[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by sike0000

My bill was 1200 bucks for the last billing cycle. But we called and found out they had estimated our gas usage for the previous months. No one had come to read the meter. So we told them the current reading and that lowered the bill.

300 seems high. But reading these others posts maybe I am lucky!

But definitely check your meters against the bill. Still wondering about that gas recovery portion.

Last year they pulled that with us. They said that we owed them something like $2800. When we put up a fight they said that they made a mistake and we owed them an additional $2600. Then they added another $1700 becuase they were only going through November (and by then it was February). I do nto remember the exact numbers anymore, but eventually, they claimed we owed them over $6000 on top of the monthly amounts that we had already paid to them (which were a lot some months (+/- 600) and next to nothing (+/- 80) other months.)

We raised a fit and complained to the PUC. Eventually, they came back and said that we only owed them something like $1200. I do not trust them at all. Through that whole mess they lied to us repeatedly. At one time they said that they had not been reading the meter because we have a dog. But we had seen the meter reader come to the house, get out and take a reading on many occaisions. Sometimes we greeted him when he arrived. He never expressed any concern about the dog (who is normally inside the house).

The whole mess was an endless struggle and I still have no idea whether their charges were legitimate or not.

This year, we were heating our pool which is inside a greenhouse like thing (Examples at the midwest fiberglass pools website- click on "pool enclosures"). It was the first time we tried heating it in the winter. Our November bill was $400 so we thought that the pool was not to terribly expensive. Then our december bill came and it was $1500 (and the furnace in our house was not working for ten days of that billing period!). I guess they were playing catch up again. That really ticked me off because if they had billed us for what we really used in November, I would have shut the pool down immediately. However they sent a bill that is too low for november, and caught it up in December.

We do not know what a normal bill is for us. Last year, they only estimated and then us those absurd bills. This year, it appears that they are doing it again. We did learn that it is too expensive to heat the pool (unless we get a better floating cover), but we have no idea what a normal heating bill is for us. We may never find out if they keep up their crazy billing practices.

I wish that they had more oversight.

[kcam213]

^ how does this work? I am on the budget for the first time this winter. So at the end of the heating season, we look at how much we used vs what we paid. If we owe them, how does this get billed? In one month? Do we have a option of how to pay etc?

it seems that maybe the budget was not a good idea. I thought since I started in April of last year, and I paid higher bills through the summer months, that that would make up for the lower bills that I would normally get in the winter.

[kathys]

I have Semco gas and half the bill is fees and charges also. Hell they get 10 dollars every month just for me being a customer.Why do I have to pay to be a customer?
I read about them charging for what they paid for it earlier in the year also. So since it is currently cheaper, does that mean it will be cheaper later? I bet not.
My Last bill was $213 for 30 days, before that it was $208 for 35 days. I was shocked at that, because the month of November was only $115. I had the furnace on all of Nov. I never had it aboue 68, Most ot the time 66. In that one month it almost doubled.
I live in a 1216 sq foot trailer, which I know is the worst insulated place I could be. I have plastic on windows and sheets, and the air still comes in, so I am pretty much stuck. I can not afford to move and no one wants these things.
I don't know what I will do next year. A lot of people are in this situation and it is only going to get worse. It will come down to food or heat. That does'nt even include the rest of the utilities and transportation costs.

[darstar]

Depending on where you are , electric heat can be cheaper than gas. I am installing Hydroponic heat fired by an electric boiler. About half the cost of gas , here in Marquette. ( new construction ). I will also have the option of supplementing with wood as well.

[DirtyMc19]

Hearing all this makes me want to go chop down the tree outside and "install" a fireplace in our house.

[Bryan29]

1500? How in the...? Sq. footage of your house?

[darstar]

Originally Posted by Bryan29

1500? How in the...? Sq. footage of your house?

When I lived in South Haven , I had 4,000 sq. ft. , and , on propane , the bill was 2000.00 per month , November thru March. In the summer , almost nothing.... If you are on LP , in Michigan , and have a 4 to 5 bedroom home with heated 2 car attached garage ( necessary I think ) , you need to figure about 70.00 a day for heat and hot water , in the winter. Extra , if you want to heat any out buildings..... I had a pole barn on radiant LP , and could not afford to heat it , except on warmer days..... many people used supplemental wood fired boilers in those little houses out back. The problem was wood got so expensive , that was a problem as well.

I could not wait to sell the money pit , and , stop the drain on my wallet !!
Now I live in the UP , in a Condo ( temporary ) , and only pay 100.00 a month for heat and hot water. ( natural gas ).

[Bryan29]

My goodness! Gas prices and taxes are a serious limiting factor on how much house you can buy in Michigan. I miss the prices in GA.

I am looking at a house in White Lake. 2700 sq. feet. Anyone know how the gas bill might compare to my house now, in New Baltimore, 2100 sq. ft., with Semco?

[allbusiness]

I pay $110 per month year round on the "budget plan", with a"settlement" month in May, I believe. That's $1,320 per year. (SEMCO)

[darstar]

Originally Posted by allbusiness

I pay $110 per month year round on the "budget plan", with a"settlement" month in May, I believe. That's $1,320 per year. (SEMCO)

A lot of people have had huge " balance due " statements , on a budget plan. depending on the price of gas , the Company has the right to modify your " plan" at any time, should the price of gas double or triple , like it has done. If you have LP , its even worse. They will charge you the new price for gas in the big tank , even if you " think" you have already paid for it.