Read your utility bill and find ways to use less: test your skills
Electricity and water bills are usage times rate plus fixed charges. Know the parts, then work on usage. Answer each question to see the explanation; your score appears at the end.
This test checks that you can
- Identify fixed, usage and tax charges on a bill
- Compare usage with the same month last year
- Choose usage tasks you control
- Practice
1. Which part of a utility bill responds to your habits?
- Practice
2. Best comparison for usage?
- Practice
3. Electricity is usually billed in…
- Key idea
4. Which statement best explains "Usage × rate + fixed charges"?
- Key idea
5. Which statement best explains "Compare like with like"?
- Key idea
6. Which statement best explains "Change what you control"?
- Action plan
7. In the action plan, which step comes first?
- Mistake to avoid
8. Which of these is a mistake this lesson warns against?
- Mistake to avoid
9. Which of these is a mistake this lesson warns against?
A bill has a $10 fixed charge, 500 kWh at $0.18 and $6 of fees. What is the total?
Show the answer
$106
500 × $0.18 = $90. $10 + $90 + $6 = $106.
Find the units used on your latest electricity bill and the same month last year.
More tests in this bootcamp
- How to budget with the 50/30/20 rule
- How to build a zero-based budget in simple steps
- Sort your spending: fixed costs, flexible costs and choices
- Let your receipts reveal where your money goes
- Plan ahead with sinking funds
- Build a budget when your income changes
- Pause before you buy: manage impulse spending
- Keep more of your raise: avoid lifestyle inflation
- Make a monthly money check-in work for you
- Read your utility bill and find ways to use less
- Final exam: Budgeting and cash flow