Huge energy bill - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

firebirdcrazy · 01-26-2009, 02:48 AM

Is it me or is there a legal monopoly on us by the energy companies. PS&G Raised my rates in dec by almost 20% My energy bill went up to 456.00 Dollars this month and mind you I keep my thermostat at 69-70. These energy companies can charge what ever they want and there isnt a damn thing we can do about it. I really feel I am being scammed by them and I am sure everyone is getting this to. We are in tough economic times as it is, and the energy companies are one of the causes of these times raising these rates by tremendous percentages. And since its only one company we can use and they know it they can charge what ever they want. The state just looks the other way. I really wish there was something we can do about it.

Knipps · 01-26-2009, 07:17 AM

You can try and get in touch with this guy
http://www.nukefree.org/news/mansues...goversurcharge

JL8Jeff · 01-26-2009, 07:36 AM

69-70, there's your first problem!

I leave the house set at 62-64 and I'm used to it. But yes, there was a rate increase on natural gas they had submitted for a while back so it was just a matter of time. Here's the kicker, most of our electricity generated here in NJ is from plants that run off natural gas so the price of both gas and electric goes up!

Just more reasons to leave this lousy state.

2RARE84s · 01-26-2009, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JL8Jeff

69-70, there's your first problem!

+1.. Mine is programmed to be at 60 when we aren't there (and over night) and 65 when we are there. If you don't have a programmable thermostat, go get one.. they are like $50 and take 3 minutes to install. They will save you a LOT more than $50 in a year.

Iroc-z86 · 01-26-2009, 09:21 AM

or just get a wood burning stove like me and not worry about oil companies or gas companies except for the electric part.

but that does suck tho, and the government wonders why we are in a recession. jerks.

BlueGTS · 01-26-2009, 09:48 AM

Is that a combined bill for both gas and electric or just gas? If it is combined it is not bad. Especially for keeping your house at 70 degrees when it has been bellow freezing for a month.

Blackbirdws6 · 01-26-2009, 10:56 AM

Temperature setbacks will help you a good deal as mentioned. Purchase a programmable thermostat if you don't have one and program is properly to a lower temp. setpoint when you know you will not be home. Have the heat/cool come back on maybe an hour or so before you should get back home so it's warm/cool when you walk in. Every house is different so the farther you set back your temp, the longer it will take to get back up to temp.

This should help a great deal.

-Brian

GrandmasterCow · 01-26-2009, 11:05 AM

ours web up a huge amount too, for no reason. We're actually using a lot more energy saving lights and cut back on energy use by more than half already, and yet our bill almost doubled ?!? I live on a farm down near Mullica Hill and we don't have natural gas or water or sewer from the township, only thing we pay for is the electric and they actually separated my pool house from my regular house, and gave us a commercial bill for the pool house electric since it has its own box. it's zoned residential, so why would they suddenly seperate it? thers no power on out there in winter and yet we got a 400$ electric bill for that aside from a bigger bill for the house. WTF

MonmouthCtyAntz · 01-26-2009, 11:07 AM

When I was married and owned a house every mth. would be a nightmare...luckily the GF and I own an apt. so small that the utilities are next to nothing...I usually keep it around 70 and lower it to 65-68 when we go to bed..get a good down conforter for your bed and a blanket or 2 for your couches..

PolarBear · 01-26-2009, 11:26 AM

You have no idea what you are talking about. First off there are 3 major energy providers in NJ alone so there is no monopoly. You may be in an area where you don't get to choose but you pay exactly the same as someone who can choose that is using the same company. Secondly the state DOES control what they can charge for energy. So when gasis $4 a gallon and the power company has to pay more too they are actually loosing money by supplying you with energy.
Also if you think they increased your bill take good hard look at it. You may be being charged for an estimated gas bill because your gas meter is in the house and it isn't being read. I just went over that witha friend last night. They were charged about $100 more for estimated usage when realistically it is probably the same use as the previous bill. And yeah if you keep your house at 70 maybe you should think about putting on a few more layers of clothing while you are in the house

PolarBear · 01-26-2009, 11:28 AM

Oh and BTW the energy companies have nothing to do with why the economy is where it is right now

JL8Jeff · 01-26-2009, 05:41 PM

Not to make you any madder, but did you check the date range on the billing cycle? I noticed that they bumped up my readings 5 days the last cycle so now they're reading it around the 21st instead of near the end of the month. That means Jan was based on roughly 25-26 days instead of a normal 30-31. My Dec gas and electric was $292 for 31 days and Jan was $290 for 25 days.

