Budgeted utility bill

**MaryCarney** · 05-27-2011, 10:05 PM

We moved into this home in March, 2010. When we changed the utilities over to our name, we were told that the previous owners' "Budget Plan" utility bill was set @ $280/month. They would not put us an a Budget Plan until we had lived in the house for 12 months, and they re-figure the budgets in June.

The utilities include - water, sewer, trash and electric (all-electric house). The previous owners were a married couple with an infant and a pre-schooler. We are a married couple with two teens.

So I just added up the utility bills for the past 12 months, divided by 12 - and it comes to only $215!!! I am shocked.

In our old (and I do mean OLD) house was 500 square feet larger, and had LP heat. The combined utilities which I'm figuring will now budget at $215, ran us $400+ at our old place.

Sweeeeeeet!!!
`

**craftypam** · 05-27-2011, 11:00 PM

I'm not sure how your utility co works, but ours divides by 11 for whatever reason. I had a large credit at the end of last year and a credit this month of $38 and they tried to raise my budget amount by $11. I called and had to talk to a supv, but he lowered it back to what it was this year.

Your bill is EXTREMELY cheap considering everything is electric. I have always heard electric is very expensive.

**MaryCarney** · 05-28-2011, 05:15 PM

Yeah, I was worried about all electric when we bought it. We did install a timer on our water heater when we moved in, but we keep the temp comfortably warm in winter and cool enough to sleep well in summer - so it's not like we deprive ourselves.

**nuisance26** · 05-28-2011, 08:03 PM

~Yay for savings!!~

**mh3rdwheel** · 05-28-2011, 08:40 PM

My husband and I have the flourescent bulbs in place of all bulbs.We have lots of windows, once it gets light we do not need any lights on except when we go into the bathroom ( no window) and no matter what I do the electric bill is $160 a month. My gas bill is cheaper than my electric.

I asked the Aep and they asked me if I heated by electric I said no and that my gas bill the whole winter long was $0 that changed the subject. My last gas bill a week ago was for $8.10.

If I go on a budget in West virginia they go by usage, it would cost me $125 a month, my bill should only be around $70. Any suggestions/

**craftypam** · 05-28-2011, 08:57 PM

If you say they go by useage, then why would your bill be so high if your useage is only $70? Can you call and discuss it with them? See above for what I did and I had to talk to a supv to get anything done.

**MaryCarney** · 05-28-2011, 09:16 PM

I don't understand how if you heat with gas your bill is 0 - $8? Am I missing something?

**craftypam** · 05-28-2011, 09:23 PM

I would like to know too!! With our gas co we have to pay a $10.50 customer charge.

**FrugalKate** · 05-28-2011, 09:31 PM

When we first moved in 6 years ago our budget was a frugal $80 a month. The utility company wanted to know if anyone lived at the address lol! 8 months later they insisted they come out and put a new meter in on a Brand New House - (they didn't believe me when I told them I am VERY frugal) A year later the budget was still $80 a month. Then in Jan 2010 our utility in our State was deregulated - our bill went up just about 100% to $156 a month. Now this past Jan it went up again to $240 a month....this is just insane. I don't know how much more I can cut down on as we don't use that much electricity just like we've never used that much.

**craftypam** · 05-28-2011, 09:41 PM

Are you using that or your electricty kwh has gone up that much? That is awful. How do these companies get away with this?

**FrugalKate** · 05-28-2011, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by craftypam

Are you using that or your electricty kwh has gone up that much? That is awful. How do these companies get away with this?

Our kwh has remained the same. Our State Deregulated the utility companies back in January 2010 (thank you Ed Rendell - that piece of work he was!!!!) and this is what they've been getting away with since!!!

**mh3rdwheel** · 05-30-2011, 06:29 PM

I tried and they changed the subject and then asked me if there was anything more they could do for me. They suggested I talk to my landlord.

**mh3rdwheel** · 05-30-2011, 06:36 PM

because they can. We live above a bar, when we had our electric turned off last year our refrig, washer and outside light still worked. I think that the bar downstairs is hooked up to some of our electric and vice versa.

I cannot really say anything to my landlord (boss) because I pay no rent. My husband is getting his SSD and we will be moving back to Ohio.

**mh3rdwheel** · 05-30-2011, 06:39 PM

How my bill went from $0 to $8 is because in October when we applied to foodstamps and a medicaid card they said we were eligible for HEAP assistance they just paid our gas bill all winter long, when we go our bill this month it was for $8.10 and our furnace has been off for weeks.

**dinah** · 05-31-2011, 12:25 PM

our budget plan is divided by 11 months...because the 12th month (August) is the catch up month whee if there's an overage you have to pay it out...maybe yours is like that?