Electric v electricity

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I've noticed that a great many people nowadays refer to electricity as "electric". For example, "how much do you pay for your electric" or "how much is your electric bill"?

Plenty of things are electric. We have electric cars, electric ovens, electric heaters and so on. But electric bills? No.

Sorry, I just had to get that off my chest.

Carry on as you were.

I agree with you on the first point. I suppose the second point is forgivable as no bill is understandable anyway.
I wonder if smart meters' bills are responsible for the confusion.

I think it's more likely to stem from a lack of understanding of the meaning of words. People are using the word "electric" (which means "powered by electricity") when what they actually mean is "electricity" (i.e. the energy itself).

I don’t think it’s anything to do with smart meters. I’m in my 60s and I’ve heard people saying this for at least the last 30 years.

I think it can be regional. Here oop north people talk about the electric.

I'm well aware of the difference in the words but I still say electric bill as it's shorter

It's not confusing at all and nothing to do with smart meters.
Electric cooker. Electric bike. Electric light.
Electricity bill.

Electric is an adjective in Electric cooker - it's the type of cooker

Electricity is a noun in Electricity Bill - its the commodity you are paying for.

Electric is common. "paid the electric". Etc