Got my December gas bill. Holy cow! Seniors on fixed

[leftyladyfrommo]

incomes are in trouble.

I have a new furnace and a very small house. I usually keep my heat at 60 at night and 65 during the day.

Last month's bill was $98. My new one is $216.

[Emile]

1. Ouch, that's quite an increase.

[leftyladyfrommo]

2. And everyone is saying the same thing. Bills

doubled and tripled. My neighborhood is small houses. I wonder what the bills for the big houses are.

Rents will be going up.

And it's all Biden's fault, you know.

[Emile]

4. You talk to people around here Biden is jacking

up prices on everything. A year ago he was a tax and spend socialist, now he's a worldwide predatory capitalist raising prices on everything..

[TheBlackAdder]

3. My utility company allows you to spread out your utility payments over 12 months.

.

This way you aren't socked with wild gas and electric charges for really cold months.

Of course, low usage months raise to create this equal payment plan that's adjusted yearly.

The nice part is, the more you cut costs, convert to LEDs, etc., you get a rebate or the last month becomes free.

.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

7. My utility company is owned by a government agency...natural gas prices just dropped 15%.

Manitoba Hydro…

As usual u all being hustled by gas pirates.

Many many protections for consumers, will never turn gas off in winter, generous payment options…profits returned to agency and taxpayer with mandate to lower prices for gas and electricity.

Is that way wrong or just socialist? U all got happy socialists to the North, then.

U all want a model nation to create a new mold? Don’t look too far.

[True Blue American]

8. I do level billing on my electric

Should do the same on gas. One or 2 high bills.. we are at 0 wind chill. We do sign with fixed price each year.

But, golly gee the companies need that big Senior raise more than we do.

[Hortensis]

26. Ours also. It's a coop, so the fees stay fairly aligned with costs,

which are reported to us. Now and then we get a little refund check.

[LiberalArkie]

27. My coop is the way also. They are now stringing fiber everywhere for internet.

I would have never imagined gigabit internet in the Ouachita national forest.

[Hortensis]

38. :) Marvelous! Reminds me of friends we lost track of over time

after they retired "back home" to a hilly little farm in northern Arkansas, in the Ozarks. Very beautiful, but way out of whatever was "town" and no internet or cell. That's probably changing for them also, or will with rural infrastructure development.

[Klaralven]

5. We're burning lots more gas for electrical generation, instead of coal and nuclear

Plus, we are now exporting more. If we get enough export capacity, gas prices will match those in Europe, which are much higher.

[ProfessorGAC]

51. On Top Of That...

...looking at the NASDAQ page, gas went from $4.28 per million BTUs on Wednesday to $6.31 on Thursday.
Then Friday it can back down to $4.63.
So, demand is up & prices are being manipulated. If supply was really a risk, it wouldn't have fallen back a dollar fifty-three the very next day.
Demand plus shenanigans. An unpleasant combination.

[Demsrule86]

6. Look for another supplier...I have cut my bill that way.

[True Blue American]

9. Same here.

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. Unlike oil, electric and natural gas utilities are usually monopolies.

You usually don't have much choice, if at all.

At least if you add solar, you can reduce (eventually) your electric bill.

[Farmer-Rick]

23. Look for another supplier??????

Really you can pick who you get your utilities from? Since when?

You know what utilities I have NO CHOICE about?

Water, internet, heat, electricity and propane (Propane is done by installing an underground tank that they own. You can't buy it. But only the company that put it in can fill it. Unless you dig up your back yard and get another company to install their tank for about $2,500.)

No other company offers those services except specific regional monoplolies. We have been divided up and handed over to greedy, corrupt corporations for wealth extraction. This is the ultimate capitalist dream.

[Hortensis]

33. Less reaction, more checking it out maybe? You may well be able

to change at least some suppliers. Maybe talk with people you know. It's now common in many areas for people to shop their electricity. We've often learned that friends have ways to get cell, internet and cable we haven't heard of, for a lot cheaper than we're paying to take the easy way.

You insisted propane didn't count even as you admitted you could change that; but it does count. You have options, including simply by switching some or all energy use to electricity if that saved anything. Used electric appliances and installation can be very inexpensive. In any case, no evil corporate forces are forcing you not to shop your options, which technology has been expanding.

The same for any other switches, including all that could involve initial expenditures to save money. The evil corporate wealth extractors do not say how you spend your money, much less what you choose to put money aside for to open up your choices.

[Farmer-Rick]

42. Less assumptions, more understanding

I have tried to change utilities. I would love to get rid of Comcast err...Xfinity, Comcast is so corrupt and has such a bad reputation, they changed their name. They try to cheat you on your bill at least once a year. Can't be changed because NO ONE offers internet service here except them. It's planned that way. It's called regional monopolies. It's a common business practice.

I've done the research on all my utilities. Of course I know. Not knowing means you pay more. Why would I want to pay more? You assume I can't figure it out.

