Tucson resident Rosalia Pierre has always been budget conscious. TEP’s Budget Billing program has helped her stay on track through different phases of her life: As a young single mom, as a retired great grandmother, and as the caretaker to a disabled, adult son.
Budget Billing allows customers to pay the same amount on their monthly electric bills, based on their estimated year-round usage. Customers know ahead of time exactly how much they will pay, preventing any surprises that may come with heat or extreme weather.
Pierre first signed up for the program decades ago, when she was raising three children on her own after their father passed away. The steady payments made it easier to meet other expenses, such as rental payments on their mobile home plot, while she attended nursing school.
“We lived decent, but I did everything I could to minimize my expenses,” Pierre said.
Now that her children are grown, Pierre is back on a fixed income as a retired nurse. She shares a midtown house with her husband and two dogs, and she’s back on Budget Billing.
“It’s even more important now that I don’t work. It helps me to plan my expenses. I pay online. It’s just easy,” Pierre said.
In addition to covering her own expenses, Pierre manages the bills of her adult son, who is disabled. He’s also on Budget Billing, which makes his billing more predictable.
Pierre said she likes the consistency. She still takes note of the temperature and energy usage, since she knows Budget Billing payments can be adjusted to account for changes in energy use.
Budget Billing is not a discount program, and customers are responsible for paying for all the energy they use. Pierre keeps track so she stays within the same range.
“It makes you more conscious of the thermostat. It challenges me to maintain that budget,” Pierre said. “It really is a big help with budgeting.”
