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Electric bill.... STUNNED!!!

MissyOlivePantsMissyOlivePants
in Eco-Friendly Family

OMG! I apparently missed it coming in the mail or something, but the automatic payment (which I LOATHE) unfortunately hit our bank account when it was EXTREMELY low and now we are in the red (and will be until Friday when we get paid).

The bill....was $400.   It doubled from last month which I thought was extremely high.

We have a small house (1100sf). Yes - we're in FL and it's July (which is NOT the hottest month). We have insulated the attic over the last year and we don't run the a/c cold. It's never below 76 (usually it's at 78).  We have good windows (new) and try to keep the house shut up tight. Our pool pump has been running a lot, but no different from the previous month, so I just don't get why on earth it has gone up. We have gas for our water heater & stove.

I'm about to call them to see if it was a guesstimated bill instead of an actual read because I am  in shock & pretty upset right now.

 Any ideas????  We really try to be energy conscious.

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Re: Electric bill.... STUNNED!!!

  • renee143renee143 member
    we had the exact same experience.  :(  turns out mine was right.
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  • Summerly2Summerly2

    Ooh, that sucks. I'm sorry :( We just moved into our new house and I'm dreading these first few utility bills. We have a whole lot more house to cool (and heat this winter) so I have a feeling it's not going to be pretty.

    For your sake, I'm hoping they estimated and made a big mistake. Sorry about the overdraft though; that sucks.

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  • EmmieBEmmieB member

    Check for vampires. Seriously. A few years ago (in our tiny loft in Dallas, so the numbers might be different for you) I made a bet with DH - we already had everything important on surge protectors - computers, entertainment, etc - so when those things were not in use the surge protectors were flipped off. Small appliances in the kitchen - coffee maker, grinder, toaster oven, mixer - all unplugged when not in use. Anything that has a light on even when the power is off - unplug it or put it on a strip and flip the strip off.

    The downside is that we have fewer digital clocks telling us the time...but with our watches, cell-phones, the oven, the mantel clock...not really a big loss.

    The upside is that in the first month we saved $80. Which adds up.  It's worth a shot.

    Good luck!

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  • EmmieBEmmieB member

    ps - this worked immensely well in our tiny loft where the windows were all south/southwest facing and practically floor to ceiling: angle the blinds up and a little open. The light will come in and bounce off the ceiling so you get natural light, but it won't flood the room with heat. If it works in Dallas in July, it'll work in Florida.

    It's free and worth a shot.

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  • FutureMrsLemonFutureMrsLemon member
    That would make me wonder if they upped their prices without you realizing it. What does your bill normally run?
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  • Halo79RNHalo79RN member
    was last month a guesstimated bill?  that always killed me when we were in western ny.. the power company would alternate an estimate one month, then actual the next.  We would get screwed with season changes b/c they would underestimate... then the next month would be like paying a month and a 1/3 or more of a bill.   we're in nyc now and if we do run the a/c, our power bill really is up in the $400 range...it's around that if not higher in the winter time for heating too.  I love fall and spring.  we've had temps in the 80s, so we've just been opening windows.. but we do have the highest power rates in the country. sucks the big one.  oh  and we do have a 3 level town house that is around 1900 sqft.
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  • ab&jimab&jim
    I was going to guess that the power company had raised their rates too. I know it's been happening a lot around here and over the last 7 years in our house our bill has steadily gone up. And that's with new insulation in the attic, using CFLs, and new windows. Sometimes all the work we do can't compete with rising prices.
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  • s+ms+m
    I would call and double check, I don't recall reading any increases in rates since January. But, our friends in Dunedin a few months ago had an error in their electric bill and turns out they were billed the wrong account and $200 dollars more! Good luck! 
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  • MrsEAMMrsEAM

    Wow - that really sucks! I'd definitely call and try to find out if they did something different. I also wouldn't doubt that the rates may have changed. It seems like every few months one of the 3-4 utility companies for Central Florida is upping their rates.

    I try to keep the curtains closed, as well as the blinds during the day. It makes the house a little darker, but it also keeps it cooler.

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  • MissyOlivePantsMissyOlivePants

    Ok. I just got off the phone with CS. The reading was for June 2 - July 1. That explains quite a bit. We had just gotten our pool clean & we were running the pool pump 24-7.

    Plus - a rate increase.

    UGH! - But, I am also going to arrange for one of them to come & do a home evaluation.

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