How am I supposed to save on electricty when it keeps going up? Arghhh!!!

**heartofmine** · 10-17-2008, 08:55 PM

Got my bill yesterday. Besides my electric use there is a $11.60 customer fee AND a $24.71 gas fee. So therefore if I don't use any electricity at all for the month I still have to pay $36.31. The gas fee is for them coming out and reading my meter. My neighbor who lives just straight across the road has to pay $28.41 for a gas fee. They are making a killing off of us for gas alone. My electric usage was actually down but my bill was higher because they have more than doubled on the gas fee. I called and the girl said everyone's gas fee part would be going up $15.00 to $20.00 a month. Its ridiculous!!!

**HisDaisy** · 10-17-2008, 09:14 PM

Can you read your own meter and submit it to the gas company? I know in some areas that is allowed.
I agree that is to much to pay just to have gas. I think that my gas bill is that much including fees and usage.

**freebs** · 10-17-2008, 09:16 PM

Ya know i understand needing to charge a SMALL customer charge to pay for the gas in the trucks that drive around and read the meters, BUT to charge EVERYONE enough money to pay for a half a tank of gas in a truck thats a ton of money!

**indigo53** · 10-17-2008, 10:12 PM

Are you SERIOUS? We don't have a gas fee. do you live in the North Pole?

**Starlight9803** · 10-17-2008, 10:22 PM

no gas fees here (thank goodness), but I feel your pain. Last bill I used 500kw less, but paid $20 more because of another price hike.

**Gibs** · 10-17-2008, 10:35 PM

We dont have a gas fee here either, thank goodness, but the fees are nuts.

**nvmommyx6** · 10-17-2008, 10:37 PM

There is no gas fee's here.....YET....but I am sure once they find out about crap like that they'll probably jump right on board and try that crap here too!
It is post's like this that makes me proud to be stickin it to the utility companies right now! They are losing so much off of me right now I am sure I am pissing them off!
You should make some calls and see if thats even legal for them to do to you like that....I know I sure would!

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 10-17-2008, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by indigo53

Are you SERIOUS? We don't have a gas fee. do you live in the North Pole?

Well, gas is high in that area...but I don't believe there are any gouging fees like that. (It's about a 6 hour drive from me...pretty area).

We have fees like that here, but not THAT bad. That seems awfully ridiculous. Can you contact someone in the government there??? I'd be yelling from the rooftops at those prices!!!

Gas and electric have gone up here twice, just in the last year... They're raising them again in January.

**heartofmine** · 10-18-2008, 12:36 AM

I live in Tennessee in a small town but we are not that rural. They won't let us read our own meters. I did call them and they said everyone's was going up like that. The hike started the first day of October and I just got my bill. I plan on doing some asking around to see if there is anything that can be done. I called the company but of course the girl I talked to was no help. She's in the same boat as the rest of us living here. My parents live in KY and their electric bills are so much less than here. My parents is usually around $35.00 except in summer when the run the ac and its around $60.00. There has to be something that can be done.

**jdr250** · 10-18-2008, 10:09 AM

I suggest you put in a call to the public utility commission. There are laws which prohibit price gauging. When you call maybe you could even have the exact milage from your house to the electric company or outpost and give them that information. Then break it down to them for instance if your closest electric out post is 90 miles away and the truck is really fuel ineffecient and gas is $5.00/gallon then your gas fee should only be $15.00 then you could go even further because just say your small town is 100 square miles and there are 100 people in your town then the additional $20.00 to drive around the town should be included making the fee $35.00 then splitting that between all the people in the town everyone should have like a $3-4 fee. If you can break it down like the for the PUC, even if there isn't a law against the fee maybe they can look into it and even create one protecting you and everyone else from essentially all out theft. What a crock unless they're reading your meter everyday which I know they aren't.

**shoiji** · 10-18-2008, 07:54 PM

I feel your pain. The utility company won't let me stay on the payment plan I currently have. Mind you I am moving in the same complex to the EXACT same apartment. Apparently I have to go 6 months and then apply for a payment plan. I just think they want to get their money sooner than later. You know year end totals and all. They have to make their money.

So since the stove and oven are electric I will continue to use the microwave to cook with. Take that utility company. I laugh in your face. LOL

But seriously hang in there. Try doing a search on this site on how to reduce you electric usage. I have used many ideas and actually have seen the bill come down even though the prices are going up.

Oh yea, I am taking all the CFL's with me when I move. They are way to expensive to leave here.

**DonnainME** · 10-19-2008, 10:13 AM

WOW. We luckily don't have a "gas fee". I agree charging you so much is ridiculous. That much is enough to FILL my car completely. Good luck in talking to them.