topic Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill? in Community Chat

Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

terrier3 — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:10:22 GMT

I had read in the paper that people were getting outlandishly high bills this month.

Well, I got mine today - $521.15.

Yes, it was freezing cold and last winter was mild. BUT - the cost per kilowatt went from $5.26 last March to $16.28 - more than 3x increase!

I though utilities were regulated re: price increases????

What a royal rip-off.

It's National Grid, BTW - a big company.

Anyone else have a big surprise in the mail this week?

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

bikerbabe — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:11:06 GMT

I live in the land of no winter.

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

pinkskates4 — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:11:58 GMT

If you think this is bad, what do you think will happen when the coal industry is killed?

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

sunshine45 — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:12:36 GMT

900+ on my last bill.

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

MomOf4 — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:13:11 GMT

On 3/20/2014 bikerbabe said:
I live in the land of no winter.

Me too!!

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

terrier3 — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:13:18 GMT

On 3/20/2014 bikerbabe said:
I live in the land of no winter.

But you use your computer, phone, TV, etc. And I imagine you need to turn the AC on occasionally.

Not only did the cost go up due to the weather, but the actual cost of power per kilowatt went up 300% in one month...

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

Moonlady — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:13:33 GMT

That bill's outrageous. Then, again, we were all told that rates would "necessarily skyrocket."

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mgm2 — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:13:55 GMT

Yes, we did too. It's called price goiging.

Hey dagna, whose gonna pay for the Dan river cleanup? Duke Energy or their customers through higher pricing?

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

terrier3 — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:14:22 GMT

On 3/20/2014 sunshine45 said:
900+ on my last bill.

Did you check to see if the actual electricity per unit went up too?

What is your usual bill - was $900 out of line?

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

MomOf4 — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:14:40 GMT

Our electric bill was higher than normal due to using the air conditioner all winter!!

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

terrier3 — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:15:27 GMT

On 3/20/2014 Moonlady said:
That bill's outrageous. Then, again, we were all told that rates would "necessarily skyrocket."

Who told us they would go up 300% in one month?

I think I would have remembered hearing that!

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

pinkskates4 — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:15:29 GMT

Maybe you should get solar panels.

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

chickenbutt — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:16:50 GMT

Mine usually has been in the $100+ to less than $200 lately. But I do a lot to save. I'm home all the time and I do what I can to conserve. Our house is fairly big but one big thing is that I keep the heat on 59 during the day and 57 at night.

I just checked the website and so far, with only a few days left in my month, my bill is only at about $103.

I don't use lights unless there is a need. I keep a lot of things unplugged, that don't need to be plugged in all the time. I have several computers and only the one I'm using at any given time is turned on and plugged in. I don't know how much all these little things add up, but it has made a difference for me.

Ten years ago we paid a ton more. In winter our utility bill ran between $300 and $400 a month. Summer was less (because gas costs more here now) even with running the a/c a lot, but it was still a lot more than it is these days.

I really do think that a lot of little things add up to help a lot. There are still things that I don't skimp on, though. I don't unplug TVs, cable boxes, router/modem, or Tivos because - well, that's important stuff. I only have one of my printers on if I'm getting ready to use it and during use. You cannot unplug the refrigerators and freezers of course. I have two full refrigerator freezers and one small chest freezer. I have two microwave ovens and I keep both of them unplugged, except when in use or the over-the-stove one during times I'm doing heavy oven use (the fan is attached to that microwave).

All my other kitchen stuff but the refrigerators and stove are kept unplugged. I have a Vitamix and two vacuum sealers and a convection oven on my counters. All of those are unplugged unless in use.

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

bikerbabe — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:18:48 GMT

On 3/20/2014 terrier3 said:
On 3/20/2014 bikerbabe said:
I live in the land of no winter.

But you use your computer, phone, TV, etc. And I imagine you need to turn the AC on occasionally.

Not only did the cost go up due to the weather, but the actual cost of power per kilowatt went up 300% in one month...

Of course. I was just answering your question about a high winter bill. We roast here in summer.

Honestly, I live in a city that owns it's own electricity. One of the smartest moves ever. They are really good about notifying and having public hearings before any rate increase. We've had only small increases now for years.

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

terrier3 — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:19:37 GMT

On 3/20/2014 Dagna said:
Maybe you should get solar panels.

I would if I could...my roof is my neighbor's roof garden and we are part of a co-op.

In Germany, many homes use solar to be self sufficient - and have a system to sell excess power back into the grid...and Germany is just as dark and cold as where I live.

We do not have that technology here. Too bad.

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

SeaGal — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:19:47 GMT

I am on the budget plan for my electric, this year when they recalculated it, it went down to 52.00 every other month. My PSE (gas) bill has averaged 135.00 for the last 3 months.

I cant even imagine the heating bills some of you are seeing, I am sorry.

*I go with the budget plan so I know what to expect each month.

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

Irshgrl31201 — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:20:48 GMT

When we moved into our home we had average summer electric bills of around $1000 a month. We had solar panels installed and that has helped immensely. They do suggest that you get about 5 hours of sunlight a day for those and I don't think that would happen in Buffalo though.

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

bikerbabe — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:21:08 GMT

Winter bill runs $100. Summer peak is $250 - $275. Natural gas $15-$50 (higher in winter).

Re: Anyone else get an outrageous electric bill?

NoelSeven — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:22:09 GMT

OMG, terrier That is outrageous!

Ours went way up, but nothing like yours.

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lulu2 — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:23:17 GMT

Both our gas and electric bills have been obscene this winter. We have a gas furnace but it was necessary to use numerous electric space heaters to keep our pipes from freezing. (they still froze twice for multiple days)