What to do with natural gas bill so high? (Philadelphia: apartment, renting)

[ddr]

I am so frustrated at this point with the cost for PGW. In my last single home natural gas went on a high and I was getting $400-$450 bills with forced air. We moved to an end of a row (I know in the middle would be more economical) with radiator heat and just got a $300.00 bill. With a couple of real cold months I could be getting the $400-$450 bills again.

What is everyone doing to survive the cost of natural gas? We live in Modena Park with three floors.

Do you save a considerably amount if you are heating just one or two floors? I am not sure of exact square footage, I know in the middle would be about 1360 square feet.

Any thoughts would be very appreciated.

[Multitasker Too]

Wow. Those costs are high. We have an electric heat pump and our costs to heat this 3,000+ SF home, with lots of windows and a couple of rooms with 12' cathedral ceilings, typically runs us $250/ month for an all electric house. PECO cuts a significant discount for those who heat with electric, though our summer months we see the regular charges.

Of course, we do also keep the temps at about 67F and wear a sweatshirt inside. I got tired of my kids running around in shorts and tshirts complaining they were hot. It is amazing how much lowering the temperature a couple of degrees impacts your heating bill.

When do you have to replace your system? You might want to consider a heat pump when the time comes. I don't see natural gas getting any cheaper over time.

[leighland]

Originally Posted by Multitasker Too

PECO cuts a significant discount for those who heat with electric, though our summer months we see the regular charges.

We are renting a condo -how do we get this discount? ps. we keep it 67 too.

[Multitasker Too]

"We are renting a condo -how do we get this discount? "

Just make sure they know you have all electric heat, ie, heat pump with electric back up, radient heat, electric baseboards.

It's all automatic after that.

[leighland]

Originally Posted by Multitasker Too

"We are renting a condo -how do we get this discount? "

Just make sure they know you have all electric heat, ie, heat pump with electric back up, radient heat, electric baseboards.

It's all automatic after that.

Awesome! Thank you! I will call them tomorrow-Leigh

[dowcarpenter]

I too got a very high bill just today--I live in a one-bedroom apartment and keep the temperature at 65. It was $120 this time around. Something might be done, though---see this article from the Philadelphia Inquirer from a year ago, about state representative Dwight Evans's proposal to get PGW on a better financial footing:

Evans: Sell or merge PGW | Philadelphia Daily News | 01/23/2007

It may be a year old, but at least someone's aware that all is not right with PGW. I just sent an email to Evans on his website, saying that we customers are taking the brunt of the blow for something as basic as heat. Why not do the same, and see if we can get some attention? (God knows PGW doesn't care...) Go to:

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