Gas bill shocker!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Gas bill shocker!
8
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 5:04pm

OMG, our gas bill this month is suddenly more than twice the amount of our highest ever bill. I know prices have gone up, but I'm calculating by therms, not by dollars, and it's still almost 2.5 times the highest ever past bill.

I called the company, and they're going to come out and test our appliances and the meter to see what the problem is--they agreed that it's a red flag bill. If it turns out that something in our home is really eating that much gas, we'll be able to fix it, but it will still mean we have to pay this month's extremely high bill--almost $300!! That's just for heat and hot water. And then, of course, we'll have to pay to fix whatever the problem is.

And it's so disappointing--we were expecting a low bill, because the weather has been absolutely gorgeous, and our thermostat is set lower than ever in the past, and because it's programmable, we keep it even cooler at night (60 degrees). And for one week this past month, we actually had our water heater turned off while we were on vacation.

What a shock!

Sigh. I hope it turns out there's something wrong with the meter or something else that they have to fix and then refund us the money. It's just been a very expensive past several months, and I'm feeling downhearted about it all.

Oh well. At least they are prompt in their attention to the matter, and we'll get it sorted out one way or another. Thanks for listening.

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-06-2003
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 5:07pm

Oh Heather,

That's really frustrating! I hope they discover that the problem is either on their end or that it's a minor one to fix...but getting an unexpected bill of that amount is not fun at all.

Hang in there and let us know what the end result is.

Kassandra

Kassandra

"It is said that life has its peaks and valleys.  The challenge is to accept them equally and experience them

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-13-2003
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 5:35pm

Wow, Heather! I'm glad they're willing to come check things out for you. Let us know what you find out -- I'd be really interested to know!

Good luck!!

Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-07-2005
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 7:44pm

I hope it turns out there's something wrong with the meter or something else that they have to fix and then refund us the money.

I don't want to dampen your spirits too much here but don't get your hopes up. Our gas bills have been absolutely outrageous--to the tune of about $300, well, $277 to be exact. It sucks major!! Although your hot water tank might be causing the problem--but that'd be another repair/replacement expense. I know we've done it once in the short 4 years we've lived here--about $700. So, I really don't know what to tell you to keep your fingers crossed for on this one--hopefully nothing major I guess. Curse the gas co's....curse, curse, curse!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 8:30pm

Ours was really high this month too---$250. I think it's because the price of propane and natural gas went up. We have propane.---Only the water heater and furance.

One time many years ago---our water bill was over $1000. They screwed up the numbers. They ended up having to put a new meter in. It was a shock when the bill had never been over $25/month!!!

Holly

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2005
Wed, 01-18-2006 - 10:46pm
Hi Heather,
I have real hopes that it is somehow their mistake -- I could understand the price going up, since that is what they promised us, but your therms went way up and that doesn't seem right. I's urge them to put in a new meter if they won't refund your $$$.
Here's hoping. I hate surprises like that.
Megan
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2005
Thu, 01-19-2006 - 7:53am
Just a thought here....is it possible that they just estimated the time before this particular bill? Our latest bill was twice the amount of the previous bill. My DH thinks they had previously estimated and we had to pay what they underestimated. Are they charging you to come out and check stuff out? Let us know how everything goes.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
Thu, 01-19-2006 - 8:59am

Heather,

Is it possible that they misread your gas meter? I've had this happen before, and it has added $100+ to my bill. Another time, they "estimated" what my meter was, rather than actually reading it with their little portable machine.

I hope this all works out for you!

Pat :-D

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-20-2004
Thu, 01-19-2006 - 12:06pm
Heather,
we are in the same boat as you. Our combined gas/electric bill was $418 for January. i am hoping it is at least $50 cheaper this month. But it is at least $150 more that my highest bill last year. I hope that maybe like another poster suggested, that they did an estimated bill and it was high. then, next month your bill would drop significantly. Good luck and keep us posted,
Heather