You live in an area that allows competition. You assume everyone does. Not everyone lives in an area like your area. You make a lot of assumptions. My daughter lives in LA and she does have choices.....some.

But does anyone have a choice in water or septic service providers???? Really more than one electrical provider?

Oh come off it. No one believes paying $2,500 to change over a supplier is a good choice...or any choice really.

No, really there is no competition in utility providers. That's why they should have stayed as government facilities. Turning all utilities over to for-profit markets leads to monopolies. Just another wealth extraction system for the filthy rich.

[Demsrule86]

47. We pay nothing to switch utilities and we have a coop which I belong to. Our bills have been pretty

good. As for the internet. 5G is coming. We can already get TMobile 5G internet but we have ATT which is a Terabyte and better right now. I think the TMobile speed is 180 right now...but it is pretty amazing. how it works. I live in a small city outside of Cleveland.

[Farmer-Rick]

53. Do you have competing water and septic services you can switch to?

I was just wondering if other folks have competing utilities. A lot of people have internet competition...not me...but electrical, water and gas services usually don't get any competition.

I heard about electrical and gas Co-ops. Around here, everybody abandoned them before we moved here. I heard those Co-ops have good prices.

Regional monopolies should not be allowed in my opinion. If we are going to do capitalism, then we should do it right and require competition. If no for-profit capitalist wants to compete then the government should provide the competition.

[2naSalit]

30. We don't have that option.

We have one provider and they are choking our state because coal is dying and a lot of it comes from the mines the power plant sits on and that is preparing to shut down.

[Demsrule86]

48. Where do you live? Also, consider a pellet fireplace.

[barbtries]

10. wow.

here in Durham NC, though I miss having a "real" winter, it hasn't stayed really cold for any extended period of time. I haven't noticed a big bill yet, guess we'll see this month.

[twodogsbarking]

11. $190 last year; $250 this year, same usage.

[rainin]

34. Wow! That's robbery! n/t

[twodogsbarking]

37. Half the homes in Pa rely on natural gas for heat.

Gas reserves are abundant as is coal. Pa is also second in the nation for nuclear
generation. Capitalism.

[Snarkoleptic]

12. Wait, so the oil and gas extracting billionaires lied when they told us we would

have a glut of cheap energy if we would just let them poison the earth with mysterious and toxic fracking fluid?

[Tickle]

14. My oil doubled

in price for a tank fill up from last year. My electric is way up also. As for food I seem to get shocked every time I check out.

I’ve lived in less expensive times 🙁

[JT45242]

15. Curious how it compared year on year?

We have been on even billing for years. We got a new furnace and kept paying the old rate which was $30 more than our new adjusted rate.

Glad we have that cushion built in. Going to budget billing helps because it spreads out the awful cold Iowa winter bills with the low summer bills.

FYI here in Iowa our per therm cost last month was double the previous year.

[richdj25]

16. That's quite the jump

over a month. I'm on what's called a payment plan with Washington Gas, whereas I pay the same amount over a 12 month period. Any cost spikes are pretty much made up during the warmer months.

[multigraincracker]

17. I'm wearing my Carhartts around the house now.

Only way I can stay warm. Even wear them to bed.

[Demovictory9]

18. that is a big increase..

[doc03]

19. I have a 2 BR house with total electric. My latest bill was for $247 and last month it was $157.

But last month the average temperature was 38 degrees over 32 days. This month the average temperature was 30 degrees
over 35 days and I used an additional 736 KWH. The average temperature was 8 degrees cooler this billing cycle there were 3 extra
days and I used 736 KWH more electric. I have average billing, so I pay roughly $150 year around. I keep my temperature at
69 degrees 24/7/365. Last January I used $222 but it was an average of 2 degrees warmer and there were 3 days less in the billing cycle. There are two 40" high pressure gas lines about 300 yards from my house sending our gas someplace north but we don't have gas available to us.

[Woodwizard]

20. As I get older

I have been doing things around the house thinking of retirement we put on solar in 2014 it covers 80 percent of out electric with me using my shop equipment. This year I added mini split air source heat pumps, our primary heat is a wood stove and was resistance electric backup.

The heat pumps are amazing we have had several 8-10 below zero F and they have produced plenty of heat electric consumption goes up to around 900 watts a unit at those temps in the teens and 20's they run around 500 while running. When I installed them I put meters on just to get an idea of expected seasonal energy consumption since Late OCT they have used 640 KWH about 125.00 in electric at full rate. We still burn the stove but not at the rate of wood consumption we used to and no more freezing mornings when the stove has burned down.

[Johnny2X2X]

21. Huh, mine was low

Live in West Michigan. It’s been bitterly cold the last month. I have a 2000 square foot home. Keep it at 68. $156 paid yesterday. Not bad.

