THG Energy's The Energy Assist

What Your Utility Bill Isn't Telling You

Written by Katie B | Apr 24, 2025 4:28:14 PM

 

Your utility bill shows you how much energy you used and how much it cost. Helpful? Sure. But complete? Not even close.

It’s like getting the score without watching the game—you know the outcome, but you’re missing all the context that explains how you got there. And if you're responsible for managing energy across a facility or portfolio, that missing context could be costing you more than you realize.

What's Left Out?

A basic utility bill doesn’t show when usage peaks, what systems are driving it, or where unexpected waste is creeping in. It’s a summary, not a diagnostic.

Enter Interval Data Reporting (IDR). Rather than just a single total at the end of the month, IDR provides usage data in short intervals—typically every 15 minutes. That granularity turns vague bills into actionable insights.

With IDR, you can:

  • See when your usage is spiking (and adjust operations accordingly)

  • Identify unnecessary consumption that’s otherwise hidden

  • Take steps to reduce demand charges and operational inefficiencies

Why It Matters

If you’re trying to manage energy without IDR, you’re working with only part of the picture. And making decisions based on incomplete information rarely works out in your favor—especially when utility rates, peak demand charges, and regulatory expectations are in the mix.

Think of IDR as the difference between looking at your monthly credit card bill vs. actually reviewing the individual transactions. One tells you the total. The other helps you figure out what you might want to do differently next time.

Taking Control

More visibility means better decision-making. Whether your goal is cutting costs, reporting progress, or just avoiding surprises, granular data is a critical tool for doing it with confidence.

Curious what your utility bill might be leaving out?
We’d be happy to show you how to uncover the story behind the number.