PolarBear · 01-26-2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JL8Jeff

Not to make you any madder, but did you check the date range on the billing cycle? I noticed that they bumped up my readings 5 days the last cycle so now they're reading it around the 21st instead of near the end of the month. That means Jan was based on roughly 25-26 days instead of a normal 30-31. My Dec gas and electric was $292 for 31 days and Jan was $290 for 25 days.

Yeah they pushed my friends bill up 10 days. I would complain like crazy.

bad64chevelle · 01-26-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iroc-z86

or just get a wood burning stove like me and not worry about oil companies or gas companies except for the electric part.

but that does suck tho, and the government wonders why we are in a recession. jerks.

Our heat has gone one once this year, and it was because no one was going to be home and we didnt want the pipes to freeze. We paid about $450 in firewood, the rest we got for free or cleaned up on our property. It has kept us warm this whole year running two wood stoves. The wood keeps me warm 3 times...once when I load it, when I split and stack it, once when it goes in the stove.

However it did lead to my shoulder in desperate need of surgery this year...its been leading up to this for a while, but loading/splitting/stacking about 10 cords this year got to me.

Iroc-z86 · 01-26-2009, 09:48 PM

wow 10 cords damn ! we only go through about 2 maybe 3 a year. this year we are a little short on wood so we will be relying on a kerosene heater to heat my house. does a good job too considering my house is 2500 sqft or so and its not a huge heater

firebirdcrazy · 01-26-2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scooter

You have no idea what you are talking about. First off there are 3 major energy providers in NJ alone so there is no monopoly. You may be in an area where you don't get to choose but you pay exactly the same as someone who can choose that is using the same company. Secondly the state DOES control what they can charge for energy. So when gasis $4 a gallon and the power company has to pay more too they are actually loosing money by supplying you with energy.
Also if you think they increased your bill take good hard look at it. You may be being charged for an estimated gas bill because your gas meter is in the house and it isn't being read. I just went over that witha friend last night. They were charged about $100 more for estimated usage when realistically it is probably the same use as the previous bill. And yeah if you keep your house at 70 maybe you should think about putting on a few more layers of clothing while you are in the house

What are you talking about? Everyone gets there energy from one source and thats PS&G. The other companies you speak all get there energy from them and actually charge you more. When we are not home the energy gets brought down 64. Yes we do have an electronic thermostat. You obviously must not see any problems with over a 400 dollar bill to heat your house. Its cheaper to just use electric heaters then the gas.

PolarBear · 01-27-2009, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firebirdcrazy

What are you talking about? Everyone gets there energy from one source and thats PS&G. The other companies you speak all get there energy from them and actually charge you more.

Sorry pal, there are 4 electric compaines in NJ, IIRC Orange is really small. The prices they charge are controlled by the NJBPU.

Here is the list from NJBPU. If you live on the border in the area of two utilities SOMETIMES you can choose which company you get your power from. And there are 4 gas companies in NJ too, oh and look further down the page
"Alternative Energy Suppliers
Click on your current energy provider to find out which alternative suppliers serve your area."

Blackbirdws6 · 01-27-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scooter

Sorry pal, there are 4 electric compaines in NJ, IIRC Orange is really small. The prices they charge are controlled by the NJBPU.

Here is the list from NJBPU. If you live on the border in the area of two utilities SOMETIMES you can choose which company you get your power from. And there are 4 gas companies in NJ too, oh and look further down the page
"Alternative Energy Suppliers
Click on your current energy provider to find out which alternative suppliers serve your area."

Good info here ^^.

Check your usage and calculate the rate. Efficiency is simply the ratio of input energy to output energy and electric is usually less efficient than a gas when speaking about space heating.

Knipps · 01-27-2009, 05:15 PM

Pretty sure my house gets its energy from Orange & Rockland, but we're literally a stone's throw from Rockland County

bad64chevelle · 01-27-2009, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iroc-z86

wow 10 cords damn ! we only go through about 2 maybe 3 a year. this year we are a little short on wood so we will be relying on a kerosene heater to heat my house. does a good job too considering my house is 2500 sqft or so and its not a huge heater

7 at home, 3 between crazyblazers house and another friends house.