A WTF power bill

GrundlestiltskinGrundlestiltskin Behind you!Registered User regular
edited January 2010 in Help / Advice Forum
So, my girlfriend and I moved into this one bedroom apartment in Boston in June. Our lease said "heat and hot water included." We have central air. During the summer months our power bill was $100-$130 a month, which we attributed to the central air and started looking forward to the winter months when our bills would be lower.

Our first winter bill (November) was for $211, holy fuck that can't possibly be right. We rechecked the lease and found a sub line that stated that heat was included, but only if heat was not electric (which ours apparently is). Our oversight, I guess the central air system also provides the heat.

So, we turned the thermostat down. We had been keeping it at 73, we bumped it down to 68. We also winterized some of the windows (haven't finished) and were gone for over a week around the holidays, during which time the heat and all electronics were off. Our December bill would have to be lower right? Well, we just got it and it's for $355. What the fuck is going on?

3DS FC: 2079-6424-8577 | PSN: KaeruX65 | Steam: Karulytic | FFXIV: Wonder Boy
Grundlestiltskin on

Posts

  • The Crowing OneThe Crowing One Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    First step is usually to check the meter vs. the statement, calling the utility company for clarification.

    Also, energy use isn't always measured by the temperature, but how hard the system needs to work to maintain that temp. 68 in September is generally cheaper than 68 in January, assuming equal use.

    It does seem quite high, considering.

    The Crowing One on
    3rddocbottom.jpg
  • RUNN1NGMANRUNN1NGMAN Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Check the energy rates...they may go up in the Winter because of increased demand. Also, there was a stretch in Dec-Jan where it was ridiculously cold. I live in DC and saw a similar jump in my electricity bill.

    RUNN1NGMAN on
  • SpongeCakeSpongeCake Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Is your meter in one of your rooms, or somewhere external and shared, along with the other apartments'? Your electricity company might have the wrong meter linked to your flat. Find out which one they think is yours (should be on a bill somewhere), take a reading, flip your circuit breaker off, wait a few minutes and take another reading. If it's gone up then you're being charged for a neighbour's electricity.

    SpongeCake on
  • DarksierDarksier Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Here's hoping you're not in a shared deal and can actually do something about your situation. I'm willing to freeze and put on layers to avoid paying high energy bills, but the neighbors under me enjoy their hot winters. My monthly electric bill shot up nearly 100% once winter hit.

    Darksier on
  • GrundlestiltskinGrundlestiltskin Behind you!Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Darksier wrote: »
    Here's hoping you're not in a shared deal and can actually do something about your situation. I'm willing to freeze and put on layers to avoid paying high energy bills, but the neighbors under me enjoy their hot winters. My monthly electric bill shot up nearly 100% once winter hit.

    Ours our up 300% since the summer, when we were using central air.

    Grundlestiltskin on
    3DS FC: 2079-6424-8577 | PSN: KaeruX65 | Steam: Karulytic | FFXIV: Wonder Boy
  • ceresceres When the last moon is cast over the last star of morning And the future has past without even a last desperate warningRegistered User, Moderator Mod Emeritus
    edited January 2010
    Darksier wrote: »
    Here's hoping you're not in a shared deal and can actually do something about your situation. I'm willing to freeze and put on layers to avoid paying high energy bills, but the neighbors under me enjoy their hot winters. My monthly electric bill shot up nearly 100% once winter hit.
    Basically. My husband and I are believers in putting on a sweater, and we only run our heat at the barest minimum, choosing to be cool in the summer instead. I know that over the years neighbors on either side have lost some heat to that, at least.

    ceres on
    And it seems like all is dying, and would leave the world to mourn
  • lifeincognitolifeincognito Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    ceres wrote: »
    Darksier wrote: »
    Here's hoping you're not in a shared deal and can actually do something about your situation. I'm willing to freeze and put on layers to avoid paying high energy bills, but the neighbors under me enjoy their hot winters. My monthly electric bill shot up nearly 100% once winter hit.
    Basically. My husband and I are believers in putting on a sweater, and we only run our heat at the barest minimum, choosing to be cool in the summer instead. I know that over the years neighbors on either side have lost some heat to that, at least.

