How to Read Your Bill

Learn how to understand your utility bill step by step, including charges, usage details, and payment options, to manage your account with confidence. Click on any of the icons below to see an interactive bill based on your customer type.
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Hingham Owners & Landlords

(Electric & Water)

Hingham Owners & Landlords with Solar

(Electric & Water)

Hingham Renters & Tenants

(Electric Only)

Hull & North Cohasset Customers

(Water Only)

Utility Bill Charges

Your bill represents your cost share of operating a community-owned utility. The Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant (HMLP) and the Weir River Water System (WRWS) are owned by the Town of Hingham. As not-for-profit utilities, we reinvest revenues into operations to fulfill our mission of maintaining reliable, high-quality service, reasonable rates, and sustainable operations.

Electric Charges

A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the unit used to measure electricity usage. 
One (1) kWh is the electricity used by a 1,000-watt device in one hour.

Customer Charge

This flat fee covers the cost of administration, customer service, and general expenses that don’t vary according to how much electricity a customer uses.

Cap., Dist. and Trans.

These three separate items are charged on a per-kilowatt basis.

  • Capacity charges ensure the grid has enough power during peak demand. ISO-New England, the entity that operates the regional grid, sets these fees to pay generators for maintaining readiness. Your electricity usage during peak demand hours contributes to this fee.
  • Distribution charges cover infrastructure needed to deliver electricity from high-voltage transmission lines to your home or business, including wires, transformers, and substations.
  • Transmission charges cover the cost of transporting high-voltage electricity from power plants to our local substation via transmission lines.
Energy Charge

This item is also assessed per kilowatt-hour, and represents the cost of the electricity itself, as opposed to the infrastructure over which it is delivered.

PASNY (Power Authority of the State of New York)

HMLP buys electricity on long-term contracts from a variety of generators, and the terms of a contract with PASNY specify that a credit, which applies only to the first 400 kilowatt-hours of a customer’s usage, must appear on the bill. So, this item is not a charge, but a credit.

PCA (Power Cost Adjustment)

This charge adjusts your bill based on real power costs versus predicted prices. If power costs rise, you may see a small extra charge. If costs drop, the charge may shrink or disappear. 

PROMPT PAYMENT DISCOUNT (Electric Service Only)

Customers who pay by the 15th of the month receive a 10% discount on the Customer Charge and Cap., Dist. And Trans. charge on the bill, if all previous bills have been paid timely.

Water Charges

A hundred cubic feet (CCF) is the unit used to measure water usage.
One (1) CCF is equal to 748 gallons of water. 

Service Charge

This flat fee covers the fixed cost of daily operations, administration, customer service, and general expenses that don’t vary based on how much water a customer uses.

Consumption (less than or equal to 4 CCF)

A fee based on your rate qualification and water consumption, calculated per hundred cubic feet (CCF). The first 4 CCF of water usage is priced lower to make essential water usage more affordable.

Consumption (greater than 4 CCF)

A fee based on your rate qualification and water consumption, calculated per hundred cubic feet (CCF). Water usage beyond 4 CCF is priced higher to reflect the scarcity of water and discourage excessive use.

Treatment Facility Fixed Surcharge

A set fee added to your bill to cover the ongoing costs of operating and maintaining the water treatment facility, ensuring safe and clean water is delivered to your home.

Facility & Operations Charge

A fee to supplement the costs of maintaining and operating the water treatment facility, distribution system, fire hydrants, and pump stations. We have combined the former Water Treatment Operation and Maintenance and Mains Replacement Adjustment Mechanism (MRAM) surcharges into one charge.

Capital Debt Assessment

A fixed fee based on revenue class to fund a major capital improvement project which includes the construction of a new water storage tank on Strawberry Hill in Hull, a booster station in Hingham, and the rehabilitation of the existing Turkey Hill tank.

Hingham Owners & Landlords (Electric & Water)

Download PDF

Hover over the bill to see the descriptions.

Customer Name & Address

Customer name and mailing address.

