Your Electric Bill

[LadyKay]

Hey all I hope this isn't too personal to ask. But have any of you notice your electric bill being higher then normal? I know it was a hot summer, but for almost 4 months our electric bill has been around $300.00. In the past it ran around $170-$180. I have stop using the dishwasher and only keep 1 or 2 lights on in the house. Don't know what else I can do except turn everything off and sit in the dark.

[TronRP]

And this is the very reason I am changing the house over to solar panels.

[TronRP]

Generally I got fed up with DTE when I ended up paying $6000+ for one winter season.

Sadly enough, I do not qualify for outside assistance that is not associated with taxes...

Edited October 11, 2012 by TronRP

[prick]

Generally I got fed up with DTE when I ended up paying $6000+ for one winter season.

Sadly enough, I do not qualify for outside assistance that is not associated with taxes...

e

$6000? How is that even possible? Even using four window air conditioners and fans whers was I wass married we never saw bills in that ball park. Ours never got over 300.

[torn asunder]

e

$6000? How is that even possible? Even using four window air conditioners and fans whers was I wass married we never saw bills in that ball park. Ours never got over 300.

when i got this place, it had radiant electric baseboard heaters. i set the thermostats to shut off at around 55-60 deg (as i wasn't living here yet, just didn't want the pipes to freeze). my 1st electric bill (for roughly 5 weeks) was $425, and that was in march/april. if i'd had it set at 68-70 deg? i could see $6k for an entire winter...

anyway, to OP (original poster) just look at your price per kilowatt & see how much it's gone up from the same time last year. if it's not a lot, then you likely really did use that much more electricity...

Edited October 11, 2012 by torn asunder

[TronRP]

e

$6000? How is that even possible? Even using four window air conditioners and fans whers was I wass married we never saw bills in that ball park. Ours never got over 300.

when i got this place, it had radiant electric baseboard heaters. i set the thermostats to shut off at around 55-60 deg (as i wasn't living here yet, just didn't want the pipes to freeze). my 1st electric bill (for roughly 5 weeks) was $425, and that was in march/april. if i'd had it set at 68-70 deg? i could see $6k for an entire winter...

anyway, to OP (original poster) just look at your price per kilowatt & see how much it's gone up from the same time last year. if it's not a lot, then you likely really did use that much more electricity...

Believe it or not, that was for the gas usage.

My house has an original boiler.

Last January I upgraded to regulated gas space heaters.

Dramatic change.

Unfortunately the "Gas Cost Recovery" Charge will kill you.

Generally we try to stay away from electrical use.

We get charged 4 times for the same wattage usage at 2 different rates.

This is how the city makes up for people who can not afford to pay their bills.

They over charge everyone else.

[prick]

Its a good idea to have all your meters checked too just to make sure your not being over charged

[amalthea23]

I'm in NY, if mine was $300 a month, I'd be SINGING with joy. Ours has been up to $800 a month. It's a f'n nightmare. We also found out our neighbor was likely tapping our meter (we found a buried cable) and when we told the electric company, they said it wasn't theft of service because "we were paying for it." Charming, eh?

[TronRP]

Confirmation...My mother spoke with DTE 2 weeks ago and the representative confirmed our suspicions...people in the city of Detroit are paying the bill for everyone who uses DTE services, but either cannot afford to pay or are secretly stealing service...wait...this information is like a double edge sword...knowing is just as bad as not knowing...legal robbery...

[Nerdcore]

yea i just got on DTE's payment plan you know what there payment plan is .....89.00 a month ! and if yoiu miss one payment it stopes and it goes back to the original bill.. this is killing me alone i judt pay gas an electric at my apt i might have to go on a payment plan on my gas i keep my heat at 70 all the time cuz my windows are super old and there is a big draft. i tryed that plastic stuff little one wants to rip at it all the time. i turn heat doewn at night or when im not home too.. uhhgg

[LadyKay]

Another thing. Back in Dec. I was 2 weeks behind on the electric bill and DTE sent me a shut off notice! I was like what the crap! It's only 2 weeks pass the due date and they send a shut off notice! I got it paid but I could not believe that they would send a shut off notice just being 2 weeks pass due!

[TronRP]

DTE is weary about sending shut off notices to its paying customers in Detroit, they are afraid they might chase off the only people they can milk for cash since now independent companies are moving in on their monopoly.