Got my first "But it's christmaaaaaas!"

[Jester]

I don't think I've ever seen a bill over 300 even when it was close to disconnection.

I want to know where YOU live.

I live in a second story three bedroom 2 bathroom apartment, and at various times, we have had 3 or 4 people living here. Our average monthly electric bill is $350, and we have had some in the high $400's. Not at all odd.

The one time we had a $300 water bill, that was odd, since water runs between $30-40 every month. We couldn't figure it out, until we realized we had a really drippy faucet in the shower/tub. We paid the water bill unhappily, had our landlord fix the problem, and ever since then, we report drips and leaks IMMEDIATELY!

[mariamousie1]

So it's your fault her kids aren't getting presents because their mom can't budget properly? Priorities, lady. Get some.

[ArcticChicken]

The one time we had a $300 water bill, that was odd, since water runs between $30-40 every month. We couldn't figure it out, until we realized we had a really drippy faucet in the shower/tub.

In my home town the water company sends you a letter telling you to check for leaks if your water bill goes up suddenly.

[Gurndigarn]

I want to know where YOU live.

Ohio.

I live in a second story three bedroom 2 bathroom apartment, and at various times, we have had 3 or 4 people living here. Our average monthly electric bill is $350, and we have had some in the high $400's. Not at all odd.

Budget payment for us. Family of eight, and I'm complaining because the payment moved up to $180 per month. And there is no gas in this house, so that covers all the utilities beyond water and trash.

[protege]

Highest ever electric bill for me was $60. That was back in July when I had to run the a/c unit (before it blew up ) 3 days straight. Even with the fans on, the house was a sauna--the heat was giving me migraines! The only bill that seems to jump up drastically, is the gas bill. That can easily reach over $100 during the winter...which is why I turn down the heat at night, and when I'm not home.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Am I the only person on the board who doesn't get electric bills, but has a meter? O_o I usually put in about £10 per week which covers basic necessities; my boyf gives me money to cover heating bills. I switch off all lights save the room I'm in, only have the heating on for as long as it takes to heat the room, don't have heating and tumble dryer on at the same time, oh and I unplug the TV, stereo and sandwich toaster.

[Hyndis]

It's usually when they're a high user and they've been under estimated.

I had that happen to me just this last month.

I got smacked with a $600 bill, something that would only happen if I was using up around 2.7kwh/h 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The actual power usage here is around 1kwh/h for 4 people.

Turns out they hired a new guy to read the meters in the area. He completely misread them, vastly under reporting the power usage for the previous 5 months. Then a guy who actually knew how to read the meters properly was sent out, read the correct value, and I got hit with the difference all in the same month. Due to the price of electricity not being linear, it was a massive bill. The normal bill is around $100ish dollars.

Took a long time on the phone but the power company was finally convinced that it wasn't our doing here. In order to use that kind of power every single lightbulb, appliance, and the dryer have to all be running at the same time, 24 hours a day. And they aren't.

[Golden Phoenix]

Am I the only person on the board who doesn't get electric bills, but has a meter? O_o I usually put in about £10 per week which covers basic necessities; my boyf gives me money to cover heating bills. I switch off all lights save the room I'm in, only have the heating on for as long as it takes to heat the room, don't have heating and tumble dryer on at the same time, oh and I unplug the TV, stereo and sandwich toaster.

Actually i have pre-pay meters too, on both electricity and gas. I love them, so easy to budget and none of this over/under estimated nonsense.

[Jester]

I unplug the TV, stereo and sandwich toaster.

Um, why do you unplug them? If they're not on, they're not exactly using electricity, plugged or not.

[Golden Phoenix]

Actually some items, especially those with transformers on them can continue to draw power, of course, you can get aroudn this by simply switching off the socket.

[Evil Queen]

Actually some items, especially those with transformers on them can continue to draw power, of course, you can get aroudn this by simply switching off the socket.

This is true. My Mom had a space heater that just ATE power even turned off. So we always had to unplug it when we were done using it.

[Aethian]

Anyone ever turn off the main circut breaker to try and save money too?

[Evil Queen]

No but I heard it's bad for the water heater if you do that.

[Aethian]

Well then, I won't turn off the main switch...just all the others...specially that one that I have no clue what it is actaully hooked too.

[Broomjockey]

that one that I have no clue what it is actaully hooked too.

So YOU'RE the reason my lights keep going out.


no? How about

OH GODS NO NOT THAT ONE!!!!!!! *runs screaming*