Help.. DAMN ELECTRICITY BILL!

burntoast · Post by **burntoast** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 6:21 pm

i just got my bill today... electricity of course... and it popped up from $109.14 to $380.37!! keep in mind this is my parents' bill, but their burden has also lifted upon my shoulders.

We live in a two-floor house, and I dunno if we're using too much electricity or not. Can someone tell me why our bill suddenly sky-rocketed?!

Issues to keep in mind: My comp's a sony vaio PC (not laptop) w/ a flat screen monitor (if that matters at all.. my parents say it's me and my comp's fault.

). I got dsl too.

I think it's most likely the damned heater/AC's fault... But this is still buggin' me.

Help..

kthulhu · Post by **kthulhu** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 6:44 pm

Do you leave any non-essential appliances (TVs, etcetera) on for long periods of time while not in use? What's your water heater set at? And air conditioning IS a big power guzzler. I doubt your PC can rack up $271 in electricity bills, unless the electric company has REALLY fucked up rates.

burntoast · Post by **burntoast** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 7:09 pm

hey d00d.. when my parents and I get outta the house for work and school, we turn everything off, so that can't be the problem.. unless the heater's messed up. we don't use air conditioning yet since it's still cold outside. i doubt my comp uses a whole lotta energy too.. but over the winter break, i did get online for like 12 straight hours about 5 days a week. maybe this could've affected the bill for one time?? we "depend on BGE" for our electricity too, but our rates are as follows:

5507 kWh x .03737000

...plus state tax n' junk but that doesn't really matter.

I'm still stumped.

MistyCaldwell · Post by **MistyCaldwell** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 7:16 pm

Is this the first year you guys lived there? If it was all electric heating then maybe I can see the rise but I don't know of anything that would do that in one month. Electric companies do make mistakes, check that. And definitely check for extension cords going from your house to the neighbors...

jonmartensen · Post by **jonmartensen** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 7:27 pm

It is winter so.....

Heaters eat up a good chunk of juice. Is your water heater gas or electric. That can eat quite a bit of juice also.

burntoast · Post by **burntoast** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 7:32 pm

extension cords going to my neighbors... uhoh.

actually we moved in here sorta recently, it's been a couple of months.

our heating's run completely by electricity, so that may also be the case. i called the company, BGE, and asked them to conduct an analysis on our bill.. the automated answering machine reluctantly agreed.

ain't really my problem anymore, my family's planning a divorce and i'm gonna try moving to a fun-filled city.. yippie.