Utility Bill Line-Item Decoder & Hidden Fee Detector (CSR/CFL/MHC/HFA Riders, Peak Demand, kWh↔Btu↔therm↔ton-hours)

EIA standard factors: 1 kWh = 3,412 Btu; 1 therm = 100,000 Btu = 29.31 kWh; natural gas ≈ 1,037 Btu per cubic foot, so 1 Ccf ≈ 1.037 therms ≈ 30.4 kWh; 1 ton-hour of cooling = 12,000 Btu = 3.52 kWh; 1 Ccf of water = 748 gallons. Demand charges bill the single highest 15/30/60-minute averaged interval of the month in $/kW — typically 30–50% of a demand-plan bill; load factor = kWh ÷ (peak kW × hours in period), and a value below 0.3 means you are paying for idle capacity. Ratchet clauses lock billed demand at a percentage of the trailing 12-month peak, so one summer spike can set your bills for a year. Abbreviated rider codes (CSR, CFL, MHC, HFA, RGP…) are marked “commonly reported” because their exact expansion varies by utility — always confirm against your local tariff sheet.