    While I understand that Boston gets wicked cold and I really do mean wicked cold to the point of bundling up and still feeling frozen outside. I suggest you lower your temperature setting while you try to sort this out?

    I realize people like it warm and want to be comfy, but you need to realize you share walls with other people. I had a Physics professor rant about turning his heat down to 55 during graduate school. In the elevator all of his neighbors would curse their heating bill and he had to giggle because he knew they were heating his home. So if you share a wall with a person like my Professor, or a person like me (who puts his heat at 60 and it only goes up to 64 when I home) you maybe be paying for their heating costs. And while I thank you, I think you should put thick socks and a sweater?

    Also, how often does your heater run and how old is it as well?

    lifeincognito on
    losers weepers. jawas keepers.
  • illigillig Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    unplug everything electric in your apartment... then turn off the heat (including water heater, etc.)... if your electric meter is still spinning, then you're paying for someone else's electricity usage

    call your electricity supplier and have them investigate... a friend of mine in NY discovered that he was paying for the electricity to the hallway and basement (to which he had no access, and which housed the washer/dryer of the landlord) for several years... he was able to get a refund of over $1K from the landlord, and the landlord was forced to fix the wiring in the building.

    illig on
  • GrundlestiltskinGrundlestiltskin Behind you!Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I don't even know where the meter is in this place. It's a 12 apartment building or so that shares the building with a bar on the first floor. The meter is most definitely not in our apartment.

    As far as putting on more clothes goes, at 68 it's still pretty chilly in here. I have a feeling the central heat fails to heat the rooms we actually hang out in. When the heat was off the whole apartment dropped down to 38. This place is really poorly insulated. We don't mind paying a little extra to not have to wear ski jackets indoors, but $155 up from the previous month is ridiculous.

    Grundlestiltskin on
    3DS FC: 2079-6424-8577 | PSN: KaeruX65 | Steam: Karulytic | FFXIV: Wonder Boy
  • DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    if you have electric heat you're pretty much screwed. my last apartment was like that, and the bills were just as high. You should either bundle up, or buy a couple space heaters and just use those where you hang out most.

    DiscoZombie on
  • KivutarKivutar Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I don't even know where the meter is in this place. It's a 12 apartment building or so that shares the building with a bar on the first floor. The meter is most definitely not in our apartment.

    As far as putting on more clothes goes, at 68 it's still pretty chilly in here. I have a feeling the central heat fails to heat the rooms we actually hang out in. When the heat was off the whole apartment dropped down to 38. This place is really poorly insulated. We don't mind paying a little extra to not have to wear ski jackets indoors, but $155 up from the previous month is ridiculous.
    Christ, I can't even fathom this.
    I used to live in a moderately-sized one bedroom apartment in a block of 12, and I think the highest monthly bill I ever had was maybe $27. If I wasn't home much through the month, and didn't have to run the cooler, heater or computer constantly, it would drop as low as $9 or $10. I didn't have to pay gas, but everything was electric in the place anyway. I mean, I guess I don't know what you pay per kWh, or how poorly insulated the place is, but that seems absurd. Is this single bedroom a 2000 sq. ft. loft with no insulation or what?

    Kivutar on
  • GrundlestiltskinGrundlestiltskin Behind you!Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    We have a 1BR that's about 1000 square feet, maybe less. We pay 0.10 per KWH plus other fees per KWH, at 2261 KWH this month.

