Electric / Utility Bills Getting Out of Control

JN137
Posts
284
Joined
1/18/2017
Location
USA
Edited Date/Time 9/17/2022 11:11am
So, prices have definitely gone up. But, is anyone else seeing astronomically high utility bills recently?

I just received this month's electric bill and all I can say is wow. I have lived in my current home since 2017 and have never ever had bills over $250, even in the hottest summer months. They would range between $100-200 on average. This month? $520.. preceded by two months of $450 and $430. Even with the cost of energy skyrocketing, I can't comprehend how my bills can be getting this high. (And we're supposed to believe the answer to high gas prices is buy an electric car...)

Anyways.

It is just me and my girlfriend here, and we are pretty efficient. The house is set at 80*, all appliances are brand new (should be more efficient), we only do laundry during non-peak hours and run dishwasher about once a week late at night. We are both gone most of the time for work or whatever else. Basically, other than just shutting off the power to the house I'm not sure how we could be any more efficient than we currently are. And I'm getting hit with $500 bills now?

Where I am located the provider is PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric). There seems to be widespread belief that they are billing unethically, doing a sort of "averaged" billing and not actually going off your meter. And I kind of have proof (albeit anecdotal) that this may actually be happening.

This past December, we actually went the entire month without turning on the heater 1 single time. Did not touch it until after Christmas. My December bill was (to that point) the highest bill I had EVER received in my home. How? I don't know, I'm not one to really jump on board with "conspiracies" just trying to make sense of it.
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9/9/2022 11:53am
In our case, the "delivery and other fees" are as much or more than the actual electricity.
Thank you SDG&E,
TM
borg
Posts
6926
Joined
12/7/2009
Location
Long Beach, CA, USA
9/9/2022 12:11pm
JN137 wrote:
So, prices have definitely gone up. But, is anyone else seeing astronomically high utility bills recently? I just received this month's electric bill and all I...
So, prices have definitely gone up. But, is anyone else seeing astronomically high utility bills recently?

I just received this month's electric bill and all I can say is wow. I have lived in my current home since 2017 and have never ever had bills over $250, even in the hottest summer months. They would range between $100-200 on average. This month? $520.. preceded by two months of $450 and $430. Even with the cost of energy skyrocketing, I can't comprehend how my bills can be getting this high. (And we're supposed to believe the answer to high gas prices is buy an electric car...)

Anyways.

It is just me and my girlfriend here, and we are pretty efficient. The house is set at 80*, all appliances are brand new (should be more efficient), we only do laundry during non-peak hours and run dishwasher about once a week late at night. We are both gone most of the time for work or whatever else. Basically, other than just shutting off the power to the house I'm not sure how we could be any more efficient than we currently are. And I'm getting hit with $500 bills now?

Where I am located the provider is PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric). There seems to be widespread belief that they are billing unethically, doing a sort of "averaged" billing and not actually going off your meter. And I kind of have proof (albeit anecdotal) that this may actually be happening.

This past December, we actually went the entire month without turning on the heater 1 single time. Did not touch it until after Christmas. My December bill was (to that point) the highest bill I had EVER received in my home. How? I don't know, I'm not one to really jump on board with "conspiracies" just trying to make sense of it.
Within the last 6 or so months, Edison forced residents to choose a rate plan. I'm on TOU. (time of use) Starting at 5:00 pm until 8:00pm my rate is 62 cents/kwh. Before and after that it's something like 35 cents. You may have gotten switched and was not aware. If you have central, I feel sorry for you. I have a window unit that cools my living room where I also sleep but I never run it at night.
Electricity cost in California is insane compared to most other states.
1
183Matt
Posts
856
Joined
10/9/2019
Location
Mineral, CA, USA
9/9/2022 1:10pm
Yes, huge increase here as well. It’s legalized racketeering and it’s only going to get worse.
3

The Shop

skeef
Posts
1454
Joined
7/18/2018
Location
USA
Fantasy
9/9/2022 1:58pm
At this point why be surprised by anything? Half of your income goes to uncle sam and they still reem you on personal expenses? but the weather is great right..?

