraid to switch electric suppliers. Ohio Edison will still remain your electric company and you will still call Ohio Edison for power outages or any problems. You'll simply pay less for electricity you are already buying now.