    Grundlestiltskin on
    3DS FC: 2079-6424-8577 | PSN: KaeruX65 | Steam: Karulytic | FFXIV: Wonder Boy
  • UsagiUsagi Nah Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I'm right down 95 a ways in CT and my electric bill has gone up roughly 500% since summer, though I don't have A/C to directly compare to your apartment. Electricity is expensive and even with the unusually cold weather we had in Dec and parts of Jan, I was definitely taken aback by my most recent bill. Unfortunately, there's not much we can do other than turn down the heat, turn off the lights and hope that spring gets here soon.

    Usagi on
  • Mom2KatMom2Kat Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Holey crap. I Have what is basicaly a double wide trailer and with a hot tub, fish pond, dishwasher, 2 computers running 24/7, wwasher and dryer, and air conditioner in summer we run $170 a month over 12 months. (BC Hydro will do an equalized payment plan so we are not hit with a huge bill every now and then.) Hey maybe your company could do that. An Equilized payment plan. When we had a 2 bedroom apartment with heat and hot water included I think $40 was a high month for us.

    I would deffinatley get this figured out. So your heat and hot water are supposed to be included in the rent? Are you running a dishwasher or a washer and dryer combo? That would increase your bill. Other than that I can't figure out why your bill would be so High.

    Mom2Kat on
  • KivutarKivutar Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    We have a 1BR that's about 1000 square feet, maybe less. We pay 0.10 per KWH plus other fees per KWH, at 2261 KWH this month.
    Jesus.
    That seems absurdly high - I'm in ~800 sq. ft. now, and my usage is roughly 200 kWh/mo.
    Are you sure you aren't paying for like all 12 units or something? :P

    Kivutar on
  • KiTAKiTA Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Yeah, there's something seriously screwed up there. Maybe call the landlord to have the wiring checked out. You might have an appliance shorting out or something.

    KiTA on
  • TrillianTrillian Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Mom2Kat wrote: »
    Holey crap. I Have what is basicaly a double wide trailer and with a hot tub, fish pond, dishwasher, 2 computers running 24/7, wwasher and dryer, and air conditioner in summer we run $170 a month over 12 months. (BC Hydro will do an equalized payment plan so we are not hit with a huge bill every now and then.) Hey maybe your company could do that. An Equilized payment plan. When we had a 2 bedroom apartment with heat and hot water included I think $40 was a high month for us.

    I would deffinatley get this figured out. So your heat and hot water are supposed to be included in the rent? Are you running a dishwasher or a washer and dryer combo? That would increase your bill. Other than that I can't figure out why your bill would be so High.

    we, in BC, effectively pay peanuts for electricity though, what with the billions of metric tons of water falling through turbines every second at every hydroelectric dam in the province. The people in crowded urban centers who don't have the same resources we do are obviously going to pay more, and get gouged in the winter when demand is high.

    Trillian on

    They cast a shadow like a sundial in the morning light. It was half past 10.
  • UsagiUsagi Nah Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    There's a very neat flash map of the US here that shows the relative average prices per kWh in 2007, and unsurprisingly the New England area is generally the most expensive (except for Hawaii)

    Usagi on
  • WildEEPWildEEP Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Having done some work for various power companies, I've gotten a close look at their billing practices.

    A great deal of their billing cycles are estimates of power usage. Look at your bills carefully - they describe that the power company has a great practice of projecting your expected usage, and just uses that to generate your bill. No meter check, just a formula they can punch into the bill printer.

    You can dispute this at any time and they'll come out to verify with the meter. Maybe they're wrong, maybe they're right.

    Most frequently, people will go on an extended vacaction and be gone for a month. They get back to a 300 dollar electric bill. They call, give a WTF shout, and the company refunds there money with a 'sorry, our bad'. After that, the company goes right back to billing by guess work.

    Moral and advice: Call and have them confirm the meter.

    WildEEP on
  • urahonkyurahonky Cynical Old Man Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I might have to try that. I had my thermostat set to 70 throughout last month, and I know it got crazy cold... But my bill went from ~$100 to $230. I didn't read to see if it was estimated or not.

    urahonky on
  • BarrakkethBarrakketh Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    urahonky wrote: »
    I might have to try that. I had my thermostat set to 70 throughout last month, and I know it got crazy cold... But my bill went from ~$100 to $230. I didn't read to see if it was estimated or not.

