cbjlovenest
Posts:104
 | | 01/06/2008 9:25 AM |
 Alert | | Can anyone give me an estimate of their gas bill. We received an outrageous bill today, $147.00. Its only my wife and myself, we barely run the heater, I dont know how we may have used this much gas.....any suggestions or thoughts? What can we do, our last bill was like $40.00 which seemed to be normal to us. WTH?? | | | |
|
|
karen
Posts:0
| | 01/06/2008 12:08 PM |
Alert | my bill was crazy too. I don't remember what it was, but when I opened it i had to do a double take. I haven't had the heater on but a few times either.
My water bill was high too and my sprinklers were off for 90% of the month. Ug! | | | |
|
|
|
charann
Posts:210
| | 01/06/2008 1:47 PM |
Alert | Our bill increased from about $15 to I believe it's $56 or $60 this month. We have a gas water heater, which, during the summer, our gas bill is always under $20, but, also the garage is hotter during the day then it is now in the winter, so with us, our increase is probably due to the fact that now we have to use more of the gas heater to heat up our water for a longer period of time. Not sure if that makes sense how I'm saying it, but I know what i mean! Basically, because the garage is hotter in the summer, the water doesn't take that long to heat and because of that, we don't use as much gas as we do in the winter when it takes longer for the water to heat due to the colder temps and colder garage.
That's just us though. | | | |
|
|
|
AuntieAnn
Posts:204
| | 01/06/2008 2:35 PM |
Alert | | We have a gas water heater and furnance and our bill was around $80 ( I am home all day also). In the summer our bill is around $20 and I suppose it will be around $80-$100 in the winter. | | | |
|
|
|
riverar7
Posts:14
| | 01/06/2008 4:41 PM |
Alert | | Mine was 51.00 last month and month of december was 94.00. The only thing I turned on was the furnace a couple of nights. Just not right. Therms used showed really high which I don't understand. Could the water heater be constantly running for it to be this high.? hmmm | | | |
|
|
|
karen
Posts:0
| | 01/06/2008 5:21 PM |
Alert | | my bill last year was half of what it is this month... I looked it up. What the heck? | | | |
|
|
 |
TortosaGuy
Posts:682
| | 01/06/2008 5:56 PM |
Alert | | our water bill was actually 5 dollars less....but our gas bill went from 28 to 78....yes we have our heat set to come on if the temp drops below 70 degrees...but thats still ridiculous in my opinion...and though i can see it may take a shade longer for the water to be hot during cold months versus the summer time...it still gets hot fairly quick...not enough of a difference to add up to 50 bucks...but thats just my opinion | |
*formerly known as inyrfce2*
Senior Member
Posts: 797
Joined: Dec 2006 | |
|
|
|
love@hm
Posts:476
| | 01/06/2008 11:03 PM |
Alert | Ours was $48 up from about $25. Apparently that is pretty good. We have had our furnace on some - not tons - when we turn it on we have never had it above 66 and usually we have only had one on at a time (we have 1st and 2nd story controls)
You also have to remember most of these utility companies have "off seasons" We are no longer in the "off season" for gas. Although, I don't remember seeing Southwest saying rates would differ for 6 months - so this may not be the case. . . I believe they also just raised their regular rates (I think I saw a note about that - maybe that was something else. . . )
OP - your bill does not fit the norm of doubling - as yours tripled, call the co, have them come out an check your lines and re-read your meter - something may be off - they will check your lines for free because it is a safety issue. We actually had them come by our house in Mesa when someone walked past and thought they smelled gas -- SW contacted us in the middle of the night to check our lines. . . | | | |
|
|
|
AZ_KD
Posts:31
| | 01/06/2008 11:03 PM |
Alert | | Our bill has gone up $15 since November to $45. | | | |
|
|
|
charann
Posts:210
| | 01/07/2008 6:40 AM |
Alert | | Did any of your Electric bills drop though? Ours dropped a good $20 or $30 this past bill, but our gas bill did go up. We dont' have gas heat, just a gas water heater and I know for us, when I'm really cold, I tend to take more hot baths, so as long as our gas bill doesn't go too crazy and then goes back down for the summer, we'll be OK. For us, it evens out, lower electric bill, higher gas and in the summer, lower gas, higher electric. | | | |
|
|
|
Chistoso
Posts:34
| | 01/07/2008 8:21 AM |
Alert | | This sounds about right. Last year my gas was around $120, but my electric was low. Keep in mind what you are using and how often you are using as to usage will effect you bill. | |
"Gee Brain, what are we going to do tonight?" | |
|
|
|
seri
Posts:121
| | 01/07/2008 12:06 PM |
Alert | | Ours went fro 45 to 117.. we just got off the phone with them ( the gas company) and they suggest dropping the heat down to 66-68 and throwing a blanket on.. yeah just what i want to do all day.. guess we will be having high bills... | | | |
|
|
|
karen
Posts:0
| | 01/07/2008 2:13 PM |
Alert | | well even my electric was higher this month. I just don't get it! | | | |
|
|
|
Fritzydoodle
Posts:959
| | 01/07/2008 4:14 PM |
Alert | If your hot water heater is in the unheated garage, it will keep cycling to keep the water at the set temperature. Get a thermal water heater blanket at Home Depot or Lowes. It helps keep the water hot longer between cycles. Check your windows and doors for air leaks with a candle - if the flame is blowing, cold air is coming in - hot air is escaping.
| |
| |
|
|
|
cbjlovenest
Posts:104
| | 01/10/2008 9:55 AM |
Alert | Thanks much!
Our water heater is in the garage, its got two open vents for the garage which could be a contributer, although it south facing and is pretty warm in the garage (I smoke so that is my warmest place to smoke). I am pretty sure that its a gas furnace too and we didnt really use it all until this last month, I like it to be around 70 in the house anyways. I am going to see if I can insulate the water heater.
BUT I definately agree that it was too steep of an increase to be explained by normal use, so I am gonna have them come out and see what is going on for sure, may be time for an in line water heater if that is going to be normal. Wow....
Thanks fellow Tortosans for your input. | | | |
|
|
|