Editorial Standards

Utility Check exists to give people honest, accurate information about their electricity bills. These standards govern how we research, write, fact-check, and correct everything we publish.

Our principles

Primary sources first

Every rate, statistic, and policy claim on Utility Check comes from a primary source — utility tariff filings, EIA Form 861/826 datasets, state Public Service Commission orders, or the utility's own customer documentation. We do not recycle numbers from other aggregators.

Plain language, no spin

We write to be understood, not to be impressive. If a claim requires jargon, we define the jargon. If a number depends on assumptions (usage profile, location, season), we state those assumptions inline.

Independence

Utility Check is not a marketplace. We do not sell leads to suppliers, we are not paid by utilities, and our rate analysis is never influenced by commercial relationships. We do participate in select affiliate programs (Amazon, energy hardware retailers) and clearly disclose this on every applicable post.

Updated when reality changes

Utility tariffs change. So do net metering programs, rebates, and TOU windows. When a primary source we cite is updated, we update the page that cites it — and note the update date.

Sourcing policy

Below is what we treat as authoritative for each category of claim on the site. If a page doesn't cite a source for a numeric claim, that's a bug — please report it via our corrections process.

Residential rates and bill calculations

  • Utility-published residential tariff sheets (Schedule R, Rate 1, etc.)
  • EIA Form 861 — annual utility-level revenue and customer counts
  • EIA Form 826 — monthly average revenue per kWh by state and sector

Reliability statistics (SAIDI/SAIFI)

  • EIA Form 861 — utility-reported reliability metrics
  • State PSC annual reliability filings

Net metering and rebate programs

  • DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency)
  • State PSC orders and program rules
  • Utility customer-facing program pages, with capture date noted

Hardware reviews and product recommendations

  • Hands-on testing where applicable
  • Manufacturer specs, verified against independent reviews
  • Real-world usage data from energy monitor and thermostat APIs

Fact-checking process

Every published piece goes through these steps before it goes live:

  1. 1

    Author drafts content with inline citations linking to primary sources.

  2. 2

    An editor (currently Matt Phelan) re-checks each numeric claim against the linked source.

  3. 3

    Any unsourced claim is removed, sourced, or rewritten as a clearly-labeled estimate.

  4. 4

    Final review confirms title, meta description, and on-page claims match the body and the sources.

  5. 5

    After publishing, we re-verify rate-dependent pages quarterly — sooner if a tariff change is announced.

Corrections policy

We make mistakes, and we publish corrections when we do. Here is how it works:

  • Spot an error? Email [email protected] with the URL and a brief description.
  • We respond within 3 business days and prioritize factual errors over typos.
  • Substantive corrections (numeric, factual, methodology) are noted at the bottom of the page with the date and a brief description of what changed.
  • Minor copy fixes (typos, broken links) are made silently.
Report a correction
[email protected]

Affiliate disclosure

Utility Check participates in affiliate programs including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases made through links on the site, at no additional cost to you.

Affiliate status does not influence which products we recommend. Our top picks are chosen based on payback math, real-world performance, and reader fit — not commission rates. Any post containing affiliate links is clearly labeled.

Utility Check is published by Highline Commerce LLC (67 34th Street, Unit 2, Brooklyn, NY 11232).

Meet the team

Our editors and researchers stand behind everything we publish.

Last reviewed April 25, 2026