[janetvj]

Originally Posted by Driller1

Don't compare apples to oranges on this. The man's bill was for electricity, water and sewer.

In Maryland both electric and gas are billed together. I guess I assumed that was the case in other states. My house has a heat pump, so it is all electric. It is not unusual for an electric bill to be over $1,000 for one month if you have a 2,000 square foot house in MD and have electric heat.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by janetvj

In Maryland both electric and gas are billed together. I guess I assumed that was the case in other states. My house has a heat pump, so it is all electric. It is not unusual for an electric bill to be over $1,000 for one month if you have a 2,000 square foot house in MD and have electric heat.

Their any many different ways of billing in Michigan and many different providers.

[janetvj]

Originally Posted by Driller1

Their any many different ways of billing in Michigan and many different providers.

Maryland deregulated the utility industry within the last few years. The intent was to promote competition which was supposed to reduce energy rates. Sounded good, but it didn't happen. Not many suppliers seemed interested in doing business here, and since the state no longer regulates the rates, they skyrocketed. I have lived in my house for 15 years, and my average monthly rates have gone from a high of maybe $125 to over $400 per month (this for a 1200 square foot townhouse). Even taking inflation into account, this is a huge increase. My salary sure hasn't quadrupled in that time.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by janetvj

In Maryland both electric and gas are billed together. I guess I assumed that was the case in other states. My house has a heat pump, so it is all electric. It is not unusual for an electric bill to be over $1,000 for one month if you have a 2,000 square foot house in MD and have electric heat.

Zoinks! We do the budget plan with our utility companies (evens out your payments over the year), and our gas heating bill is $138/mo, electric is $60; 2100 square feet. If I were paying that much for utilities in Michigan, I would shop for a new higher efficiency home. You'd end up saving money on your bills, even if your mortgage was a bit higher. Either that or I'd invest in some energy saving features.

$800 savings a month can buy A LOT of home. Or put it this way, if your utility bill is higher than your mortgage, there's something wrong with that picture (unless your house is paid off).

[malamute]

Originally Posted by Driller1

Don't compare apples to oranges on this. The man's bill was for electricity, water and sewer.

Well $60 a month is my utility bill with all that combined. I have a septic tank so pay no sewer and my electric bill includes what it costs to pump the water from a well. $1000 a month for all those combined would be ridiculous for most people.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by janetvj

Be grateful. The cost of gas and electricity in Maryland is outrageous. I just talked to my friend, and he said his mother's current bill just arrived, and it's over $1,200. She lives alone, and heats with gas, and her normal summertime bill is under $200 a month. The house was built in 1931 and is 2,300 square feet. But even so, energy bills have skyrocketed in this area.

$1,200 is outrageous. I know people who live in northern Michigan who spend far far less but they have wood burning stoves and chop their own wood and their electric bills aren't over $100.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by malamute

$1,200 is outrageous. I know people who live in northern Michigan who spend far far less but they have wood burning stoves and chop their own wood and their electric bills aren't over $100.

Mine is not. I have GEO with a propane back up. The furnace runs MAYBE three times a day (24hours) when it is below 0. My cooling is cheap too.

[janetvj]

What are you paying per kilowatt hour for electric? My bill advises me that the price I am being charged is $.1182 per kWh and to use that to compare to other suppliers. The price to deliver it is another $.02383 per kWh. There are other charges that amount to less than $20 for taxes and other surcharges, including a "stabilization charge" that is supposed to have helped alleviate the impact when the rate skyrocketed after the deregulation thing.

I don't have natural gas, so I have no idea what the charges for that is.

I'm sure we are being ripped off. But what can you do?

[darstar]

This thread sure is getting a lot of response... people , ARE , mad , just the start of things to come.

When I lived downstate , I had my propane shut off , because of a dispute. ( They wanted me to pay for gas already in the tank , as the market price had gone up ) . I felt the balance due was unfair. It was dead of winter , they gave no notice , just came out and put a lock on the tank. When I called mad as hell , they said , ,",cash buddy , have the 1500.00 in your hand to give to installer, and we will turn back on ." .. " O' by the way , that will be 1575.00 , the extra is for the reconnect ' ! My 1,000 gal tank , was over half full, I had already paid for the gas at the old price. I turned them in to the PUC , but , got no-where. So much for a " public Utility ". sad.
That was just one story , my own , it never got better. Every month I had to Cary hundred dollar bills to their office , all winter. feeding the kitty , at 1,000 per month , just for gas, and , it was fortunate I could afford it., a lot of folks could not. I sold the place , as soon as I could find a buyer. many of the elderly do not have that option .

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by Driller1

This was a bill for $1100. That did not happen just this winter.

You're saying he deserved to die.