All utilities impose a flat monthly basic charge, as approved by the State Corporation Commission, designed to recover certain fixed expenses associated with making utility service available to your location. The utility incurs these expenses regardless of how much energy you consume. These expenses may include customer account expenses such metering, billing, and payment processing as well as fixed costs associated with your individual service line such as depreciation, maintenance, and financing costs.
These utilities include electric, water, and sewage services and also include communication utilities such as cell phone, internet, satellite, and cable TV service providers.