    They don't actually send someone out to check your meter every month. If you want the "privilege" of not getting screwed because of their estimations they want you to pay a monthly fee to check the meter remotely (at least where I live).

    In my case they usually don't bother refunding your money. A few months after getting your "WTF?" power bill(s) you receive one that's anywhere from 1/5th to 1/10th of what it should be for a couple of months before the payments go back to something reasonable.

    Barrakketh on
    Rollers are red, chargers are blue....omae wa mou shindeiru
  • DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I was under the impression that if they didn't check the meter and they overcharge you, they take it off the next bill when they do check the meter. Conversely if they undercharge you, they'll add the extra to your next bill when they check the meter. I didn't think they were legally allowed to charge you for electricity you didn't use in the long term.

    DiscoZombie on
  • iglidanteiglidante Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    We have a 1BR that's about 1000 square feet, maybe less. We pay 0.10 per KWH plus other fees per KWH, at 2261 KWH this month.

    Holy shit. You're using 2261 kwh for a 1-bedroom apartment? That's...just...wow.

    I've used under 1000 kwh per month in a townhouse. Of course, I switched out all the light bulbs and tried to be careful with usage, but still. That doesn't seem right at all.

    iglidante on
  • Mom2KatMom2Kat Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I was under the impression that if they didn't check the meter and they overcharge you, they take it off the next bill when they do check the meter. Conversely if they undercharge you, they'll add the extra to your next bill when they check the meter. I didn't think they were legally allowed to charge you for electricity you didn't use in the long term.

    yeah here in BC they seem to check every 2 months or so and you get charged on basis. Your bill will actually have the month and meter reading on it here. I have friends that are meter readers in town and yup every house gets a pysical meter reading every 2 months at least.

    Mom2Kat on
  • Descendant XDescendant X Skyrim is my god now. Outpost 31Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Mom2Kat wrote: »
    Holey crap. I Have what is basicaly a double wide trailer and with a hot tub, fish pond, dishwasher, 2 computers running 24/7, wwasher and dryer, and air conditioner in summer we run $170 a month over 12 months. (BC Hydro will do an equalized payment plan so we are not hit with a huge bill every now and then.) Hey maybe your company could do that. An Equilized payment plan. When we had a 2 bedroom apartment with heat and hot water included I think $40 was a high month for us.

    I would deffinatley get this figured out. So your heat and hot water are supposed to be included in the rent? Are you running a dishwasher or a washer and dryer combo? That would increase your bill. Other than that I can't figure out why your bill would be so High.

    Whoa whoa whoa. You're paying $170 a month to BC Hydro? Are you sure that you don't mean Terasen? Unless you have several grow-ops somewhere in that double-wide there's no way you should have a monthly bill from BC Hydro for $170. We get our bills bi-monthly from BC Hydro and I was shaken this month when the bill was over $70.

    Descendant X on
    Garry: I know you gentlemen have been through a lot, but when you find the time I'd rather not spend the rest of the winter TIED TO THIS FUCKING COUCH!
  • Mom2KatMom2Kat Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Nope not Terasen, We use Columbia Fuels for our Heating Oil. I just checked and its $125 on the equal payment plan. Nope no grow ops here.

    Mom2Kat on
  • Descendant XDescendant X Skyrim is my god now. Outpost 31Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Does your family somehow feed on electricity? Is the $170/month hydro bill a cheap alternative to groceries because all you need to go is stick a finger in a light socket for sustenance?

    What I'm saying is that a $170/month bill from Hydro is completely outside of my circle of experience and if I got a bill that large for electricity I'd probably drop dead from a aneurysm right there and then. It must cost a lot to run a fish pond and a hot tub, eh?