That state really needs to be pushed off into the pacific. I love California and have tons of family there but man it's so hard to justify the state income tax alone.
4
1
9/9/2022 2:10pm
ToolMaker wrote:
In our case, the "delivery and other fees" are as much or more than the actual electricity.
Thank you SDG&E,
TM
Before I even saw you mention sdg&e I figured you must be in California. Our utility fees weren't bad in San Bernardino county, but in Fallbrook in San Diego county they were terrible.
1
Brad460
Posts
4503
Joined
5/15/2012
Location
Richfield, WI, USA
Fantasy
9/9/2022 2:11pm Edited Date/Time 9/9/2022 2:12pm
Don’t worry, the recently passed Destroy America Act by the Democrats will make this situation even worse- As we all know most of our electricity and heat comes from Natural gas. Natural gas is sucked out of the ground and boosted down the pipeline by large industrial gas engines- this process releases some methane.

The Destroy America Act will now be charging oil and gas companies for this methane release..Yes, it’s good to minimize methane release (ask cows)…but you will be paying for this technology in the way of increased energy costs..






5
4
Jeremy A.K.
Posts
1449
Joined
1/5/2022
Location
North Tonawanda, NY, USA
9/9/2022 2:19pm
Mine have basically doubled , much like everything else since this administration took over.
4
2
Jeremy A.K.
Posts
1449
Joined
1/5/2022
Location
North Tonawanda, NY, USA
9/9/2022 2:23pm
Brad460 wrote:
Don’t worry, the recently passed Destroy America Act by the Democrats will make this situation even worse- As we all know most of our electricity and...
Don’t worry, the recently passed Destroy America Act by the Democrats will make this situation even worse- As we all know most of our electricity and heat comes from Natural gas. Natural gas is sucked out of the ground and boosted down the pipeline by large industrial gas engines- this process releases some methane.

The Destroy America Act will now be charging oil and gas companies for this methane release..Yes, it’s good to minimize methane release (ask cows)…but you will be paying for this technology in the way of increased energy costs..






I remember psaki saying "it would be absurd to think any business would pass any increases on to the customer"
3
2
GrapeApe
Posts
8930
Joined
6/7/2010
Location
Mc Kinney, TX, USA
9/9/2022 2:24pm Edited Date/Time 9/9/2022 2:38pm
In Texas my electricity rate has gone up roughly 75% in the last year. We are on a proudly independent grid, so we don't get to blame anyone but ourselves.
2
rosebud441
Posts
1764
Joined
1/25/2012
Location
Bellingham, WA, USA
9/9/2022 2:43pm
the Hydro Electric power here in NW is still relatively cheap..
that came mostly at the expense of the once roaring Columbia river, now she's all damned up, but sure does make for nice flat ski water.

2
3
reded301
Posts
306
Joined
8/4/2021
Location
KC, KS, USA
9/9/2022 3:20pm
I just pissed away $2500 on propane after the price doubled from last year and that was pre-pay. I can’t wait to see what it’ll cost if I need to purchase more in February.
1
JM485
Posts
5818
Joined
10/1/2013
Location
Davis, CA, USA
9/9/2022 3:21pm
It's funny you say that, I experienced the same thing this winter and I'm in the same area as you. I live alone and hardly used the heat at all, yet my bill was astronomically high compared to what it was the year prior and I used even less gas/power. I'm very curious to see what my bill is this month after the current heat wave, I've been keeping my house between 84-86 (no I'm not joking) so I know for a fact my bill and usage should be way under that of what they consider "efficient", so if it isn't or jumps way up that may add some validity to your theory.
APLMAN99
Posts
12716
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Tualatin, OR, USA
Fantasy
9/9/2022 3:30pm
rosebud441 wrote:
the Hydro Electric power here in NW is still relatively cheap.. that came mostly at the expense of the once roaring Columbia river, now she's all...
the Hydro Electric power here in NW is still relatively cheap..
that came mostly at the expense of the once roaring Columbia river, now she's all damned up, but sure does make for nice flat ski water.

