I just received my electric bill for the month!

**Mom23boys** · 08-02-2006, 02:45 PM

OMG!! I think I want to run and hide! I can't believe it went up AGAIN! Last month it was $319.XX. I thought for sure it would go down because we started cutting some corners...WRONG! This month's bill is........are you sitting down? Don't faint, but it was $393.77!!!! YIKES!!! I am about ready to check into other electric companies.

Our whole house is electric, there is no gas. I guess it has to be because of the extreme temperatures and the a/c useage. BUT I keep it on 79º so it doesn't run constantly. I unplugged plugs that weren't being used, turned off all tv's, lights, etc when they aren't being used. I don't know what else it could be. AND why is it still going up????

I usually only budget $300 for electricity during the hotter months. I guess I should start budgeting $400 and cut costs somewhere else.

Texas friends, do you have TXU? That is what I have. I wonder if switching would be better?

**Dixie** · 08-02-2006, 02:58 PM

That's outrageous. Could it be a mistake?
We don't have a choice here in rural GA, where I live. We have to belong to the Electric Membership Corp., which has the highest rates in the state. Mine was 'only' $227 for July.

**Katybird** · 08-02-2006, 03:02 PM

I have had TXU in the past when I lived in a larger town. When we moved to the small town we live in now it was not an option so we had to change to Texas New Mexico Power and then they were bought out by First Choice. I think First Choice is cheaper. I have an almost 1800 sq feet home with a large cental air unit and we are total electric and my bill was $100 cheaper than most of my co-workers bills and they all have TXU because they live in town. Most of their homes are comparable to the size of mine and their bills were all $400 to $500. Mine was $297 this month and $247 last month. We have been cool all month inside even though the temps outside have been 105º and above.

I think it would probably be a good idea to check into other companies and compare their price per kilowatt hour. I hope you find something cheaper and better soon.

**Mom23boys** · 08-02-2006, 03:35 PM

According to the bill from last month and comparing it to this month's bill, the kilowatt useage is correct. I did use that much, but I know that TXU was raising the rates to 24% or something like that. I guess they finally went into effect. I just can't imagine paying this price on a continuous basis.

I do plan to check into other service providers in the area. I have a friend who doesn't have TXU that doesn't live to far from me, with a much larger home than ours, and her bill wasn't that high. HMM?? Think I will call her provider to find out their price per kilowatt useage.

**starsapphire** · 08-02-2006, 03:36 PM

I should be getting my power bill within a week, and I'm not looking forward to it.

**kabin63** · 08-02-2006, 04:17 PM

Yikes! I am having the heart attack for you! Is it possible they estimated it?

**Michelle68** · 08-02-2006, 04:19 PM

Michelle, my mom lives in Midland and they have TXU. Her bill was around $350 this month. And that's for only 2 people! I couldn't believe it when she told me. We have CPS and our last bill was only $225 and I don't think we're that much cooler than y'all are here in San Antonio. It must be the provider. I think ours may be city owned, perhaps that's why we're lower.

--Michelle

**Backtoreality** · 08-02-2006, 06:02 PM

OMG!!!!
We don't have a choice here, it's the same company for electric and gas. Comes in one bill. We got in on a bugdet program many years ago. Last year's budget was $218.00 for both. (ended in June) This year it's under $199.00!!!!

I would truely not have the $$ for that kind of bill!!

**autumnlynn** · 08-02-2006, 07:00 PM

Gosh, that seems really high. I just got my electric bill and it was $103.69. I got a notice that rates go up August 1st.

**MOMMYDEAREST** · 08-02-2006, 10:06 PM

we have indiana michigan power & my electric bill was $150.00.......not too bad compared to some of your bills!!!

**Goodwin17** · 08-02-2006, 10:45 PM

Does your electric company have a budget option where they average your usage, and keep your bill at about the same price each month? I'm thinking about doing this myself. I don't have a choice here (all we have is Gulf Power), but if I did, I would definitely look into all my options. I'm hoping my bill goes down this month. Ours last month was $254 and I just about got sick. I noticed our air conditioning unit was running too much. We rent and we have a bush that hides the unit. We can't get rid of the bush, but my husband cut it way back, and it actually seemed to help it not run as much. Not sure why. Good luck with getting your bill lower!

**Mom23boys** · 08-02-2006, 11:03 PM

We do have the option to do average billing. I was always afraid to do so, but it sure might be worth it if our bills continue to go up.

I have been looking for more ways around our home to cut out useage. I hope when we start back to school, it will drop.

**many houseapes** · 08-03-2006, 10:13 AM

we also have TXU and our bill was 311.60 for 11 (now 12 people). we keep the ac at 87 degrees. I had to run the dryer a few times b/c of rain...but it still was a big shock...month before, it was 174.00. I pray for "winter".

**dolphin** · 08-03-2006, 01:11 PM

Mine was $324.00 last month. I'm sure my new bill will be even more. We don't have any other choice for electricity as our's is a one electric company town. These 90 and 80 degree lows are killing us financially. The AC pretty much runs all the time no matter what the setting is.

**Mom23boys** · 08-03-2006, 01:43 PM

I chenged our thermostat to 81º instead of 79º. I don't know if the few degrees will make a difference, but I am going to try.

I may start a daily log of kilowatt useage, so maybe I can pinpoint the source of the most electrical useage.