The basics of UPC — The Universal Product Code, also simply UPC, that you see on most products today is the basic method for manufacturers to apply a standard price system. As you have noticed, the codes are similar in looks but they tell a different story. One of the first things to see when you look closely is the UPC code is made up of white and black lines.

There are actually 12 digits to each code and each line represents a number. A white line is always a zero. The black lines are numbered by the thickness of the black line, one being the thinest line and so on. Reading these barcodes can be quite a strain on your eyes, no fooling, so take care in doing so.

If you look at the first set of lines you will see that the first and last set of lines comprise two thin black lines and a white line. The black line represents 1 and the white line represents 0. Every barcode starts and ends with 101. These lines are longer than the ones in the middle. The middle bars alternate between black and white lines.

The first five-digit number you read at the bottom of a UPC code describes the information about the purchase of the item and the manufacturer information, like number 3 means "coupon." The last five-digit set of numbers describes the particular item in detail, like the product size, version, etc. The most common prefix numbers — 0, 1, 6, 7 and 8 — are mostly used for everyday goods, 2 is used for things that vary in weight, like food, and 3 means it is a medicine. Most smartphones can scan these barcodes while you shop.

The International Article Number, or EAN, is a bar code system used in Europe and is controlled from Brussels, Belgium. I will not go into that as it is obviously not used in the U.S. The UPC coding system is controlled by the Uniform Code Council in New Jersey.

For more information, Google search "how to read UPC codes."

An electric bill "hot tip" — It's time to check and make sure your electric rates are current. I use Electricity Maine L.L.C. for the supply portion of my light bill. I just received my February to March bill and noticed that they are charging .07070 for their portion, just for the electricity. Since the supply portion has been deregulated it appears everyone and their brother is selling electricity.

The process is simple: The producer of electricity sells the power wholesale to oil companies and other companies such as Electricity Maine, and then these companies simply get you to sign up to buy from them, they get billed at the wholesale rate and you get billed at their rate and they keep the difference. Easy enough.

But, when I called Electricity of Maine to inquire why my rate was higher than what I signed up for the clerk told me that my rate just coincidentally went down to .068230 from .07070 for the March to April billing. There is a process by which they compute and apply their price that may, at best, raise the hair even on the Easter Bunny. That amounts to $2.26 per month in question, or if my usage is the same next month I will save. I figure that if they have 30,000 customers, that amounts to a savings of $74,580 per month for their customers.

Interesting point. This means that for each kwh of usage, we pay about 13.5 cents for the combined CMP delivery portion and the other companies for the supply portion. The portions for each are strikingly close to the same cost. CMP charges .065831 to deliver each kwh, with exceptions noted on the bill for the first 100 kwh, and the other companies charge, in my case from March to April the rate of .06823 for a total of 13.5 cents per kwh.

Shop for various rates by calling competing companies, or searching other companies online that provide the electric supply for Maine.

Thanks for reading and next time we will start on the Maine Consumer Credit law.

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Who is Dale Hayward?

Dale Hayward was born and raised in Belfast and Northport, and lives in Rockland.

He graduated from Harford Institute of Accounting in Connecticut and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1970. He was a state auditor in Delaware and Maine, where he also owned and operated private accounting practices. From 1978 to 1992 he owned and operated Seaport Office Supply. For the next eight years he drove a tour bus 600,000 miles across the United States and Canada.

Dale holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration, with a major in management and a minor in finance, from the University of Maine. He retired in 2007. He previously presented a consumer talk show on WRFR.

On why he continues to share consumer information, Dale said, "Consumer information is critical for people to survive in this economy and I would like to share my extension knowledge after having researched issues for many years. The format is to provide tips, advice and facts for people to check out further. This is not legal advice and does not carry any promises."