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02/19/2007 11:55:47 PM · #1 |
Over the past few months mine has been real high. $210-$275, just insane More then double what it normally runs this time of year.
I looked at my bill a little closer. My bill was just an estimate on what they thought my bill should be. Seems they are low on meter readers and just pull a figure out of there ass and estimate what they think the bill should be. Is that not the most insane thing ever? I guess its legal, but certainly they will estimate on the high side (duh), so every customer who does not question there bill is getting screwed over.
I told them I was sure their estimate was incorrect and demanded they come read my my meter in person. They did.
I recieved a $510 credit on my gas bill in the mail today. I contemplated calling them and demanding a check instead of the credit, but I knew that would not ever work, and it was not worth the hassle.
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02/20/2007 12:03:16 AM · #2 |
Wow, good tip. I am glad you caught that..
Is this for a specific area? Or does it apply to everyone?
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02/20/2007 12:09:55 AM · #3 |
I live in Houston. I have never heard one report on the news or anyone say one word about it in the media. Kind of crazy, I dont know how they get away with it.
I do have friends that have complained about the high gas bill, and I will certainly pass the word along. |
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02/20/2007 12:12:22 AM · #4 |
| Around here they read the meter every second month. The other month is an estimate. |
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02/20/2007 12:17:25 AM · #5 |
| Here in the UK we have a meter reading every other quarter, with an estimated bill in between. If your account is in credit at the end of a 12 month period you get a refund. Most people pay a set amount each month by Direct Debit. |
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02/20/2007 12:33:04 AM · #6 |
Down here [ NZ] every 2nd gas bill seems to be estimated and its always high as well, we just pay and it seems to come right the next month
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02/20/2007 12:34:47 AM · #7 |
Where I live we pay every three months (you don't have a choice). I pay about $400-$500 average each three months.
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02/20/2007 12:38:37 AM · #8 |
| I feel for you. I get pissed when my Gas/Electric bill hits $50. |
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02/20/2007 12:58:36 AM · #9 |
Gas bill is not high -- but I use it only for cooking, heating water and as backup for the heatpump. We are on what the local company calls Level Pay. They average the last twelve months actual usage and charge that each month, with quarterly adjustments to the amount if needed. Any excess, credit or debit, is just carried over and makes itself right in the next season.
As for estimating the reading, they do that here occasionally as well. This last month was estimated because there was 6 inches of ice on the ground below a foot of snow. It is just not worth the hassle for them to read it. Water usage was estimated this last month as well, for the same reason.
I just wish the local company would quit hiking the electric rate -- after several increases it is double what it was a year ago.
David
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02/20/2007 01:05:40 AM · #10 |
I know this don't have to do with a gas bill but it does have to do with meter reading. I had a friend that watered his grass everyday all spring and summer long but his water bill was not going up. He told me about it and I told him they must be averaging his bill or not reading it. Sure enough he went outside and noticed that the meter was almost covered with grass showing it had not been lifted in a while.
To make a long story short the meter reader didn't want to take the time to read the meter and was just estimating. A new meter reader was put in that area and did read his meter and he was hit with a water bill over $500. He tried to dispute the bill but failed and had to pay up.
BTW: My gas bill avg about $25 dollars in the warm months and jumps to almost $200 during the winter. And all I have that runs on gas is a water heater and furnace. Everything else is electric and it runs $93.00 per month year around.
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02/20/2007 01:45:34 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by Judi:
Where I live we pay every three months (you don't have a choice). I pay about $400-$500 average each three months. |
WHAT??? Are you inhaling that stuff or what?? ;) I think ours is about $200 for 3 months...and we have stove, hot water system and BBQ hooked up to it!