    Descendant X on
    Garry: I know you gentlemen have been through a lot, but when you find the time I'd rather not spend the rest of the winter TIED TO THIS FUCKING COUCH!
  • Mom2KatMom2Kat Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    It does, the hot tub is a huge power draw. With it turned off and the pond off for the winter my bill is around $80. The Furnace also takes a bunch of power because while it does not use electricity for the heating part (its oil) the fan and stuff is electric. The summer is the big power time when I have the air conditioner running too. One of the things that also dropped my bill alot was installing a programable thermostat for the furnace. $50 at Rona and a couple screws later I have a program to make the furnace run cooler in the times we are not home.

    Mom2Kat on
  • VisionOfClarityVisionOfClarity Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    From what I know from others who have had electric heat in Boston this cost sounds right.

    VisionOfClarity on
  • KivutarKivutar Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    The cost sounds right, I still don't see how you can use 2200+ kWh/mo. in a one bedroom apartment though.

    Speaking of grow ops...

    Kivutar on
  • KiTAKiTA Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    It's an apartment building, right? Wonder if someone's running some grow lights while feeding off your power line or something. Or the wiring's just screwed up. I'd have the landlord and/or power company check it out.

    KiTA on
  • GrundlestiltskinGrundlestiltskin Behind you!Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    iglidante wrote: »
    We have a 1BR that's about 1000 square feet, maybe less. We pay 0.10 per KWH plus other fees per KWH, at 2261 KWH this month.

    Holy shit. You're using 2261 kwh for a 1-bedroom apartment? That's...just...wow.

    I've used under 1000 kwh per month in a townhouse. Of course, I switched out all the light bulbs and tried to be careful with usage, but still. That doesn't seem right at all.


    We turn all the lights off when we leave. We have energy efficient bulbs. We turn all the electronics off when we leave. As far as I can tell, the jump in cost is solely due to the electric heat and during the 3 week period we were actually here. We just finished winterizing the windows, hopefully that makes a difference.

    Allegedly the 2261 is an actual reading, not an estimate.

    Grundlestiltskin on
    3DS FC: 2079-6424-8577 | PSN: KaeruX65 | Steam: Karulytic | FFXIV: Wonder Boy
  • SpongeCakeSpongeCake Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Definitely find out where your meter is and check it's actually yours.

    SpongeCake on
  • VisionOfClarityVisionOfClarity Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    We had a few negative days in December, so the fact that the electric heat worked over time that month is no surprising.

    Also, in Boston if you can control your heat then it is 99% likely that it is not included in the rent.

    VisionOfClarity on
  • Gilbert0Gilbert0 North of SeattleRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    WildEEP wrote: »
    A great deal of their billing cycles are estimates of power usage. Look at your bills carefully - they describe that the power company has a great practice of projecting your expected usage, and just uses that to generate your bill. No meter check, just a formula they can punch into the bill printer.

    Working as a programmer for my city's power, this is how it works. HOWEVER, most places have rules / laws as to how often you can estimate before you LEGALLY must read the meter. Typically that's 3-5 months.

    Everyone's advice though is spot on.

    -Step 1 should be talk to them. Is it an estimate or real? See if they'll give you last years usage at this time (you want to know how much to budget).
    -Step 2 is see if they have any kind of free "energy audit" people that can look at your apt to lower cost.
    -Step 3 is to make sure you are not paying for more than you should. Get the power company / electrician / landlord to see if for example the hallway lights tie to your meter than your going to be paying a lot more.

    Unfortunately, electric heat is very inefficient and it uses a lot more power than you think. A little plug-in floor heater can use 1-2 KW so the heat for your house has to use AT LEAST that much. 4 KW (equivalent to at least two them) * 6 hours a day * 30 days = 720 for just heating. Another 300 for hot water, another 300-500 on usage, it adds up quick. Get a cold snap, have poor insulation, it gets up there.

    Hopefully they can fix it or look into moving this summer.

    Gilbert0 on
Sign In or Register to comment.