Got the gas bill

**kabin63** · 05-22-2007, 10:27 PM

and I almost had a stroke! We are on the budget plan and they want to raise the payment from $117 to $190 a month! All because we used more gas than usual last winter due to the fact that we weren't buttoned up all winter because of the remodel. Also because of the really cold spell. I called them and said "No" to that amount. The least they would lower it to is $165 a month. Now I intend to settle up the bill, but this is rediculous. We have a newer, more efficient furnace (just installed at the end of that really cold spell) and a lot more insulation in the house. I am beginning to wonder if we will be able to afford to heat this place next winter.

**Katybird** · 05-25-2007, 09:01 PM

That is awful. I hope that you with your new more energy efficient furnace and the extra insulation that your bills this winter are all lots less. Could you cancel your budget billing and just go to actual bills until you see how your bills are going to run with your improvements? I hope that you get it all worked out and that it works out ok for you.

**kabin63** · 05-27-2007, 11:21 AM

Thanks Kathy,
Someone else I talked to suggested that very idea yesterday. I think I may look into it. I just can't see spending that much for the gas bill, especially since I know the house now holds heat and cool much better than before.

**Little Birdie** · 05-27-2007, 03:44 PM

That cold snap might have created a deficit. If so, your best bet is probably to stay on budget billing until it's paid off. Then either ask them to reevaluate the amount or decide to go to regular billing.

We had one month that had a day in it where we accidently left the oven on for 24 hours!

That hurt! Messed up the budget billing, but would have been way worse if we hadn't been on it!

**nodmicks** · 05-27-2007, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by Katybird

That is awful. I hope that you with your new more energy efficient furnace and the extra insulation that your bills this winter are all lots less. Could you cancel your budget billing and just go to actual bills until you see how your bills are going to run with your improvements? I hope that you get it all worked out and that it works out ok for you.

I think this is a good idea! Maybe to be safe plan on $165 to 170 in your personal budget plan. If you have left over $ it's all good!

**kabin63** · 06-13-2007, 03:33 PM

Well I did it. I paid off the gas bill and took us off the budget billing for a while. I want to see how things go before I go back on it.

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 06-26-2007, 01:22 PM

Sounds like a good decision! Let us know how it goes!

**PB&J** · 06-26-2007, 01:33 PM

I was doing the budget billing too and didn't like it. At first our monthly payment was 47. Okay, that is fine. Then it went to 68 and then 90! I thought the whole point was it would be the same. They still had us at 90 this month even though my bill was only 32. I called them and told them I didn't want to do budget billing anymore, they said okay and the amount I had to pay to 'settle up' was only $17. ?? I don't understand why it was so high.

**FreesiaE** · 06-26-2007, 01:40 PM

We are not on budget b/c you never know (at least around here) what each fall/winter will bring. It does stink to have a big bill in January, but it's nice in June when it's the minimum.

**Jilse** · 07-04-2007, 01:15 PM

I'm glad I read this post. I keep seeing what they say we'd pay if we were on budget billing and the number looks nice as we head into a string of over 100 degree days, but after reading this I can see that just because the amount you owe starts out low doesn't mean they wont raise it suddenly to some extreme amount. I think I'll stick to just the normal billing and enjoy my lows when winter comes.

**kabin63** · 07-23-2007, 03:16 PM

Well, this is my 2nd month off the budget plan. So far, the last three months my gas bills have been no more than $32 for the last 3 months. The nice thing about our bills is that they have a graph to show you what you used the year before. We are many therms lower than a year ago. It's all water heater and stove use. I am happy with the bills right now. I am still over paying them so that I have a credit in the winter too.