After experiencing a power outage, some members notice electrical usage appearing in the Usage Explorer in their online account or My Co-op mobile app during times when their power was out.
We understand how confusing this can be.
This does not mean you are being charged incorrectly.
Usage Explorer vs. Billing: What’s the difference?
Flathead Electric uses two separate systems. The Usage Explorer in a member’s online account or My Co-op mobile app is separate from the meter data we use for billing purposes. The Usage Explorer is designed to be a visual tool to help members track their general usage trends. It is not used to calculate your electric bill.
While the Usage Explorer typically displays accurate interval usage data, there are times – such as during a power outage or a communications interruption (network issue or Wifi drop) – when that system does not receive any meter reads and displays an estimate of your usage instead. This does not indicate actual usage – it’s just a visual estimate of your “typical usage” during that timeframe.
The Usage Explorer:
- Is a separate system from the meter data used for electric billing
- Is a visual tool designed to help members understand and track usage trends
- May display estimated data when meter reads are unavailable
- Is NOT used to generate electric bills
- Does not update to show billed meter reads after an outage
The billing system:
- Uses actual electric meter readings to determine your electric bill
- Calculates your bill based only on the electricity actually delivered and used at your electric meter
Why Communication Interruptions Affect Usage Explorer (But Not Billing)
Like power outages, short communication interruptions—such as brief network or Wi-Fi drops—can affect the system that powers the Usage Explorer.
While neither power outages nor communication interruptions affects our ability to receive accurate meter data for billing, they can interrupt the data used to display usage in the visual Usage Explorer. When this happens, Usage Explorer may not receive complete interval data to display. In the absence of this data, the Usage Explorer may show estimated usage for display purposes only
This is a known system limitation (not unique to our utility) and a deliberate decision to continue offering Usage Explorer because it provides a helpful way for members to understand general energy use patterns—even though it isn’t perfect.
Why Usage Explorer Shows Estimated Usage Instead of Zero
When Usage Explorer does not receive complete data, there are two options:
- Show zero usage, or
- Display a system-generated estimate
We chose to display a best estimate.
Communication interruptions happen far more frequently than power outages. When the system showed zero usage during these short interruptions, members saw frequent gaps or short periods of zero use—even when electricity was actually being used. This made usage trends harder to understand and caused more confusion.
Displaying an estimated figure helps:
- Keep the visual display more consistent
- Reduce misleading gaps
- Provide a clearer picture of average energy use over time
This approach aligns with the purpose of Usage Explorer as a trend-tracking tool, not a billing record.
What you may see in Usage Explorer
In the example below:
- Blue bars show a member’s interval (hourly) usage displayed in Usage Explorer for 12/15/2025 through 12/19/2025
- The highlighted area represents the time this meter was experiencing a power outage
- Estimated usage is appearing here even though the power was out
- This is expected behavior and does not affect billing
How to confirm your bill is accurate
Once your bill is issued, you can confirm the accuracy of your billed usage by reviewing:
- The starting meter reading
- The ending meter reading
The difference between these readings equals your billed usage.
Because the meter has no power during an outage:
- The meter reading cannot change
- No usage can be recorded during that time
We’re here to help
Large outages create a lot of questions, and we appreciate your patience as crews continue to repair system damage and staff follow up with our members.
If you have additional questions, or if you’d like help reviewing your bill once it is issued, please contact us.