I think that the Hanford Reach is still 'free flowing', but that is/was the only remaining part of the Columbia that was 'natural'.

Chelan County PUD hasn't raised its rate per kwh in over 10 years, but the basic monthly fee has gone up slightly. The energy rate is only $.027, though, so that's kinda nice!!!!!!


4
MudPup545
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1700
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11/14/2014
Location
Imlay City, MI, USA
9/9/2022 4:35pm


Totally worth it if I no longer have to read any mean tweets. 🙄
2
5
KennyT
Posts
4400
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Vista, CA, USA
Fantasy
9/9/2022 5:21pm
I live in a 2000 sq ft house in Vista, ca , which is known for low temps n the summer months. I have solar and our bills 5-6 years ago were never over $20-$40.

Our last 3 bills were all over $600 per month with the highest being $732. And that is with sunny days hitting the solar panels most of the day. Tesla did research on the system and it is performing as it should. It’s all on SDGE and San Diego county is one of the highest in the country. Makes me sick
2
1
9/9/2022 7:39pm
I get upset if my bill gets over $100, not sure how y'all afford it.
8
ns503
Posts
4606
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
NS Toolies, CA
9/10/2022 4:52am
Sounds like there is no regulatory overseeing of rate changes down there? Here, changes have to be approved by a gov't regulatory board. Keeps rates fairly steady. We pay around 0.18/kWh.
NV825
Posts
2175
Joined
8/26/2006
Location
Carson City, NV, USA
9/10/2022 6:45am
Holy crap, my electric bill last month broke $200 and felt like a gut punch. I can’t imagine 2x and 3x that amount Blink I feel for you guys because those are ridiculous.
5
FLmxer
Posts
7310
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
SouthWest, FL, USA
Fantasy
9/10/2022 6:46am Edited Date/Time 9/10/2022 7:53am
My average electric bill is around 1200 at my house for about 20 years, about 150 at the farm and my 2 others I pay around 700 and 200. I just got a letter that says it's raising $8 per 1000 kilowatt at the farm. Since I bought the farm the taxes have raised from 1200 to 8k in a year now and I have not done much to the property. I'm going to have to get a job soon I think. I used to pay the electric for 7 rental properties too.
9/10/2022 4:04pm
Get used to it, can’t have the plebs having any money.
2
9/10/2022 6:21pm
Get used to it, can’t have the plebs having any money.
Money is freedom, we can't let the poors have too much of that saved up.
3
1
183Matt
Posts
856
Joined
10/9/2019
Location
Mineral, CA, USA
9/10/2022 8:23pm
ns503 wrote:
Sounds like there is no regulatory overseeing of rate changes down there? Here, changes have to be approved by a gov't regulatory board. Keeps rates fairly...
Sounds like there is no regulatory overseeing of rate changes down there? Here, changes have to be approved by a gov't regulatory board. Keeps rates fairly steady. We pay around 0.18/kWh.
There is regulatory oversite here as well. What we are seeing in California, specifically those areas served by PG&E and SDGE is: customers paying the bill for all the fires their equipment have caused over the years, upgrade and replacement of said equipment, the salaries for all the additional employees they have added as a result of these fires, and then the icing on the cake, the increase in energy cost.

PG&E’s negligence has directly or indirectly killed multiple people, destroyed communities, displaced families, and is down right criminal, literally.
1
dkurtd
Posts
1137
Joined
4/15/2018
Location
USA
9/10/2022 9:23pm Edited Date/Time 9/10/2022 10:12pm
Last September I was paying 0.1090260197 per KWH, last month I was paying 0.1396879643. My July electrical bill went from $240 last summer to $370 this summer for almost the same amount of KWH.

I am scared to see what my natural gas bill is going to be this winter.
1
Titan1
Posts
9443
Joined
2/3/2010
Location
Lehi, UT, USA
9/10/2022 9:27pm
Gotta love the green new deal…am I right?