History

A 12-month history of this account, showing electricity and water usage.

Electricity Usage is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
Water Usage is measured in hundreds of cubic feet (CCF).

Customer Message

A space for important messages and reminders.

Billing Date

The date the bill was issued.

Account Number

The number used to identify this account.

Meter Number

The number used to identify the meter.

Combined bills display an electric meter (9 digits) and a water meter (8 digits).

Service Address

The location where electric service is provided.

Present Read

Meter read for the current billing period.

Previous Read

Meter read from the previous billing period.

Days

The number of days covered by this bill.

Multiplier

What the consumption is multiplied by to obtain an accurate read.

Usage

The electric and water consumption during this billing period, obtained by subtracting the previous read from the present read.

Electricity Usage is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
Water Usage is measured in hundreds of cubic feet (CCF).

Read Dates

Time period for which you are being billed for consumption

Total Water Charges

Your total water charges are based on the total of all water-related line items (i.e., Service Charge, Consumption, Facility & Operations Charge, and Treatment Facility Fixed Surcharge).

Facility & Operations Charge

A fee to supplement the costs of maintaining and operating the water treatment facility, distribution system, fire hydrants, and pump stations. We have combined the former Water Treatment Operation and Maintenance and Mains Replacement Adjustment Mechanism (MRAM) surcharges into one charge.

Balance Forward

Total of previous balance remaining net of payments and adjustments.

Previous Balance

Prior balance from the last bill.

Consumption

Consumption fees are based on your rate qualification and water consumption, calculated per hundred cubic feet (CCF).

The first 4 CCF of water usage is priced lower to make essential water usage more affordable.

Water usage beyond 4 CCF is priced higher to reflect the scarcity of water and discourage excessive use.

Service Charge

This flat fee covers the fixed costs of daily operations, administration, customer service, and general expenses that don’t vary with how much water a customer uses.

Treatment Facility Fixed Surcharge

A set fee added to your bill to cover the ongoing costs of operating and maintaining the water treatment facility, ensuring safe and clean water is delivered to your home.

Total Electric Charges

Your total electric charges are based on the total of all electric-related line items (i.e., Customer Charge, Cap., Dist. and Trans., Energy Charge, PASNY, and PCA).

Customer Charge

This is a fixed charge for every rate payer to help with the distribution costs of providing electricity.

Capacity, Distribution & Transmission

This charge is based on the fixed portion of our power contracts which are capacity, distribution and transmission.

Capacity: Capacity charges are based on the highest amount of energy you are estimated to use or consume during a month (or year in some locations). Essentially, you pay a fee to ensure that the electricity you might use is there for you when you need to use it, whenever you need to use it.

Distribution: Charges for the use of local wires, transformers, substation, and other equipment used to deliver electricity to end-use consumers from the high voltage transmission lines.

Transmission: Charges for moving high voltage electricity from a generation facility to the distribution lines of an electric distribution company. Based on federally regulated charges.

PASNY

A credit will be applied to the KWH usage of all residential customers. PASNY is an abbreviation of Power Authority of the State of New York. Customers currently receive a .005 credit per KWH for Hydro Electricity.

Energy Charge

The Energy Charge is based on the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant’s average monthly cost of energy and may be increased or decreased and may be adjusted in accordance with the Standard Energy Charge.

Prompt Payment Discount

The prompt payment discount is 10% of the sum of the Customer Charge and Residential Electric if the account is current and paid in full by the discount date.

Total Current Charges

The amount due for this bill.

Total Amount Due if Payment Received After Due Date

The total amount due for this bill if payment received after the current prompt payment discount date.

Total Amount Due if Payment Received Before Due Date

The total amount due and the date it must be received to take advantage of the prompt payment discount.

Return Address

Return address, where your payment should be sent to.

Account Number

Number used to identify this account.

Power Cost Adjustment (PCA)

The Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) is a variable component of the rate that is used to account for unforeseen costs.

Billing Date

The date the bill was issued.

Amount Due

The total amount due for this bill if payment received after the current prompt payment discount date.

