Gas bill???$$$$$$$$$$$ OUCH!!!!!

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I have an 1100 square foot house. My September bill (just for stove and hot water) was $175! When I called to ask how on earth this could be, the NYSEG representative told me that it must have been a billing error, and corrected it to $86. Hmmm. I do wonder what would have happened if I hadn't called.

My November gas bill was $150, with our thermostat set to a ridiculous 60 degrees all the time. Interestingly, I've been supplementing with electric space heaters (the ones that look like radiators) and electric blanket, and my electric bill has actually stayed level around $50 each month, down from $70-$80 in the summer! Go figure. I am considering phasing out my gas-powered appliances like the stove and hot water heater, replacing them when needed with electric ones.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I haven't seen our bill yet, but we've been trying to use the wood burner and fireplace instead of the furnace as much as we can. Still not expecting it to be pretty.

 

[mum4jenn]

WOW!!! I knew there was a reason I have lived in the no snow south all my life!!

Although the summertime kills us.

 

[Tiffann4k]

We just got our gas bill yesterday, it was $413.84 I about fainted!

We live in a hundred year old farm house thats about 3,000 sq ft.

We have plastic on most of the windows as we need to get them replaced soon!

 

[FINFAN]

Just got ours today....2400 sq ft (apparently poorly insulated) 2 story:

$359.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last months bill was $148.......I was thinking maybe 250-275 tops. This is the HIGHEST bill we have EVER had....and I keep the thermostat at 62 day, 58 night. I just can't believe it...we have been using the fireplace (wood), I think it is costing us more to do so...letting the heat out.
Uggghhhhhhh...so much for the cold water thory of washing the clothes...I ONLY used cold this past month to see if it helps...or maybe it did....DH bought me an electric blanket for Christmas...it is surlely going to get some use now!


Pam

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

I live in CA so my bills are nothing like yours...

I bought that shrinkwrap plastic stuff, didn't notice a difference in how cold the windows felt. Do you think plain ol plastic wrap will help? I bought stuff to put in the window tracks and that has helped with the drafts (I felt an actual breeze before).

 

[kydisneyfans]

Also check to find out if this is an "estimate" or actual bill. If an estimate, demand a correct reading. It would also help if the bills were for an "average" month of 30 or 31 days--my November bill was for 33 days. If they are going to bill in that manner, why not bill for the 33 day months in the summer and 28-29 day bills in the winter to help out.

Our Nov bill was $127.00-have not received the Decemer bill yet.

 

[C.Ann]

My house is heated with oil and it's empty (up for sale) which means the furnace will kick on more frequently to maintain the 54 degree setting that my son-in-law has the thermostat set on.. I ordered 150 gallons the beginning of October and ordered another 150 gallons yesterday (when the tank reached the 1/4 mark).. Basically it averaged out to $99 a month from October till now.. Also, the oil I ordered yesterday was 30-cents a gallon cheaper, so even with the coldest weather coming in January & February, I imagine it won't cost much more than what I was already paying the past 3 months..

The electric has only been $30 month, so I'd say I'm very, very lucky..

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

Our bill is $71 monthly, on a level plan. We have a small 3 bedroom. The real bill was $167.00.Im still ahead though for now. But our electric went up to $116 a month, I'm still paying for summer. Ive been keeping the thermostat on 65 during the day and night, turning it up only if it;s really cold.

 

[shirley 38]

Gas is going to be a killer this year. I invested in an electric fireplace. Electric is much cheaper that gas now.

I will be moving soon into a new house and will have 2 Gas bills until my old house sells.
ANY SUGGESTIONS before I go bancrupt

 

[GillieRose]

I just checked are bill for next month and it's 322.61. Last month it was 168.00 Thank god it's been a little warmer the last week maybe it won't be so bad next month.

 

[malibuconlee]

For those concerned about not having enough insulation in an older house, check your utility company's web site, or call them. Ours offers to pay the biggest portion of the costs to buy installation and have it installed. If we were staying in this house and not selling it, I would be having that done ASAP!!!!

 

[tinkerrn]

UPDATE!!!! Just got our bill this morning....I was shocked!!!! It was only $303.24!!!!
It shows what we paid last month and for last Dec.. It was about $100.00 highrer than last month, but cheaper than a year ago. I am pleased, I have talked to so many people and theres have gone up sooo much. I was expecting a $500.00 bill.
I had turned down the water heater and the theromstat. They have a local morning TV show that has been playing a game, "Who has the highest gas bill?". Well, a lady called in yesterday and her bill was almost $1,000.00!!!! She stated that her neighbors will was close to $2,300.00. They live in a very nice neighborhood, with 100 year old plus house, typical sq. footage is around 9,000 sq. ft.. I don't feel so bad now living in my small house....1,200 sq. ft.. I had also heard a man that called in saying that he just got finished building a house and the gas had not been turned on yet. Well, he got a bill for $443.00!!!! He called and contested it and he was right, it hadn't been turned on yet. So, how come they were billing him??? Makes me wonder how many of us are paying the bill and not even questioning it???? They credited his account. I think more people should pay attention to their bills and if it is outrageous, call the gas company and have them recheck their reading. Good luck and stay warm!!!!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

glad i dont have gas
i have oil and we have spent 500 so fat this winter on that it filled the tank for us

 

[Chicago526]

Finaly got the bill last week, $275 for a 1600 sqft home. We kept the thermostat at 62 for all but 5 hours a day (and then it was 68). Chicago had record cold in December, so that didn't help. We've had a "warm" spell the last 3 weeks so hopfully next month will only be $200 or so. Ha! only $200!

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I had also heard a man that called in saying that he just got finished building a house and the gas had not been turned on yet. Well, he got a bill for $443.00!!!! He called and contested it and he was right, it hadn't been turned on yet. So, how come they were billing him??? Makes me wonder how many of us are paying the bill and not even questioning it???? They credited his account. I think more people should pay attention to their bills and if it is outrageous, call the gas company and have them recheck their reading.

That's what happened to me (I may have said so earlier but am too lazy to check): my bill for just stove and hot water was $186 (IIRC)! When I called NYSEG, the representative said she had just handled a similar call and had me manually read the meter - the actual bill was $76 - still high for only two appliances, but better than the original, anyway. She said that there must have been some problem with the system that was overbilling some customers. My response was "suuuurrre." This was just after the post-Katrina hype about higher utility costs, and I wonder how many people thought their outrageous bills were simply due to that and did not question them - and, more importantly, if NYSEG accepted that money with no corrections or credits.

Despite using space heaters and electric blankets, my electric bill is lower than it was in the summer. When my hot water heater and stove need replacing, I'm paying to convert to electricity on both of them.