SRP Budget Billing (Phoenix: credit, how much, tenant)

[PhoenixSomeday]

This is apparently their 'same payment all year' plan? Because I specifically inquired about that, and how much it would be. Their response was that Right now it'd be $260 per month, and that it's reevaluated every quarter, and that the best time to enroll is after getting your October bill. They were talking about credits and whatnot ("Budget Billing is designed to build up a credit balance during the winter billing months to help offset the higher summer bills")?

So basically it changes every quarter and you have to enroll in the winter? But if it changes in a major way each quarter, what's the point? I was wanting a flat payment all year, which my water bill seems to be (maybe the previous tenant did this, because we sure didn't, but it's nice). Every time I see this mentioned on the forum, it's like "SRP has a plan where you can have a flat payment all year, just enroll in that". But I have never seen any mention of all these hoops and caveats. Did I miss something? Did I not word the question properly? Did they not give me the right info for what I was looking for?

Having a 100% predictable (well, I can understand small adjustments, so like 95% predictable) bill would be really nice and helpful. I need some clarification.

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by PhoenixSomeday

This is apparently their 'same payment all year' plan? Because I specifically inquired about that, and how much it would be. Their response was that Right now it'd be $260 per month, and that it's reevaluated every quarter, and that the best time to enroll is after getting your October bill. They were talking about credits and whatnot ("Budget Billing is designed to build up a credit balance during the winter billing months to help offset the higher summer bills")?

They are just allowing you to pre-pay.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by hikernut

They are just allowing you to pre-pay.

This is it exactly. They have to audit it and make appropriate adjustments as your usage will not always be the same. They don’t know what you’ll use so they can’t make promises that it will be a slight adjustment or not. Managing your own funds seems much better. I like the ups and downs. In the winter, it feels like you’re stealing!

[KurtAZ]

Pretty sure it will adjust yearly if your usage goes up and down as well.

[PhureeKeeper]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

Pretty sure it will adjust yearly if your usage goes up and down as well.

Kurt, they can adjust more often that that.

I'm on SRP's budget billing and my bill was adjusted for 3 months to one rate, then reviewed and adjusted again for another 3 months. I must have leveled out my usage because I've been on the same monthly rate for 7 months.

You just have to be on their service for at least a year before you can get a true feel for what your monthly budget rate will be.

[mzbk2l]

If you enroll in the winter, you'll end up with a credit on your account by the time summer comes along, which is how you'll get through the summer without paying a monthly amount 3x what you pay in the winter. If you enrolled at the beginning of the summer, they'd have to price you at the rate you're going to use all summer so you didn't end up owing them a bunch of money. As far as I know, that's the only reason the timing for enrollment makes a difference. I've been on it for about 20 years... the predictability is very nice.

[Bummer]

Definitely no expert on this one but . . .

Kinda makes sense it would take a few months, possibly longer, for SRP to be able to establish an average rate for a new customer.

My TEP Budget Billing has been holding steady at $70 a month for quite a few years. Some months I am "in the red" and then other months TEP is "in the red" but it all seems to balance out over the course of a year.

[yukon]

Originally Posted by PhoenixSomeday

This is apparently their 'same payment all year' plan? Because I specifically inquired about that, and how much it would be. Their response was that Right now it'd be $260 per month, and that it's reevaluated every quarter, and that the best time to enroll is after getting your October bill. They were talking about credits and whatnot ("Budget Billing is designed to build up a credit balance during the winter billing months to help offset the higher summer bills")?

Bills are lower October to April, so of course it's "best to enroll" in October. Personally I think what they're doing is collecting in advance during the lower power months so when summer hits, they've been paid.

[PhoenixSomeday]

We've been in the place 2 years, so not new.

See, these are things that I don't remember seeing mentioned when people say "Oh just enroll in budget billing, you get the same payment year round". That's a pretty big caveat for the whole summer vs winter enrollment thing, but I guess it makes sense given the model they're using (building up "credits").

Originally Posted by mzbk2l

If you enroll in the winter, you'll end up with a credit on your account by the time summer comes along, which is how you'll get through the summer without paying a monthly amount 3x what you pay in the winter.

For us it's more like 8-9x. Our winter bills are around $45, but last summer it was $300 - $350 for the hottest months. It's a huge delta and, while nice in the winter, a better balance would be kinda nice.

[hikernut]

Just do it yourself. You don't need to get SRP in the loop. When October hits, calculate your average bill over the past 12 months and then start paying that amount each month. You'll build up a balance during the winter, and use it up next summer.