Amount Enclosed

The amount paid for this account.

Prompt Payment Discount Eligible Items

An asterisk (*) is present on items that qualify for HMLP's 10% early-pay discount. This discount is applicable to electric accounts only.

On electric bills, the discount is applied to the "Customer Charge" and "Cap., Dist. and Trans."

Customer Name & Address

Customer name and mailing address.

Hingham Owners & Landlords with Solar (Electric & Water)

Download PDF

Hover over the bill to see the descriptions.

Customer Name & Address

Customer name and mailing address.

History

A 12-month history of this account, showing electricity and water usage.

Electricity Usage is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
Water Usage is measured in hundreds of cubic feet (CCF).

Customer Message

A space for important messages and reminders.

Billing Date

The date the bill was issued.

Account Number

The number used to identify this account.

Service Address

The location where electric service is provided.

Meter Number

The number used to identify the meter.

Combined bills for solar customers display four meters total: a solar production meter (SOL), a delivered energy meter (DEL), a received energy meter (REC), and a water meter.

“SOL” – this meter measures the kWh you produce from your solar array
“REC” – this meter measures how much excess kWh was produced by your solar array (you did not use), which you sold back to HMLP
“DEL” – this measures the electricity delivered to you by HMLP

Previous Read

Meter read from the previous billing period.

Present Read

Meter read for the current billing period.

Read Dates

Time period for which you are being billed for consumption

Days

The number of days covered by this bill.

Multiplier

What the consumption is multiplied by to obtain an accurate read.

Usage

The usage value is obtained by subtracting the previous read from the present read.

SOL - Total solar energy produced and consumed on-site (kWh)
DEL - Total grid energy delivered and consumed on-site (kWh)
REC - Total solar energy unused, sent back to HMLP and credited (kWh)
Water Meter - Total water consumed on-site (CCF)

Electricity Usage is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
Water Usage is measured in hundreds of cubic feet (CCF).

Previous Balance

Prior balance from the last bill.

Balance Forward

Total of previous balance remaining net of payments and adjustments.

Total Water Charges

Your total water charges are based on the total of all water-related line items (i.e., Service Charge, Consumption, Facility & Operations Charge, and Treatment Facility Fixed Surcharge).

Facility & Operations Charge

A fee to supplement the costs of maintaining and operating the water treatment facility, distribution system, fire hydrants, and pump stations. We have combined the former Water Treatment Operation and Maintenance and Mains Replacement Adjustment Mechanism (MRAM) surcharges into one charge.

Consumption

Consumption fees are based on your rate qualification and water consumption, calculated per hundred cubic feet (CCF).

The first 4 CCF of water usage is priced lower to make essential water usage more affordable.

Water usage beyond 4 CCF is priced higher to reflect the scarcity of water and discourage excessive use.

Service Charge

This flat fee covers the fixed costs of daily operations, administration, customer service, and general expenses that don’t vary with how much water a customer uses.

Treatment Facility Fixed Surcharge

A set fee added to your bill to cover the ongoing costs of operating and maintaining the water treatment facility, ensuring safe and clean water is delivered to your home.

Total Electric Charges

Your total electric charges are based on the total of all electric-related line items (i.e., Customer Charge, Cap., Dist. and Trans., Energy Charge, Energy Credit, PASNY, and PCA).

Customer Charge

This is a fixed charge for every rate payer to help with the distribution costs of providing electricity.

Capacity, Distribution & Transmission

This charge is based on the fixed portion of our power contracts which are capacity, distribution and transmission.

Capacity: Capacity charges are based on the highest amount of energy you are estimated to use or consume during a month (or year in some locations). Essentially, you pay a fee to ensure that the electricity you might use is there for you when you need to use it, whenever you need to use it.

Distribution: Charges for the use of local wires, transformers, substation, and other equipment used to deliver electricity to end-use consumers from the high voltage transmission lines.

Transmission: Charges for moving high voltage electricity from a generation facility to the distribution lines of an electric distribution company. Based on federally regulated charges.

