Heating bills bite!!!

**mombottoo** · 03-14-2008, 11:16 AM

I am just furious, our gas company seems to think that it's okay to estimate bills...and then they hit you with a big one when they finally bother to read your meter...just makes me so

!!!

Utility companies should not be allowed to estimate bills...our bill due this month is $319.62, our bill for last month was $164.92 and the month before that $159.97. Last year the bill due in March was $220.25...I am seriously considering installing another wood furnace. When we had our wood furnace in addition to our gas my bills were lower in the Winter than they were in the Summer...

**nuisance26** · 03-14-2008, 12:39 PM

~I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying the $300 was the estimate or the $165 ish ones were estimated? If it's the $300 one you should check your therms used as compared to last year. Since the price has gone up so much it might be they're estimating based on last year's therms used and not dollars spent.~

**mmy2grls** · 03-14-2008, 12:56 PM

I hate estimated bills just to find I owe a lot at one time. I'm trying to think of a cheaper heating solution for next year.

**M55FF** · 03-14-2008, 03:35 PM

In the far south where I am, I hardly ever use the heat....
they get us in air conditioning here. When its 100 out and the humidity is at 50% or more, its not compatible with life as in it zaps every bit of energy from you and some people with certain respitory problems can't even be in it... its dangerous... so they get us there, in air conditioning.
I've had my heat on about 3 days since november because it got frigid and down to about 30 degrees... brrrr.
peoples blood is thinner in the deep south and we freeze to death easy.

**mombottoo** · 03-14-2008, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by nuisance26

~I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying the $300 was the estimate or the $165 ish ones were estimated? If it's the $300 one you should check your therms used as compared to last year. Since the price has gone up so much it might be they're estimating based on last year's therms used and not dollars spent.~

The $300+ bill is an actual reading so they say, previous one was an estimate and the one before that was actual. I did check against last year and the bill due in March was $220. Over the 3 billing periods from last year when comparing them to this years we used a lot less gas, but paid a whole bunch more for it.

I just think that Winter time is a stupid time to be estimating peoples heating bills...leads to lots of shutoffs because the final estimated bill ends up being a doozy more often than not...

Rant over

**M55FF** · 03-14-2008, 03:58 PM

In the mid summer I can easily spend 500 a month being cool...
but I have learned to live in the south. planted shade trees to shade windows, planted bushes to keep houses exterior from getting too hot, solar screens where the trees don't cover... live downstairs mostly in extreme spells ( usually last a few weeks) of heat ( not upstairs as it gets too hot and costs too much to cool) .. do all the outside work like lawn mowing early in the day when the heat and ozone are down, after 11 am stay indoors when at all possible....
eat light to keep cool, dress in all cotton clothing and if you have to go in the sun for anything, cover up in a big loose shirt to keep from burning your skin, stay out of water when its really sunny if you burn easy, don't drink and be outdoors, you'll dehydrate fast...
stay in the shade when you can...

and most important, don't buy a house with lots of windows that face the setting sun or you'll die when you see your electric bill.

**momof42003** · 03-14-2008, 05:46 PM

We have an equal pay program here... In April, I can go down and ask them to do an average of the last 12 months and pay that every month.. So even though I may only "need" to pay 130.00 in the summer, I will more likely pay somewhere close to 200.00 during the summer, so that when I am needing to pay over 250.00 in the winter it is already in my account as a reserve from the summer months... At least this is what it sounds like. I will know here shortly when I go and sign us up for it in April. Then I hope it actually helps us more than hurts.

**kita** · 03-15-2008, 08:17 AM

Yes, I hate estimated bills. But tor the opposite reason. Here in NJ they seem to estimate to HIGH. I sent in a "customer read" meter amount and they don't believe me. (I have a small two bedroom apartment sandwiched between two very warm apartments) So I am stuck with this $200+ heating bill until they decide they can read the bill. I am going to request it when spring break comes and I can be home. (There is still a fifty/fifty chance they won't show) Then they will alter the bill, but NEXT year they will estimate my January and February bill based on THIS years estimated bill so it will be a fight again. So annoying.

**mombottoo** · 03-15-2008, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by kita

Yes, I hate estimated bills. But tor the opposite reason. Here in NJ they seem to estimate to HIGH. I sent in a "customer read" meter amount and they don't believe me. (I have a small two bedroom apartment sandwiched between two very warm apartments) So I am stuck with this $200+ heating bill until they decide they can read the bill. I am going to request it when spring break comes and I can be home. (There is still a fifty/fifty chance they won't show) Then they will alter the bill, but NEXT year they will estimate my January and February bill based on THIS years estimated bill so it will be a fight again. So annoying.

I really don't think utility companies should be allowed to estimate bills. For one thing they consistently estimate either too high or too low and that can cause problems for people. Secondly, when they do estimate and it's too high...they use our money for better than a month...think of all the interest they are gaining by having money that technically speaking isn't even theirs yet. Not too mention that when they estimate too low and you end up paying when they get around to reading the meter the costs of fuel could have fluctuated by then...and nowadays everything goes up, not down.

**cissylu** · 03-15-2008, 03:38 PM

I don`t like the estimated bill`s either there usuallyto and ocassionally .
they hit a low.

**kabin63** · 03-18-2008, 10:40 PM

I live in northern Indiana. I keep close tabs on the meter year round. If I even think they are going to estimate the bill I will get online and send in an actual read.
I used to be on the budget plan until last year, when they told me that based on last year's usage our bill would $185.00 a month, year round. I about freaked! So I told them I would take my chances. I also explained to them that our bill was higher last year because we were remodeling and the house wasn't tightened up until last winter. Also, when we had that really cold snap last February our furnace ran almost non stop. That was because we only had one heat duct running into the main part of the house on an older furnace. Not long after that snap my dh hooked up a new furnace and ran all the duct work. They still wouldn't budge, so I said no thanks.
As I said, I have been keeping closer tabs this year. As of tonight, we have used 359 therms LESS gas than we did for the same heating period a year ago. I am so glad I didn't stay on that budget plan.
Can you get online and submit a meter reading when they estimate your bill? It's pretty easy to read the meter.
Sorry they are doing this. I never liked it when they estimate a bill, but I know that ocassionally, because of weather, they have to around here.

**julieb** · 03-19-2008, 06:45 AM

I don't like estimates either, I call them monthly and request a reading. My house is old and the gas meter used to be in the basement but last summer they came and moved it to the outside of the house. I think they got sick of me calling...lol.