Consumers Energy Gas Bill

[Disneyjamie]

So we received our November-December gas bill, and it is quite high ($230 for a 41 day billing period). Besides having to pay some penalty fees, what would happen if we only paid $100 each month until the balance was ultimately paid in the summer when bills are less than $40? I guess I am asking, would Consumers Energy turn off the gas if we didn't pay in full each month? This would be like creating our own payment plan this way...

Also, would this impact our credit by not paying in full? Do they report to the credit agencies?

 

[dawson5]

don't they offer a budget plan? You might be able to get on it and at average prices if you've been there for over a year. Otherwise they will guestimate and you might have higher or lower bills.


As for your original question, I don't know. Call them. They have to see this quite often at this time of year and you might be surprised on how they will work with you.

 

[msmayor]

There are usually laws in each state...especially cold-weather states...that limit the time period when power can be cut to a customer with an overdue balance. Here in NJ, I believe that between the dates of November 15 and March 15 utilities are not permitted to turn power off. But come March 16, if you have an old balance, they can flip the switch off in a heartbeat.

I second the PP idea of calling the utility. Get yourself on a budget plan; nearly every utility has one and it will give you a steady payment amount every month. It may end up being more than $100 though, since they take your total bills for the previous year and come up with an average. The great thing though is you know exactly what your energy cost will be every month, and it won't change until its time to re-evaluate your bill...done once a year.

They can report delinquencies to credit agencies too. It can also affect you in the future if you move to a new place; any utility can look at your payment history and see that you've been behind, and require a larger deposit amount (which they will hold, just like a security deposit) before providing service.

 

[jbmom]

They do offer a budget plan. We pay $152 per month for gas and electric. In June they send us a bill that is just a normal bill, but because we have made our home as energy efficient as possible we always have a credit. I would call Consumers and see if you can set up a budget plan. I love knowing what I will be paying each month.

I don't know if they will shut your gas off if you only pay part of the bill. But, why not call and try to set something up now if its possible.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Agreeing with all the other responses. Respectfully, why ask here on the chance that some other DISer both uses the same gas provider and would be aware what would happen if you initiate your own version of a payment plan? The probably hour and a half between when you asked and when the gas company opens really wouldn't make a difference in bill payment options.

 

[minnie1928]

On a slightly related note, if you are in a state that allows you to choose your gas provider then you should compare prices. I live in NJ where the provider is PSE&G for gas. I've recently switched to a different provider where the cost of the gas is about 28% cheaper than PSE&G. It cost me nothing to switch, it won't interrupt my service...nothing changes except that my bill will go down. The change takes effect on my current bill, but if it would've been in effect for my last bill it would have been about $30 cheaper (and that was for a lower use month-gas wise). I'm really curious to see how this month's bill works out since it's been so cold.

 

[kwhite1022]

Consumers will allow you to set up a payment plan, it is on their website, very easy to do and they allow you to pick biweekly, weekly or monthly to pay the installments. I used it last year when in Feb I had a $400 bill saved my butt.

 

[puffkin]

I would definitely look into the budget plan. Our first winter in our house was pretty mild. The second winter, I got hit with a $380 gas bill in February. I called and went on the budget plan immediately and only paid $100 a month I believe the remainder of the year. Our true up month is May, and when we trued up I owed a little bit more, I think it was $150, but a lot easier to swallow than the $380!

We have been on the budget plan for 4 years now and pay about $60 a month. I miss the $15 bills in the summer, but I like know exactly what my gas bill is every month. We usually come out a little ahead in May, last year we didn't owe anythign that month, the year before $20 to true up. I highly recommend looking into a budget plan!

 

[sharbear]

Like the previous poster said, you can set up a budge plan. Consumers has a policy that they will not turn off your heat in the winter. After the older gentleman died of exposure in Bay City last winter, I'm sure Consumers will not turn off the heat.

The gentleman in Bay City did not have Consumers, he had the city municipal utilities. But I would call them and tell them you are having problems paying your bill and could you work something out.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Since the OP hasn't been back, I did the sensible/reasonable thing - I went to the Consumers Energy website.

The information is there. Right on the main page, one of the choices is "Budget Plan Enrollment". http://www.consumersenergy.com/welcome.htm

Yes, I'm a little aggravated (and no, I don't need to be told not to read the thread if it's going to upset me). The thread itself doesn't, it's the apparent fact that, instead of starting with the source - Consumers Energy, in this case - the OP automatically came here seeking anecdotal information. Heck, I found the website and the information easily - and I live in New England and had never heard of this company before. I would, truly, expect one of its customers to be able to do the same.

The DIS is a great source of information - but (rant warning) too many people seem to come here INSTEAD of trying to find the information on their own FIRST.

 

[RangerPooh]

When we lived in Michigan and had Consumers as our provider I would call and work out payment arraingments if the bill was way too high, like when we moved to the state and had a HUGE deposit! I wish that I would have known about the budget plan (and no I didn't spend my time purusing through their website). It's nice to know that it does exist if you need it.