Energy Credit

The Energy Credit is based on the REC meter value. Customers are credited for solar energy that they produce and do not use. The energy is sent back to HMLP, and customers are credited based on HMLP's Net Metering Rate.

PASNY

A credit will be applied to the KWH usage of all residential customers. PASNY is an abbreviation of Power Authority of the State of New York. Customers currently receive a .005 credit per KWH for Hydro Electricity.

Energy Charge

The Energy Charge is based on the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant’s average monthly cost of energy and may be increased or decreased and may be adjusted in accordance with the Standard Energy Charge.

Power Cost Adjustment (PCA)

The Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) is a variable component of the rate that is used to account for unforeseen costs.

Prompt Payment Discount

The prompt payment discount is 10% of the sum of the Customer Charge and Residential Electric if the account is current and paid in full by the discount date.

Total Current Charges

The amount due for this bill.

Total Amount Due if Payment Received After Due Date

The total amount due for this bill if payment received after the current prompt payment discount date.

Total Amount Due if Payment Received Before Due Date

The total amount due and the date it must be received to take advantage of the prompt payment discount.

Return Address

Return address, where your payment should be sent to.

Account Number

Number used to identify this account.

Billing Date

The date the bill was issued.

Amount Due

The total amount due for this bill if payment received after the current prompt payment discount date.

Amount Enclosed

The amount paid for this account.

Prompt Payment Discount Eligible Items

An asterisk (*) is present on items that qualify for HMLP's 10% early-pay discount. This discount is applicable to electric accounts only.

On electric bills, the discount is applied to the "Customer Charge" and "Cap., Dist. and Trans."

Customer Name & Address

Customer name and mailing address.

Hingham Renters & Tenants (Electric Only)

Download PDF

Hover over the bill to see the descriptions.

Customer Name & Address

Customer name and mailing address.

History

A 12-month history of this account, showing electricity usage.

Electricity Usage is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Customer Message

A space for important messages and reminders.

Billing Date

The date the bill was issued.

Account Number

The number used to identify this account.

Meter Number

The number used to identify the meter.

Service Address

The location where electric service is provided.

Present Read

Meter read for the current billing period.

Previous Read

Meter read from the previous billing period.

Days

The number of days covered by this bill.

Multiplier

What the consumption is multiplied by to obtain an accurate read.

Usage

The electric consumption during this billing period, obtained by subtracting the previous read from the present read.

Electricity Usage is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

Read Dates

Time period for which you are being billed for consumption

Balance Forward

Total of previous balance remaining net of payments and adjustments.

Previous Balance

Prior balance from the last bill.

Total Electric Charges

Your total electric charges are based on the total of all electric-related line items (i.e., Customer Charge, Cap., Dist. and Trans., Energy Charge, PASNY, and PCA).

Customer Charge

This is a fixed charge for every rate payer to help with the distribution costs of providing electricity.

Capacity, Distribution & Transmission

This charge is based on the fixed portion of our power contracts which are capacity, distribution and transmission.

Capacity: Capacity charges are based on the highest amount of energy you are estimated to use or consume during a month (or year in some locations). Essentially, you pay a fee to ensure that the electricity you might use is there for you when you need to use it, whenever you need to use it.

Distribution: Charges for the use of local wires, transformers, substation, and other equipment used to deliver electricity to end-use consumers from the high voltage transmission lines.

Transmission: Charges for moving high voltage electricity from a generation facility to the distribution lines of an electric distribution company. Based on federally regulated charges.

PASNY

A credit will be applied to the KWH usage of all residential customers. PASNY is an abbreviation of Power Authority of the State of New York. Customers currently receive a .005 credit per KWH for Hydro Electricity.

Energy Charge

The Energy Charge is based on the Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant’s average monthly cost of energy and may be increased or decreased and may be adjusted in accordance with the Standard Energy Charge.

Prompt Payment Discount

The prompt payment discount is 10% of the sum of the Customer Charge and Residential Electric if the account is current and paid in full by the discount date.