Eliminating fossil fuels without a viable replacement (including infrastructure) is going to absolutely kill the poor and middle class…they just can’t afford it.
7
2
Shiner590
Posts
144
Joined
4/10/2021
Location
Ithaca, NY, USA
9/10/2022 10:21pm
Paying almost double in UpstateNY, this country’s in trouble!
1
Vet57
Posts
2542
Joined
12/13/2010
Location
BRO Town, MA, USA
9/11/2022 3:56am
Winter just round corner here in New England. Gonna be a real mess..
1
G-man
Posts
9237
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Mesa, AZ, USA
9/11/2022 10:03pm
JN137 wrote:
So, prices have definitely gone up. But, is anyone else seeing astronomically high utility bills recently? I just received this month's electric bill and all I...
So, prices have definitely gone up. But, is anyone else seeing astronomically high utility bills recently?

I just received this month's electric bill and all I can say is wow. I have lived in my current home since 2017 and have never ever had bills over $250, even in the hottest summer months. They would range between $100-200 on average. This month? $520.. preceded by two months of $450 and $430. Even with the cost of energy skyrocketing, I can't comprehend how my bills can be getting this high. (And we're supposed to believe the answer to high gas prices is buy an electric car...)

Anyways.

It is just me and my girlfriend here, and we are pretty efficient. The house is set at 80*, all appliances are brand new (should be more efficient), we only do laundry during non-peak hours and run dishwasher about once a week late at night. We are both gone most of the time for work or whatever else. Basically, other than just shutting off the power to the house I'm not sure how we could be any more efficient than we currently are. And I'm getting hit with $500 bills now?

Where I am located the provider is PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric). There seems to be widespread belief that they are billing unethically, doing a sort of "averaged" billing and not actually going off your meter. And I kind of have proof (albeit anecdotal) that this may actually be happening.

This past December, we actually went the entire month without turning on the heater 1 single time. Did not touch it until after Christmas. My December bill was (to that point) the highest bill I had EVER received in my home. How? I don't know, I'm not one to really jump on board with "conspiracies" just trying to make sense of it.
That is freaking INSANE!!!!

Did your salary increase as well I don't know how you guys are surviving out there, that is freaking brutal!!!

I sure hope that doesn't follow over here one bummer about Arizona and hot temperatures is we have our AC on from the middle of May till October.

Two story semi-basement home 2200 sq ft, try to be conservative with the Wife and I leave it between 74-76. $210 was the highest Electric bill this summer usually between 180-190 during summer months.

Down to $60 in winter.

My AC blower motor went out recently it got up to 93 upstairs and 86 in the basement.

It was a BRUTAL weekend!

1
Bob693
Posts
1409
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
USA
9/12/2022 7:21am
GrapeApe wrote:
In Texas my electricity rate has gone up roughly 75% in the last year. We are on a proudly independent grid, so we don't get to...
In Texas my electricity rate has gone up roughly 75% in the last year. We are on a proudly independent grid, so we don't get to blame anyone but ourselves.
Do you have a contract with your provider? Mine hasn't gone up at all because I have my rate locked in. When your contract is expired they start to charge the market rate which is always significantly higher.
LoudLove
Posts
2939
Joined
7/16/2010
Location
USA
9/12/2022 8:23am
GrapeApe wrote:
In Texas my electricity rate has gone up roughly 75% in the last year. We are on a proudly independent grid, so we don't get to...
In Texas my electricity rate has gone up roughly 75% in the last year. We are on a proudly independent grid, so we don't get to blame anyone but ourselves.
Bob693 wrote:
Do you have a contract with your provider? Mine hasn't gone up at all because I have my rate locked in. When your contract is expired...
Do you have a contract with your provider? Mine hasn't gone up at all because I have my rate locked in. When your contract is expired they start to charge the market rate which is always significantly higher.
Same here, Grape. My last two bills totaled over $2K. Rate is $0.132 per kw, but Oncor is tagging a 30% charge on top. Still looking into that little nugget.

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