Community Chat

[Mmsfoxxie]

@granddi ....I don't live there but I feel so bad about this!   🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[Nightowlz]

I thought they were being billed daily for usage? I read an article saying one company wiped out her account from billing daily usage. She closed the account to the debit card.

They said our gas rates went up due to usage so our bills will be higher but not $7000 or $17,000?

Our water bill will be higher too from dripping the faucets.

[granddi]

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@Nightowlz wrote:

I thought they were being billed daily for usage? I read an article saying one company wiped out her account from billing daily usage. She closed the account to the debit card.

They said our gas rates went up due to usage so our bills will be higher but not $7000 or $17,000?

Our water bill will be higher too from dripping the faucets.

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Yes, we are prepared for sky high water bill but that was our choice to leave the faucts dripping. We were so fortunate to have power so we ran space heaters towards the plumbing on the outside walls.

When the power failed, so did the equipment at the water treatment facilities. That's why boil water is in effect for much of Texas metro areas. Water mains have broken leading to low or no pressure. Some hospitals in Austin had NO water. 

The head of ERCOT (Tx power commission) earns $800K and the dozen or so board members earn in the $200-300K range. So this is one of the many layers. One lives in Germany, one in Michigan, another in Canada. 

Texas legislature only meets every 2 years so a special session will have to be called. We do not need endless studies and investigations. Texas likes minimal government. 

As early as Feb 5th NOAA alerted officials about the approaching storm. 10 days of emergency preparation would not have made up for decades of neglect but some effort could have lessened some of the damage. 

[Cakers3]

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@Lali1 wrote:

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@Cakers3 wrote:

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@Kachina624 wrote:

There has got to be something wrong with recent reports of astronomical bills.  People couldn't possibly had their meters read and have gotten their bills that fast.

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@Kachina624   You keep asking the same question on all the threads.

Most meters are read remotely now.  Many customers are on e-billing so it is very realistic that they received a bill depending upon their billing dates.

I cannot verify if all these stories about bills being $17,000 and it is possible that they are receiving ESTIMATED bills before a final bill is issued.

Just as the floating stories regarding $999/day hotel fees, many stories are not always true.

But it is possible some have already seen their bills.

hth

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In my area they are not read remotely. A car with a big reader rides around and reads them. They don't get out of the car it just reads as it goes. Just as Kachina said there's no way that has happened will all that is going on. I don't believe this story applies to the majority of us. Maybe something happened by accident but the average person is not going to get a bill like that. 

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@Lali1   Our meter was switched out 2(?) years ago or so.

Right now I can get into our account online but there is no update on cost per a notice on the website.

  The bills are not ready until the actual bill date anyway so right now I don't know how much the rate will rise.

I'll let you know if we get a bill for $17,000.

However, the water meter is read in person. 

[Cakers3]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

@Anonymous032819.  Maybe thats how they do things in California but we have meter readers here.  So the reply was not 100% correct.  How could you possibly know what they do in every municipality in the US to so positively affirm that someone is 100% correct?

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@Kachina624   ????  I said "most" meters are read remotely.  I'm only speaking for Texas, not CA, not NM, not any other state.

The point was that not everyone is billed at the same time and it is possible with e-billing that some have received their bills.

Which I have already said upthread.

Her response may have included CA but she was referring to my experience in my area.

And now we have the great meter debate.  LOL

[agb80]

[gertrudecloset]

I'm reading about this and thoght I would ask the following:

1.  Is there a Public Service Commission in Texas (or some sections of Texas) that prevents catastrophic increases such as this?

2.  Is this a "natural gas" issue or fuel issue as well?  In some states folk still purchase fuel for their heating needs. 

3.   If this involves only "natural gas" pricing is there a way folk can switch over to fuel to heat their homes?  You have more control over when and how much fuel you purchase, but not necessarily the price.

In any event, I know that just because these meters are being read remotely or electronically doesn't mean they can't get bills that are inaccurate. 

I hope a satisfactory resolution can be gained for all involved.  This is a nightmare....imagine your heating costs being more than your mortgage payment?

[gertrudecloset]

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@Spurt wrote:

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@Kachina624 wrote:

@granddi.  Some people are going to have a lot to answer for.  You can probably kiss a lot of politicians goodbye.  This scandal will go on for years.  Millions of people snookered.

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@Kachina624 

To put it in Reader's Digest terms. There is a separate charge on the bill in addition to the wattage used....the separate charge is called a "fuel adjustment" and it's based on the market price for energy....thats what's going to cause the increase.....

Now our Mayor says it should definitely not be the consumers but ERCOT (the energy distributor) that  should bear the additional cost due to mismanagement.  

Our energy company, CPS, said they would try to spread the increase out over a 10 year period....But now other considerations are on the table.... The long-term plan is still taking shape and options on the table include bonds, federal aid and working with state lawmakers. (there's something called a "rainy day fund" the State has in place....for unforseen catastrophes)..... But I dont trust the CEO of CPS...she has been caught in so many lies as she's tried to throw other people under the bus for her part of the mis-management at the local level.... 

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Isn't their more than one Mayor in Texas?  Which part of Texas are you referring to?  The set up where you are sounds similiar to where I live. 

Killowats + delivery charges + any state and local taxes.  However, where I am, I can spread the cost of year's heating costs over the course of the year.  This just means I pay the same rate in the Summer as I do in the Winter.  This is to offset winter usage so that bills are not astronomical.  I live in the Northeast though.  Can your area do something like this with spreading it out?  Maybe shooting an email to your Mayor or getting signatures or something can force their hand.

[gertrudecloset]

@geezerette 

This:

"........And from what I understand, those customers that chose to go with wholesale pricing instead of a fixed rate were promised a much lower rate (lower bill) in the temperate weather.  Which often turned out not to be as low as they thought (or were perhaps lead to believe) it would be.

[Sooner]

The energy industry and power suppliers have layers and layers of regulations, antiquated supply systems because that's a hit or miss issue, and not enough refineries. 

It is a holy mess beause people won't face reality about what we have and what we need and what can use. . . enough said.  

But everything is mandated, regulated, used for advantage, and reality has little to do with it.   And here we are and I'm not betting on it getting anything but worse.