Have you ever been surprised at the amount your electric bill in a month? To help reduce the element of surprise, South River EMC is providing a tool to help you stay atop your energy use, the mid-cycle alert.

Based on weather forecasts/modeling and energy-use patterns, you will receive this alert at the midpoint of your billing cycle. It shows your projected electric cost at current, and where you can expect your bill to be at the end of the billing cycle. It also provides a few tips that might help you curb those costs a little.

You will only receive this alert if South River EMC has your email address on file.

Another benefit of the mid-cycle alert is if you have a SmartEnergy Profile set up. With the SmartEnergy Profile set to your home specifications, you can get an even more detailed cost projection, and the efficiency tips will truly apply to your home.

The SmartEnergy Profile asks for information on your home and your energy use, such as how many hours a day you watch that 50-inch television. The more information about your home, the more helpful the program can be to you.

You can also keep up with your energy use with SmartView. This program is available to any member with internet access, you just need to login to your online account, or sign-up for an online account to get started. You can see your energy use daily, but not how it is used, that part is up to you.