Gas Bill - Need Help!

[CathrynRose]

Alright - got our first gas bill ...ever.... yesterday. (we've always rented where gas was included)

2 b/r / den home - one bath, no basement, no upstairs. We keep the heat at 68 when we're home - down to 60 when we're not. Gas Heat, Gas Dryer - everything else is electric.

$350.00 ! ! ! !

Is this possible? I mean, could something be *broke* (other than a gas-leak, or something??)

I dont get it. Help!

 

[Christine]

That does sound high. I live in a house that is probably much bigger and my bill was around $300 for February (but it may not be as cold here). The gas dryer could *really* be costing you. And depending on where you live, you "per therm" price could be high.

 

[Chicago526]

I'm in the Chicago area, my bill for December was $275, January was $225 and February was $175. We have a 3 bed/2 bath 1300 sqft 2 story home. It has no insulation since it has plaster walls (built 1947).

So, if you have an older home with no insulation and an inefficiant furnace, plus they usually charge a "set up" or "turn on" fee, I could see a $350 bill.

However, I'd call them and check, make sure they didn't start billing you until the day you moved in, ask what, if any, the set up fees are, and explain what you have your temp set at, they can tell you if your gas usage sounds excessive (if it is it could be a leak somewhere).

 

[Feralpeg]

If you have an older furnace, it is possible. You might have a furnace company come out and check your furnace to make sure it is operating properly. Gas is very high right now.

 

[dadto1]

We had a $250.00 bill in December and decided to install gas logs and a wall mount gas heater in January and turn the furnace off. It cost us about $1200.00 to buy and install but gas bill for January was $105.00. Just a thought?

 

[FreshTressa]

Could it possibly be for 2 months?

I think we get billed every two months.

 

[Lizzydoll73]

Does that amount include a security deposit? I know when we first moved we have to pay $300 extra.

 

[CathrynRose]

It's from Jan 31st ---> March 17 (43 days) So, a little over a month - but I just wasnt expecting this...THATS putting it mildly.

I almost threw-up when I first opened it up.

I actually thought - Maybe around $200-ish. But YOWSA! This is $150 MORE than my high estimate.

AND to make matters worse, Ive been colder then colder then COLD! FREEZING! But I was willing to walk around like a popsicle to save a little $$$.

I think it boils down to the house being 70-ish years old, with a 30-ish year old furnace. Bad insulation, bad furnace.

Im turning it off when I get home and gonna live Little House on the Prairie Style.

Thanks for the suggestions, etc. Im SO BUMMED!!! BLAH!

 

[RadioFanatic]

hope you're kidding about turning the heat off - you don't want the pipes to freeze and burst. are you on a budget? if not, I would get on it asap - helps tremendously.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I'm in the Chicago area and our bill for Feb/March 30 days was $250.

We have a bigger house/older/drafty house and keep the heat very low.

 

[MzDiz]

Cover your windows with plastic (don't know how much good that will do now, since it's almost spring)
Weather strip your doors
Get some electric heaters and "space heat" the rooms you hang out in most, then turn your thermostat waaaaay down.
Ours is set at 63 during the day, then drops to 60 at night. It's not warm and cozy, but it's livable.

We have the same problem. Bad insulation. 45 year old furnace. Ancient windows.

 

[Chicago526]

It's from Jan 31st ---> March 17 (43 days) So, a little over a month - but I just wasnt expecting this...THATS putting it mildly.

I almost threw-up when I first opened it up.

I actually thought - Maybe around $200-ish. But YOWSA! This is $150 MORE than my high estimate.

AND to make matters worse, Ive been colder then colder then COLD! FREEZING! But I was willing to walk around like a popsicle to save a little $$$.

I think it boils down to the house being 70-ish years old, with a 30-ish year old furnace. Bad insulation, bad furnace.

Im turning it off when I get home and gonna live Little House on the Prairie Style.

Thanks for the suggestions, etc. Im SO BUMMED!!! BLAH!

Yup, that's a month and a half so your bill would be 50% higher than normal, just for the extra 2 weeks. Plus, we had a few cold snaps, and if your house is from the 70's it's not likely to be well insulated or have a good furnace. You could also have leaky windows. You should look into updating the insulation, and maybe replace the windows and furnance. It's a lot of money, but it will save you tons in the long run. If you just can't afford all of that, then next winter you can at least put that plastic film over the windows to help block drafts.

 

[Brianne]

That sounds pretty high. A lot of gas companies offer to come out for free to check over everything. I'd recommend contacting them & seeing if they offer that service because something doesn't sound right. Hope you get it figured out!

 

[mickeyboat]

Get some electric heaters and "space heat" the rooms you hang out in most, then turn your thermostat waaaaay down.

This is not really great advice because these cost a lot of electricity to run!

Chicago had it right, the bill is for 6 weeks, not 4, so it is 50% higher than normal.

Denae

 

[golfgal]

Is it an actual reading or is it an estimate? If it is an estimate then you can have them come out and do an actual reading for the exact amount. One move we had to stay in an apartment for a few months before our house was ready. The apartment was brand new, we were the first people to live in the apartment and our first gas bill came in at $380, I about DIED. We never had gas bills for our big old drafty house that high. The bill was an estimate and we had them do an actual reading, the real bill was $35.

 

[FINFAN]

Yep, sounds about right...especially if you had the place open while moving furniture in and stuff...the heat escaping, furnace working double time.
Welcome to CHICAGO...you never know what you're gonna get weather-wise here. Time to invest in the fleece hoodies...I live in them.


Pam

 

[dcgrumpy]

Sounds right, especially since it's for 6 weeks and you have a gas dryer and stove.

 

[JVL1018]

That is high! Is that just for one month?
Our gas bill was $278 last month. But we have gas appliances as well and pay to heat the whole house-we live in a 2 family, 1400 sq ft downstairs where we live and probably 1200 upstairs where my FIL lives. Large basement, but that is unheated, so it doesn't count, though I wonder if it sucks heat out of the house any.

 

[diskids2]

We paid $400 for our gas last month which is an average bill. Gas heat, gas dryer.

 

[In a hurry]

Are you able to get an alternative gas supplier? We saved a lot, by doing so, but I don't know if all areas allow it.