Meaning & use
energy surcharge
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
An extra amount added to a bill to cover the rising cost of energy or fuel.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'an energy surcharge' or 'energy surcharges'.
Patterns
- charge an energy surcharge
- pay an energy surcharge
- an energy surcharge on something
The airline added a $20 energy surcharge to every ticket last summer.
Our electricity bill now includes a monthly energy surcharge because of higher fuel prices.
Customers complained about the sudden energy surcharge on their hotel bill.
Word forms
| plural | energy surcharges |
|---|
Common combinations
- impose an energy surcharge
- The government imposed an energy surcharge on large factories.
- a fuel energy surcharge
- The delivery company introduced a fuel energy surcharge for long-distance orders.
- an energy surcharge on bills
- There is a small energy surcharge on all utility bills this winter.
- waive an energy surcharge
- The hotel agreed to waive the energy surcharge for guests staying more than three nights.
Synonyms and how they differ
- fuel surcharge
- Specifically covers fuel costs, while an energy surcharge can cover electricity, gas, or other power sources.
- extra charge
- A general term for any added cost; an energy surcharge is a specific type of extra charge.
Word family
Commonly confused: energy surcharge or service charge?
energy surcharge vs service charge
A service charge is for a service provided (like waiting staff), while an energy surcharge is specifically for energy costs.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'energy surcharge' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 correctly uses 'energy surcharge' as a countable noun meaning an extra charge for energy costs. Option 1 confuses it with a service charge for a person. Option 2 uses it as a food item. Option 3 uses it as a verb, which is not standard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “energy surcharge”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.