Manage Your Bill

No one enjoys a high utility bill. But by planning ahead, Wilson Energy customers have tools to keep their costs as low as possible.

Reduce your costs

The easiest way to keep your utility bill manageable is to manage your use of electricity and natural gas. Because rates typically are constant from month to month, the rise and fall of bills correspond directly with consumption.

More than 50 percent of annual energy costs come from your home's heating and cooling systems.

Learn more about ways to cut costs here.

Learn how to read your utility bill here.

Even out bill payments through the year

Budget Billing allows a customer to smooth out the peaks and valleys of the energy bill.

Under a budget billing plan, customers’ bills (based on prior payment and consumption experience) are averaged out over the course of the year so that the customer pays the same amount every month. This system of equal and predictable monthly payments makes it easier for customers to plan their household budgets.

The program is free. To find out more, write to jstancil@wilsonnc.org or call 252.399.2170.

Save $68 a year through 'Beat the Peak' program

Residential customers can save $4 on their bill every month by allowing us to remotely cycle off their water heater during the peak load of each month. The switch is free; the installation is free. You can also be credited $5/month (during summer months) for allowing us to put a similar switch on your air conditioning unit. Typically, you'll never even notice that the appliances have been turned off for the short time. The credit appears on your monthly bill.

Together, customers can save $68 a year without any loss of comfort.

To request installation of one or both switches, call (252) 399.2415 or complete this online form.  A Wilson Energy representative will contact you to set up a day and time for the installation.

Weatherization assistance

The N.C. Weatherization Assistance Program helps low‐income North Carolinians save energy and reduce utility bills. The program is administered through the North Carolina Energy Office in the N.C. Department of Commerce. Program funding includes $9.7 million annual funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and nearly $132 million from the federal Recovery Act

Martin County Community Action Inc. is the non-profit agency tasked with doing this work in Wilson County, as well as Nash, Edgecombe and many other nearby counties. It has an office at Jackson Chapel First Missionary Baptist Church, 571 E. Nash St.

Through its Weatherization Program, trained technicians evaluate the needs of each home by conducting and energy audit. They suggest the energy efficiency methods that are the most appropriate and cost-effective for each home, making it warm in the winter, cool in the summer and safe all year long.

Typical services include:

  • Performing tune-ups and repairs to heating and cooling systems.
  • Improving health and safety conditions
  • Sealing major air leaks
  • Installing insulation in attics, walls, and floors
  • Installing smart thermostats
  • Replacing existing lighting with energy efficient bulbs

Once the energy audit is complete, a technician will explain how the work will be done. Clients are also informed of ways to conserve energy.

On average, MCCAI is able to improve energy efficiency enough to reduce an average-sized home's annual energy costs by $300 per home.

Federal and state grants make this service available to households making up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, for example, $44,100 for a family of four. The City of Wilson recently received a grant that will allow MCCAI to serve households up to 250 percent of the poverty level, or $55,125 for a family of four.

Call MCCAI at 252.206.0735 to find out more.