OMG!!! Got the gas bill today!

[lemondog]

We use natural gas to heat our home. The gas company said rates would increase approx. 20-30% due to demand. WRONG!!! Try 100%!!!! Our gas bill this month was over $300. It's usually half that. And what's really scary is that it was a warm month -- we only had a week or so where temps were below freezing. We had a good 2 weeks of temps in the 60s. It was very mild, and usually the demand is less during that time, therefore the cost is less.

I honest to god don't know HOW we're going to afford this. Our next gas bill will be far worse -- it has been colder. And I feel like we're already doing as much as we can to save. Half the windows have been replaced (don't have the $$ to replace the others), we keep the temp no higher than 67 (any lower and it's just too cold for our infant daughters), keep curtains/blinds closed to trap in heat, etc. What else can we do??? If we have too many more bills like this, our Disney trip will be off!

Oh, and I know it's not an anomoly, because there was even a story on the news about how insane everyone's gas bill is this month. One poor woman's went from $60 to $220 -- to heat a tiny condo!!! I guess I should feel better we're not the only ones.

 

[summerrluvv]

We use natural gas to heat our home. The gas company said rates would increase approx. 20-30% due to demand. WRONG!!! Try 100%!!!! Our gas bill this month was over $300. It's usually half that. And what's really scary is that it was a warm month -- we only had a week or so where temps were below freezing. We had a good 2 weeks of temps in the 60s. It was very mild, and usually the demand is less during that time, therefore the cost is less.

I honest to god don't know HOW we're going to afford this. Our next gas bill will be far worse -- it has been colder. And I feel like we're already doing as much as we can to save. Half the windows have been replaced (don't have the $$ to replace the others), we keep the temp no higher than 67 (any lower and it's just too cold for our infant daughters), keep curtains/blinds closed to trap in heat, etc. What else can we do??? If we have too many more bills like this, our Disney trip will be off!

Oh, and I know it's not an anomoly, because there was even a story on the news about how insane everyone's gas bill is this month. One poor woman's went from $60 to $220 -- to heat a tiny condo!!! I guess I should feel better we're not the only ones.

Is your bill an estimate or an actual reading? I know they only read our meters every other month here and when they "estimate" it's usually a lot more than the actual bill. Our gas is really expensive too and I keep the heat at 65 degrees.

 

[Disney845]

Don't know how large your house is, or if this would even be of help to you. I live in FL so it is not ever all that cold as opposed to up north (have lived there too). We do not have gas, but use all electric. However in the winter months our electric is half of what it is in the summer (sometimes even less than that). We have not had our heater on at all so far this year, and granted it is warmer here in FL on average. We have a kerosene heater that we turn on for a little while when it does get cold and that heats the house up sufficiently. We get the fuel from a local camping ground. We have only had it on once or twice so far this year, mostly it is out in the garage, but tonight it is supposed to be down in the 30s for us, so we will bring it out. The heater is about the size of a medium trashcan. (Funny side story, but when I first met SO and came to his house, now mine as well, it was in the winter and he had the kerosene heater out in the kitchen. I had no idea what it was as I had never seen one, and asked if it was a cat climbing toy ) BTW the cat loves it and will lay down next to it, she knows not to get too close though. Even if this couldn't heat your whole house, it is may help to lower your costs by having it for the not sooooo cold days??

 

[powellrj]

We are on the budget and ours went up from $68 a month last year to $130 this year. Is it too late to sign-up to get on the budget plan for this year so that your payments would be spread out over the year instead of the huge bills in the winter?

 

[canwegosoon]

I use that plastic over the windows, and I think it helps...look for any places with a draft, and try to fix it, even if you lay towels as a draft blocker. Wear shoes/slippers and sweater/house coat/afgan. Dress the babies in layers, and make sure they have socks on.

We are all in the same boat. I turn my heat off ASAP in the spring to try and save too.

 

[Cindy B]

First things first..

Check to see if it is an actual reading. If it is estimate, call and arrange a reading or you may be able to do it online/phone.

Get one of those programmable thermostats. We get those and have the house go down to 59 when we are not home, and about 61 at night.

You could also do that wrap thing with the windows, and protect drafts with draftstoppers or towels rolled up.

 

[hockey mom]

I know how you feel- my bill tripled this month. It went from $60 to $180- I was dead sure there had to be a mistake.

 

[TEK224]

I got my bill for this month and it was $360. I almost fell on the floor.
My mom lives with me and she is always cold, but doesn't like to wear long sleeves.

We usually turn the heat down at night, since we're upstairs (where it's always hot) and under the covers. I'm getting kind of used to it though. In the summer, my electric bill is always high due to the central air.

 

[Cass]

Wow - you get bills on a Sunday?

LOL I thought that would at least be one bill free day... but no longer

 

[luvthatduke]

I'm right there with you all.
Just rec'd December bill,
and dreading the January one...
I'm preparing myself for a stroke *sigh*

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I bought a (small) house this summer and expected higher bills than those I had in the old duplex, where I never paid more than $80 in the coldest months. November's bill was $90, okay... then December's was $125... and the most recent is over $250! We used to turn the heat up to 67 for showers in the morning, then down to 60 while gone during the day, back up to 67 for the evening; now (in desperation!) I'm leaving the thermostat at 60 all the time. I'm sitting here wearing a long-sleeved top, sweatsuit, and fleece robe over it all! Interestingly, I'm supplementing with an electric heater - that kind that looks like a radiator - and my electric bill hasn't gone up much at all. So much for gas being the affordable choice...