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02/20/2007 01:52:11 AM · #12 |
| Sorry guys, I get free gas!!!!!! |
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02/20/2007 02:02:05 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by meow:
Sorry guys, I get free gas!!!!!! |
Don't eat so many beans. |
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02/20/2007 02:04:04 AM · #14 |
| I knew someone would say that!!!!!! |
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02/20/2007 02:05:01 AM · #15 |
| At least mine is free, everyone else here pays for theirs!!!!! |
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02/20/2007 02:30:30 AM · #16 |
Originally posted by Makka:
Originally posted by Judi:
Where I live we pay every three months (you don't have a choice). I pay about $400-$500 average each three months. |
WHAT??? Are you inhaling that stuff or what?? ;) I think ours is about $200 for 3 months...and we have stove, hot water system and BBQ hooked up to it! |
Yeah but we are hot...so we need air cons!
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02/20/2007 07:50:57 AM · #17 |
We don't have gas here, we're all electric in our house. Meters are read every month but in the winter months it's often estimated because of the high snow and the meter reader can't get around to the back of the house to read it. Then they send us an estimated bill. That happened to us last month and it was estimated a lot higher than what we used the previous month or even what we had used last year the same month (that info is on the bill). I don't know why they estimated it high, I think they should just base it on the same month the year before. If we want we can read our own meter and submit the reading online and they will give us a credit. If not, it all works out when they finally do get to read the meter and that month will be a very low bill.
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02/20/2007 08:31:15 AM · #18 |
| For as long as I can remember, gas meter readings here are based on estimates. Unless you take the reading yourself and phone them with the correct reading your bill is based on the estimate. |
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02/20/2007 08:37:00 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by meow:
Sorry guys, I get free gas!!!!!! |
Not EVERYONE can live in Almost Heaven. :) |
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02/27/2007 09:21:01 PM · #20 |
I'm actually an attorney for a gas company here in Illinois. In Illinois, the Illinois Commerce Commission regulates the public utilities. Gas Companies in Illinois are required to read the meter ever other month. The odd month can be an estimate. At my company, you can just call and request a check be sent out if there is a credit balance. Many people like the credit since your gas bill isnt going to go away :)
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02/27/2007 09:38:42 PM · #21 |
"Many people like the credit since your gas bill isnt going to go away :)"
Mine went away :)
I live in Colorado and my gas bill is just $15 a month. My gas furnace broke last February and I didn't even notice for three days. I figgered I'd see how long I could go without fixing it and I'm still going.
I live in a 2 bed, 2 bath condo and between: the ambient building temperature, my electical appliances warming the air (computers and lights put out more heat than you'd think ;), the sun shining on one wall, a space heater in my bedroom for the coldest nights, sweatshirts and hot chocolate, I've made it through outside temps as low as minus 13. The lowest it's been inside is 55 and that's early in the morning. Normal is 60 in the AM and by noon it's usually up to 65 or so.
Obviously I don't have a girlfriend right now :)
Message edited by author 2007-02-27 21:39:38. |
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02/27/2007 09:46:26 PM · #22 |
| You guys think you have got it bad??? We pay $600-$700 PER MONTH in the winter!!!!!!! |
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02/27/2007 09:47:17 PM · #23 |
You guys think you have got it bad??? We pay $600-$700 PER MONTH in the winter!!!!!!!
Sorry...just a little peeved because the bill is so high, even though I don't have to pay it. :) Good thing I still live at home.
Oops...sorry for the double post.
Message edited by author 2007-02-27 21:47:34. |
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02/27/2007 10:01:27 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by daboardergirl:
You guys think you have got it bad??? We pay $600-$700 PER MONTH in the winter!!!!!!! |
Fresh air is nice, but you guys might try closing the windows a bit in winter! How big is your house?!!! |
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02/27/2007 10:04:08 PM · #25 |
Originally posted by rob_banks:
Originally posted by daboardergirl:
You guys think you have got it bad??? We pay $600-$700 PER MONTH in the winter!!!!!!! |
Fresh air is nice, but you guys might try closing the windows a bit in winter! How big is your house?!!! |
Haha! About 2,800 square feet. Where we live, they only do propane so it is quite expensive!
Message edited by author 2007-02-27 22:06:22. |
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