Total Current Charges

The amount due for this bill.

Total Amount Due if Payment Received After Due Date

The total amount due for this bill if payment received after the current prompt payment discount date.

Total Amount Due if Payment Received Before Due Date

The total amount due and the date it must be received to take advantage of the prompt payment discount.

Return Address

Return address, where your payment should be sent to.

Account Number

Number used to identify this account.

Power Cost Adjustment (PCA)

The Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) is a variable component of the rate that is used to account for unforeseen costs.

Billing Date

The date the bill was issued.

Amount Due

The total amount due for this bill if payment received after the current prompt payment discount date.

Amount Enclosed

The amount paid for this account.

Prompt Payment Discount Eligible Items

An asterisk (*) is present on items that qualify for HMLP's 10% early-pay discount. This discount is applicable to electric accounts only.

On electric bills, the discount is applied to the "Customer Charge" and "Cap., Dist. and Trans."

Customer Name & Address

Customer name and mailing address.

Hull & North Cohasset Customers (Water Only)

Download PDF

Hover over the bill to see the descriptions.

Customer Name & Address

Customer name and mailing address.

History

A 12-month history of this account, showing water usage.

Water Usage is measured in hundreds of cubic feet (CCF).

Customer Message

A space for important messages and reminders.

Billing Date

The date the bill was issued.

Account Number

The number used to identify this account.

Meter Number

The number used to identify the meter.

Service Address

The location where electric service is provided.

Present Read

Meter read for the current billing period.

Previous Read

Meter read from the previous billing period.

Days

The number of days covered by this bill.

Multiplier

What the consumption is multiplied by to obtain an accurate read.

Usage

The water consumption during this billing period, obtained by subtracting the previous read from the present read.

Water Usage is measured in hundreds of cubic feet (CCF).

Read Dates

Time period for which you are being billed for consumption

Total Water Charges

Your total water charges are based on the total of all water-related line items (i.e., Service Charge, Consumption, Facility & Operations Charge, and Treatment Facility Fixed Surcharge).

Facility & Operations Charge

A fee to supplement the costs of maintaining and operating the water treatment facility, distribution system, fire hydrants, and pump stations. We have combined the former Water Treatment Operation and Maintenance and Mains Replacement Adjustment Mechanism (MRAM) surcharges into one charge.

Balance Forward

Total of previous balance remaining net of payments and adjustments.

Previous Balance

Prior balance from the last bill.

Consumption

Consumption fees are based on your rate qualification and water consumption, calculated per hundred cubic feet (CCF).

The first 4 CCF of water usage is priced lower to make essential water usage more affordable.

Water usage beyond 4 CCF is priced higher to reflect the scarcity of water and discourage excessive use.

Service Charge

This flat fee covers the fixed costs of daily operations, administration, customer service, and general expenses that don’t vary with how much water a customer uses.

Treatment Facility Fixed Surcharge

A set fee added to your bill to cover the ongoing costs of operating and maintaining the water treatment facility, ensuring safe and clean water is delivered to your home.

Total Current Charges

The amount due for this bill.

Total Amount Due if Payment Received After Due Date

The total amount due for this bill if payment is received after the current early bird date.

Total Amount Due if Payment Received Before Due Date

The total amount due and the requested payment date for early birds.

Return Address

Return address, where your payment should be sent to.

Account Number

Number used to identify this account.

Billing Date

The date the bill was issued.

Amount Due

The total amount due for this bill if payment received after the current prompt payment discount date.

Amount Enclosed

The amount paid for this account.

Prompt Payment Discount Eligible Items

An asterisk (*) is present on items that qualify for HMLP's 10% early-pay discount. This discount is applicable to electric accounts only.

On electric bills, the discount is applied to the "Customer Charge" and "Cap., Dist. and Trans."

Customer Name & Address

Customer name and mailing address.

Have questions or need assistance?

Email customerservice@hmlp.com for billing inquiries or call our office at 781-749-0134 (Electric) or 877-253-6665 (Water). 

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