 

[kid-at-heart]

We are also in Michigan and use the budget plan from both our gas and electric companies. Knowing what our utilities will be each and every month helps us create a workable, year-round household budget.

 

[mjkacmom]

We have the "budget" plan that averages our bill, so it's the same every month ($500 for gas/electric ). I set this up after receiving a bill for over $800 one month (btw, my house is 1800 square feet).

 

[bumbershoot]

We have the "budget" plan that averages our bill, so it's the same every month ($500 for gas/electric ). I set this up after receiving a bill for over $800 one month (btw, my house is 1800 square feet).

I'm fainting for you.

We got a $500 power bill one time. We're billed for 2 months at a time. We hadn't been warm even ONE day, b/c of the way the house was set up (heat registers at the TOP of the walls!). Thankfully we're renters, and as soon as our lease was up we were OUT of there.

I'm still sure that there was something wrong with that place. From how cold the walls got, and how hot it got in the summer, I think they forgot the insulation or something odd like that.

 

[Disneyjamie]

Since the OP hasn't been back, I did the sensible/reasonable thing - I went to the Consumers Energy website.

The information is there. Right on the main page, one of the choices is "Budget Plan Enrollment". http://www.consumersenergy.com/welcome.htm

Yes, I'm a little aggravated (and no, I don't need to be told not to read the thread if it's going to upset me). The thread itself doesn't, it's the apparent fact that, instead of starting with the source - Consumers Energy, in this case - the OP automatically came here seeking anecdotal information. Heck, I found the website and the information easily - and I live in New England and had never heard of this company before. I would, truly, expect one of its customers to be able to do the same.

The DIS is a great source of information - but (rant warning) too many people seem to come here INSTEAD of trying to find the information on their own FIRST.

Wow what a rude post! Happy holidays to you too!

As for the other nice posters, I did call Consumers today, and have enrolled in the payment program. $180 a month isn't much better than $230, but I will take it. The operator says that the law hasn't been passed yet that Consumers won't turn off your heating bill, and until it is, they WILL shut off your heat if the bill is not paid in full.

Thanks for the good advice, glad some people do not care about us DISers posting questions on what others have done in the past/asking advice!

 

[RangerPooh]

I had really thought that they had decided last year that they would not shut off customers power/energy during the cold weather months. Last year (when we were living in Michigan) it was all over the news that they would wait until March to shut people off due to the number of individuals practically freezing due to already being shut off or fear there of.

 

[Disneyjamie]

Thanks

 

[Leajess99]

Since the OP hasn't been back, I did the sensible/reasonable thing - I went to the Consumers Energy website.

The information is there. Right on the main page, one of the choices is "Budget Plan Enrollment". http://www.consumersenergy.com/welcome.htm

Yes, I'm a little aggravated (and no, I don't need to be told not to read the thread if it's going to upset me). The thread itself doesn't, it's the apparent fact that, instead of starting with the source - Consumers Energy, in this case - the OP automatically came here seeking anecdotal information. Heck, I found the website and the information easily - and I live in New England and had never heard of this company before. I would, truly, expect one of its customers to be able to do the same.

The DIS is a great source of information - but (rant warning) too many people seem to come here INSTEAD of trying to find the information on their own FIRST.

I heard of the company before as we had them when I was growing up in Michigan and that is why I opened the thread. I can understand the aggravation as well. It sometimes kills me that you have people that will seek medical advice as in "should I take my child to the doctor" from strangers on the message boards. One lady from another message board came online one time because her child hurt his arm and had cried for almost 4 hours and she wanted to know if she should take him to the emergency room. In the end when she took the child to the ER the next day they found out he had broke a bone in his elbow. I felt so bad for that little boy (he was like 4 or 5) as he had to wait so long for medical attention.

 

[Disneyjamie]

I heard of the company before as we had them when I was growing up in Michigan and that is why I opened the thread. I can understand the aggravation as well. It sometimes kills me that you have people that will seek medical advice as in "should I take my child to the doctor" from strangers on the message boards. One lady from another message board came online one time because her child hurt his arm and had cried for almost 4 hours and she wanted to know if she should take him to the emergency room. In the end when she took the child to the ER the next day they found out he had broke a bone in his elbow. I felt so bad for that little boy (he was like 4 or 5) as he had to wait so long for medical attention.

Happy holidays to you too. You, as well as the OP, did not understand my question. I know about their budget billing, was looking at ALL options. Go on to another post - this one is done.

 

[Leajess99]

Happy holidays to you too. You, as well as the OP, did not understand my question. I know about their budget billing, was looking at ALL options. Go on to another post - this one is done.

Thanks but if I want to post on this one I can. And, weren't you the OP?? Yeah, you mean myself and a previous poster?? I understood your question but at what point in time did you contact the company or research the website?? So had someone said yeah, just send them a hundred dollars and they cut your power off than what?? Seriously, if you are trying to find your options than your best bet is to go straight to the company rather than a message board.