How bad have your home energy bills gone up?

[The Swegian]

Last night, Suzi told me we got our new utility budget plan (in case any of you don't know what that is, the utility company charges you an average monthly amount based on your usage over the previous year...I don't know if that's offered everywhere) amounts for the next year for electricity and natural gas. Natural gas went from $58/month to $111/month and electric went from $70/month to $124/month. That's an 83% increase.

Just wondering what some of you are paying?

 

[Paul]

I pay as I go and I can tell you my electric bill was $320 last month compared to $265 last year in similar conditions/usage. Gas seems to have gone up some, but nothing compared to the electric.

 

[Jim]

We luck out in my town as we have our own electric company and therefore it is non profit. We also generate our own power. When prices are high we sell back to the grid and therefore get a favorable rate when we do have to buy from the grid. Comparing the bills from last year to this year there has not been much difference in the average. Last months bill was higher then last years, but we were also running the AC during the day as my wife was home the entire month. They also offer cable and high speed internet also at great prices. I have have high speed internet via a cable modem for almost 10 years. Our electric light company was founded by Thomas Watson, Alexander Graham Bell's assistant.

But that said, we heat our home with oil and I am dreading those fill ups!

 

[FINMAN]

The budget plan amount is an average of your last 12 bills.

My actual cost of Gas used is OK, it's the delivery and generation charges that drive it up.

I installed a new gas boiler ( 96 % efficient) this year (end of march) I have already taken care of the 465.00 overage from the past winter. I havent seen a 60.00 bill since the 80's, until now. My budget amount is 201/mo. It will renew this september, barring any increases they rec'v, I should see a lower amount.

This is a home and free standing heated garage, 7 people (was)

 

[clwill]

We in the Pacific Northwest get off easy on electricity as virtually all of it comes from hydroelectric plants (dams). The cost is cheap, it's reliable, and isn't subject to quite so many fluctuations in price. I'm told we have the lowest electricity in the country.

In the last year, our electric bill went down 30% a month from one simple cause: I installed compact fluorescents in essentially every fixture in the house. The power company had a coupon to take them down to under $2 each, so I invested the ~$100 to change them all, and I got that back in the first 6 months. Now it's all gravy.

Of course we bought a Super Comp car, and I bought a diesel truck to tow it -- at close to $5/gal. that pretty much offset the whole thing. Gotta love this "hobby".

 

[mw6789]

Natural gas kills us here in the winter. I will never again have gas heat in my house--next house will be all electric. Used to be gas was cheaper, but not any more. We are on an electric co-op here and actually get a little check back from them every year when they make a profit. Used to be on Entergy, and not only was it higher, their service sucked. Waited 45 days one time just to get service connected to a new shop. When we bought the place we are at now, the electric company scheduled us to be connected on Monday. We were here on Saturday and one of the service men happened to drive by and stopped to see if we would like him to go ahead and connect us. Big difference in service plus a cheaper rate.

 

[mick]

electric has gone up on 12 mo. average over last 4-5 yrs. from about
$50/month to $80/month (household of 5)

heat with fuel oil/boiler/baseboard heat - fill tank approx. once/month.
each fill is $500-$600......ouch. big increase in last 2 years.
(6 months of winter up here)

spending the $$ for duel fuel - which reminds me i need to get on that.
have my contract submitted to electric company, just need to follow
through now.

 

[Mike]

Mine has gone down from last only because we've changed all the bulbs in the house, dont use the A/C much, and put timers on our refrigerators so they shut off from about 11pm to about 5am. The timers dropped the bill right away. I'm still about $200 to $250 a month in a all electric house.

 

[none]

My power bill went down.The biggest savings for us was both kids moved out that really lowers the bill,but to way more than offset the savings we now have double college tuitions now that will dry your pocket book up in a hurry!

 

[D]

Last summer I was averaging about 31,000 yen/month this summer 42,000 yen/month with fewer KWH used and a weaker dollar/yen exchange.

S/F
D

 

["Dr. Dirt"]

Last year's summer high was $378. This month's bill was $421. That's electric only.

 

[Larry]

I'm sorry to say I have you all beat !
July's bill [ all eletcric house ] is $ 529.00 down from last year [ due to less people ] .
I have seen $ 650.00 in the winter when the heat is used alot.
No doubt this winter it might be $850.00 or more.
I better lay in a supply of wood for the wood stove this year , it's going to be a killer on the old bank account.
Right now in N Texas we are enjoying a cool spell with eighties all week .
Highly unusual for this time of the year.
Should be 99 to 107 in August.
As a matter of fact the last time I saw a really blowing Norther in Texas make it to the coast we had a bad winter with 7 degree temps.