Rocky Mountain Power Question! (2015, apartment complex, lease)

[Shellybug]

Hi City Data friends!

I need help! Our Rocky Mountain Power electric bill for 30 days is $740! What? Even on the hottest of days (98-100 degrees with 98% humidity) in Florida, our monthly bill was only $350. And that was in a 1700 sq. ft single-family home with four people. We now have three people in a small 2 bed/1.5 bath townhome apartment. Our apartment complex even agreed that this is an exorbitant bill.

I've called RMP and they are analyzing our bill to see what might be pulling power. I suspect it is the ancient air-conditioning unit in this apartment. It ran for several days non-stop and wasn't cooling. It eventually (after 2 days of this) broke and maintenance came and "fixed" it. I haven't compared the price per unit for KWHs between Florida and Utah.

Do I have any recourse as a renter? There is absolutely no way we used that much electricity!

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by Shellybug

Hi City Data friends!

I need help! Our Rocky Mountain Power electric bill for 30 days is $740! What? Even on the hottest of days (98-100 degrees with 98% humidity) in Florida, our monthly bill was only $350. And that was in a 1700 sq. ft single-family home with four people. We now have three people in a small 2 bed/1.5 bath townhome apartment. Our apartment complex even agreed that this is an exorbitant bill.

I've called RMP and they are analyzing our bill to see what might be pulling power. I suspect it is the ancient air-conditioning unit in this apartment. It ran for several days non-stop and wasn't cooling. It eventually (after 2 days of this) broke and maintenance came and "fixed" it. I haven't compared the price per unit for KWHs between Florida and Utah.

Do I have any recourse as a renter? There is absolutely no way we used that much electricity!

Offhand, I'd say there is definitely something wrong and will be resolved soon. There is no way on earth a bill like that could be legitimate. Let us know when you get the good news.

[Shellybug]

Thanks Katzpur! I was hoping for that answer . I was a bit flabbergasted! I know I don't have to take to City Data for every question, but I thought maybe there was some explanation I was missing since so much in the west is different from the east for varying reasons.

[dcisive]

our AC (a top line Carrier 97% efficient unit) has been running non stop since about mid May. We've never gone over $112 yet. Not bad for a 3600 sq. foot upper/lower arrangement. It just get's lower as the winter approaches. yeah, I'd say their meter is broken or someone is completely misreading it.

[Shellybug]

Originally Posted by dcisive

our AC (a top line Carrier 97% efficient unit) has been running non stop since about mid May. We've never gone over $112 yet. Not bad for a 3600 sq. foot upper/lower arrangement. It just get's lower as the winter approaches. yeah, I'd say their meter is broken or someone is completely misreading it.

Thank you, dcisive! Yes, I would say that is quite a difference between square footage and expense! It's the craziest bill I have ever seen. Thank you for the comparison. I thought I might be losing my mind. Lol!

[English Ivy]

Sounds like a decimal needs to be moved over, or something. We moved here a month ago and our first bill from Rocky Mountain Power was less than $60. That was a full billing cycle for 1,000 square feet, including the first month's connection fee.

[easternerDC]

When you sign up for rocky mountain power, I believe there is some deposit you have to pay, that is refunded after paying on time for 2 months.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by easternerDC

When you sign up for rocky mountain power, I believe there is some deposit you have to pay, that is refunded after paying on time for 2 months.

Yeah, but $740? I think there's obviously been a mistake.

[Shellybug]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback! It is definitely not a deposit, although that would make more sense had it been. The power company said it was this high in July of 2015 as well, but they have not completed a review on exactly from where that much electricity is currently pulling. My guess is the AC. There are no fans, very few lights. We use a tiny box fan in the bedroom, and that's about it. Our dishwasher is also ancient, so this could be an issue.

Our complex's management just posted a note on all of the tenants doors with a notice about high bills this time of month and how to keep them down. I can't help but to feel that it seems negligent not to make people aware that they aren't going to update appliances and this will result in astronomical bills; but, one could, argue, that I should have done my due diligence by checking this out with the power company before signing a lease. I just would never have imagined that an electric bill could rise to $740 during a 30-day span, especially since Rocky Mountain Power is documented as being less expensive that Florida Power & Light.

Needless to say I'm feeling a bit discouraged and hoping there will be some sort of acceptable and affordable resolution.

[SWFL_Native]

It has to be an error I don't have my power bill in front of me but does your bill show a spike in usage? If so it likely is definitely an error as July was hotter than June but not exponentially so.