300 heat bill and 151.00 water? what am in NY now? (Knoxville: house, buying)

[rccrain]

Received my JCPB bill today: $83.

For that water bill, I would have to fill a pool. I'm usually below $30. You really need to compare that to past bills, there may be some kind of leak.

[DrJerome]

Originally Posted by dreamofmonterey

May as well be...Thanks TVA....

heat for a 3,000 s.f. house is now through the roof...and Inc City of JC water is over 100 per month. Be forwarned anyone buying a house today the winters are cold here at night too....I should have stayed in NY 12 yrs ago as the expenses are now equal

Are you saying your current electric bill in JC is equal to what you paid 12 years ago in NY? That wouldn't surprise me as the cost of all fuel has risen a lot over the past 12 years.
We can get some cold here in Johnson City but our temperatures are much warmer than any location in NY with exception of overnight lows in NYC which are just slightly warmer than here.

[williboy]

We moved here from FL in 2007; the highest electric bill we've ever had is $171.00. Our average electric bill is about $125.00 and our average water bill is about $40.00 which is much lower than when we lived in Jacksonville. Our home here is about 2150 sq. ft. and the home in FL was about 1950 sq. ft. Taxes here ( we live in Washington County ) are much lower than Jacksonville plus we love this area. I would have JCPB come out and do a power audit of your home.

[jchometeam]

Elizabethton mayor irate over TVA bonuses

Apparently the Elizabethton mayor is also upset about the TVA- to the point that they are looking for other providers for the city.

I agree with other posters regarding your water bill- there has to be a leak. I filled up a 12 foot diameter pool which was 4 foot deep and it costs about 30-35 dollars in water. There is no way that it should be that high.

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by DrJerome

Are you saying your current electric bill in JC is equal to what you paid 12 years ago in NY? That wouldn't surprise me as the cost of all fuel has risen a lot over the past 12 years.
We can get some cold here in Johnson City but our temperatures are much warmer than any location in NY with exception of overnight lows in NYC which are just slightly warmer than here.

Yes. But in NY I had an excellent furnace AND you pay separate charge for oil delivery.

Primarily the issue is TVA is overcharging and also with colder winters HVAC is not efficient...a lot of people may not realize this when they buy a two story home.

My ex SIL put a brand new HVAC system in her Richmond Virginia home and it doesnt heat efficiently. Its important if you have kids or an elderly parent living in a house that doesnt stay warm in winter.

[williboy]

We have a central air and heat unit that seems to be very efficient plus a gas fireplace with blowers in our living room and basement family room in case the electricity goes out. Once again, our heating bills are very affordable. I am unfamiliar with HVAC systems, but what you are saying about them doesn't exactly make me wish to try one.

[dreamofmonterey]

HVAC is thermostat controlled heat and air. a/c is no problem in this region. BUT heat issue is very big. They are cost ineffective in colder winters.

Plus for some reason TVA has issues with power outages anytime it snows. Even in NY and FL we rarely had power outages, with the exception of hurricanes...

[scmtngirl]

Originally Posted by dreamofmonterey

yes it does. Im in the Inc. city of JC. Not happy with it. It was fine 5 years ago...this isnt my first time at the rodeo-TVA skyjacks the rates now.

Double dip recession equals utilities through the roof. Plus its rather cold tonight and Im anticipating another lovely Xmas with snow and power outages {sarc}. w. what I pay for electric they shld NOT be having power outages like last Xmas....

Sounds like solar panels (plus a generator), rainwater collection, and a wood burning stove would be right up your alley. No outages, and almost zero reliance on a utility company.

~ Mitsy

[Tony1790]

My home is older brick, just shy of 3000sqft, my electric bill has been under $100 for every month since May 2011 ($58, $64, etc) and this month was just over $100. Last year was real cold (unlike this very moderate year) and my electric bill was over $200 twice ($256 and $208).

I run my house cool during the winter and leave the windows open during the summer unless it gets really hot, so I will put on a sweater before I pay over $200 light bill. My sister 45 mins away in NC last year paid between $600-$900 per month all winter and was over $200 all summer as well.......now that is a quick ride to the poor house.

Hopefully this winter will continue to be mild, I was wearing a T-shirt today sitting on the front porch and it was very pleasant, not bad for day after thanksgiving.

Love this weather this year. They say 70 degree's on monday.....awesome!!

Tony in E. TN

[jimj]

Well, maybe you can swap houses with us? 2450 sqft house, no leaves to rake or dispose of and being cold in the house is rarely an issue BUT you'll pay $200-$300 per month in electric anyway. Not for heat but for A/C as we're in AZ! In fact it was running yesterday.
Now there is a few months out of the year when it drops to $60-$120 month but those are the "cold" months.
You'll pay 9.5% sales tax, higher property tax and $300-$800 a year for car tags and whatever other fee and tax they can come up with since the state IS BROKE.
Wanna swap?