 

[estherhead]

I just had to post this, as my dad owns a HVAC (heating, ventilation, and cooling) company. Do you know how efficient your furnace is? And do you have a heat pump? A high efficiency heat pump and a natural gas furnace is the cheapest way to heat your house. It could pay for itself easily in two years. If you own your own home and you furnace is less than 80% efficient, I would certainly look into getting new equipment.

Also, gas fireplaces, not inserts, but the ones that are vented and have glass on the front can reduce heating costs too. They are very efficient and only heat the room you are in. We keep our house at 62 and then have two gas fireplaces, one in the family room and one in the living room. You can only sit in one room at a time, so why not just heat that room? Plus you'll still have heat if the power goes out and they are pretty.

Just my 2 cents. We got our bills and our electric was about $90.00 and our gas was $80.00. My house is about 2500 square feet.

And you CAN get on budget at any time in the year. Just call the company and they will set it up for you.

 

[DiznEeyore]

I know how everyone's feeling about the gas bills. January is always our worst month (I keep track of these things, LOL!). I'm expecting them to come read our meter today, and we've used a *lot* more than last month. Our meter is in our laundry room and I read it every day at the same time (a little OCD, I know). With our usage so far, I expect our bill to be right under $200.

Our house is approx. 1300 sq ft but is on a crawl and isn't well-insulated (and we need new windows), so I *always* feel cold. Fortunately we did put in a new furnace this year -- our old one was only 60% efficient; the new one is 80%, so I'm sure that's helping quite a bit.

One thing that helps us with the gas/electric bills is that I budget year-round for the highest bill; that way, 80% of the time the bill is lower and then I just take the extra and tuck it away (usually into the Disney trip fund ).

 

[lemondog]

Wow, sounds like I am not alone!

Our house is 3000 square feet. We have 2 HVAC units, both gas, with heat pump. They are both less than 2 years old. I can't imagine they are not acting as efficiently as possible.

Unfortunately, I am a SAHM and we are here all the time, so turning it down during the day is not an option, although we have been turning the downstairs unit waaay down at night while we are upstairs sleeping. Hopefully that will help some.

I am def. going to ask about budget billing. My bill is $10 month in the summer, and $300 in the winter. That's crazy! Our old house had electric heat and the elec. bill never, ever got over $175, even in the coldest of winter. I too thought natural gas was the more efficient way, but based on the bills it sure doesn't seem that way.

Angela

 

[Brian Noble]

If you have a wood-burning fireplace, consider getting a wood stove for it. The house we moved into in August has one, and I was *amazed* at how much more heat that thing throws off compared to a "regular" fireplace. The wood burns much more slowly, too.

(Ours is even rated to be able to burn *coal*, but I haven't gone there. Yet.)

 

[Focusdude]

I really recommend the budget plan. Most utilities (in our area anyway) have them. I have both my electric and oil on budget and it is great. But you do have to plan on your budget payments going up - my oil budget payment went from $68/month to $142/month in December (bad timing!).

Hope this helps!

 

[Razor Roman]

My house was built in 1958 and it has it's original furnace... yikes. IT's 1800 square feet and we keep it on 60 if it's above freezing during the day, and 65 all the rest of the time... $220 for gas in December.

We are definately going to be getting an efficient furnace after we pay for the wedding!

 

[estherhead]

Yes, sorry, I have to change my post. Wood is the cheapest way to heat your house, especially if you can cut it yourself off your own land. Of course, then you have the worries of your house burning down, etc. But that is the cheapest. Or maybe coal.

I was just talking about traditional northeastern US furnaces/heating. 3000 sq feet is a big house and when it dips below Farenheit zero a furnace (or two) runs all the time. I would definately get on budget because with the weather we've been having here in Ohio my furnace runs a lot!

 

[Taja]

I live in a warmer climate, so winter electric bills tend to be lower than summer ones, for obvious reasons!

However, my uncle--he's 86 and lives with me--has been turning the thermostat waaaayyy up when I'm gone during the day. It's 80 degrees in the house most evenings when I get home! I've been hinting that he should wear a sweater and keep the thermostat at 72, but he hates wearing jackets and sweaters in the house. That's why he moved to Arizona from the midwest!

Ah, well! Since he likes it warm, our electric bill has improved in the summer. We're averaging $200 to $300 per month year round (3200 sq. ft.), instead of $100 winter (3 months) and $500 summer (6 to 7 months)! Technically, I'm saving money! :lol:

Anyone who hasn't checked the caulking around doors and windows this season, please be sure to do it this spring. Inside and out. It can make a significant difference. Yep! I'm the one who has this lovely job. If I can caulk, nearly anyone can!

 

[lemondog]

Thanks everyone!

Well, I just got off the phone with the gas company. We are now on budget billing -- $91/month year round, based on previous year's consumption. They audit at the 6 month mark to see if they need to adjust your payment up or down, in an effort to "break even." Well, it will hurt to pay $91 per month for gas in the summer, but it will be a BIG improvement in the winter, and make it much easier to budget. I have also called to set up the same service with the electric company. Great tip!