[Wicked Blue]

22. Please have that new furnace checked by the installer

There could be some glitch that might be fixable

[leftyladyfrommo]

24. It's the whole neighborhood. Bills just got to people

yesterday. It will be interesting to see the coming pushback on this.

[Takehikes]

25. Older home?

I’m guessing you have an older home. My gas bill last month was less than $50 in Oregon but I have a new energy efficient home. That and if your gas company had to buy in the spot market matters. I presume we are talking natural gas and not propane, that is a whole different story.

[panader0]

28. I use wood for heat. I have for many years.

It's more rare here in Az than Missouri. If you can install a good woodstove you'll save money.
Of course, there is a bit of work involved. I cut and haul my own wood and am always on the
lookout for sources of BTUs. But in a heavily forested state like Missouri, you could get your wood
split and delivered. On cold days (it was 26 this morning) I put a pot of beans or stew on top and
let it simmer all day. I also keep a pot of water on the woodstove to humidify the air.

[NickB79]

35. Same here in Minnesota

Got a sweet deal on 3 cords of hardwood from a kid clearing land for a new house. We have a propane furnace as well for backup, and replaced our AC with a heat pump that works down to 20F.

We're really well-set. I've only used a couple hundred gallons of propane this winter, and it's been around -20F at night lately.

[Tracer]

29. Shocking gas bill.

I have a recently installed a high efficiency furnace that works like a charm ----but----
my latest bill was $449 buckeroos. For one month. And it hasn't been that cold lately (except for the blizzard that's going on right now).

The only saving grace is that it soon will be February and the gas usage should be coming down.

[2naSalit]

31. Mine is nearly the same...

And I'm in a new modular thing with all new electric appliances.

[RainCaster]

32. Our propane has doubled over the winter

So glad we had a heat pump installed last fall. We usse so much less now.

[Historic NY]

36. It was very high here too, something about the 2020

lockdown and estimated billing . Delivery charges that's a whole another issue, that is what drove up bills. A utility may pay another to get access to the service, even if you switch, your utility company charges for the new supplier to use their lines.

Note I am on budget billing, it's the only way to keep the surprise down. I try to tell people, but I get all kinds of excuses. The billing cycle here in NY is 2 months. This month's bill had the adjustment applied for my annual, the $390 bill reduced to less than 70 combined. These companies give you fancy bill that need a statistician to review.

[shrike3]

39. Our bill was $100 higher.

But our basement isn't heated, so we run space heaters down there so the pipes don't freeze.

[sarcasmo]

40. 325 here in Wisconsin, we had quite a few single digit temp days.

[Meowmee]

41. Ours doubled as well

Last edited Sat Jan 29, 2022, 06:56 PM - Edit history (2)

Last oil bill was over $500! We have been using less since my father died but had very cold weather and I have been sick for weeks so we have had to boost the heat more than I would. The power goes out at the drop of a hat here as well so we have to boost it pre storms.

We just had 2 ft of snow or more. I was up waiting for the oil service because our furnace exploded and started spewing steam and leaking water. They came at 4 am finally. This is the service we get for the highest oil/ energy/ utility bills in the country.


I had them out here 3 times already for a yearly service and problems because something was wrong and they still have not figured it out or fixed electrical problems. Somehow they missed that a small tank part on the furnace was corroded and failing. And they still have not diagnosed/ fixed the electrical problems but at least the furnace is working now. He said this would not affect the amount of oil being burned but I find that hard to believe. I have to keep the heat at 68 for it to even go on since the heating season started. In Canada we never had power outages even in the coldest areas in the country.

[wryter2000]

43. Same here

My PG&E went from a maximum of about $130 or so to $270.

[FreeState]

52. Sam here with SDGE

Every year they go up more than inflation.

Electricity rates up an average of 7.8%; gas rates up 24.6%

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2022-01-14/its-a-new-year-and-your-sdg-e-electric-bill-just-got-more-expensive?_amp=true

[moondust]

44. Mine doubled.

December usage was exactly the same as previous December but price doubled. Not looking forward to January bill. Is it gouging related to pandemic?

[leftyladyfrommo]

45. Here it is being blamed on that huge mess in

Texas last winter.

[moondust]

46. Maybe in Texas but

I thought Texas had its own "private" supplier that neglected the infrastructure leading to the mess. I don't know why that private system failure would affect the broader national supply system that everybody else is on.

[iemanja]

49. Wow!

I have a plan that averages my gas over the course of the year. I pay about $70 a month.

[myohmy2]

50. $133...

...here per month on our monthly plan...

...this inflation thingy will cost us votes in November...

...what we need is a true working people's party...what we have now is the A&B wings of the capitalist party skirmishing...

...we really need to kick some capitalist ass but it's hard to do when you are one or in bed with one...

...face it, big money thinks they'll do better with trump and the boys...big money will do everything to trip us up and slow us down...

...we're either going to grab these capitalists by the balls or they'll grab us...

...and grabbing hurts...