"Balanced Bill" Utility Payment Options for Raleigh Area Elctric and Gas Utilities

[sacredgrooves]

hmm I may have to revisit my progress energy bill, thanks for the info!

[DanielChang]

I agree. I wouldn't pay the premiums just to have a simpler bill. If you go over, they drop you from the program. It'll cost you more money overall. I'd rather have the extra money in the bank.

[urbywan]

Keep the heat at 61 at night and 65 daytime if home if out leave it at 61. Summer AC stays at 79 and maybe drop it to 76 at night when the sun goes down when its very hot for a few hours. Keep the ceiling fans going ONLY when you are in the room. Then you have low energy bills year round. I love months like Oct and Nov when between electric and natural gas my 2700 foot house has less than 100 dollar total bills!

[RDSLOTS]

For the two of us, it has actually been cheaper to live here in Cary than what it was down on the coast in Wilmington. The biggest difference we have seen has been in the water bill, which is roughly 3X what we paid for water before.

Granted, all things may not be equal -- we do have a larger yard here, and pay for irrigation, whereas before, the homeowners' dues paid for irrigating the small neighborhood, where we were on a community system. The electric bill is much lower. I had bills as high as $300 in Wilmington, and I haven't seen one much over $200 here -- during the hottest month(s) AND we are in a larger home. We cook with gas, and the water heater is gas. Bills during the summer are almost non-existent -- I think we actually get billed for the minimum service? During the winter months, it runs maybe $90, depending upon how often we crank-up the gas logs in the family room.

I haven't gone with the "equal monthly pay plan" largely because I just don't trust things like that. Call me "old-fashioned" but I like getting my bill in the mail, and mailing-in a check. After living in a home for a year or longer, I have some idea of where the bill should be, based upon past bills.

[WangoTango]

Originally Posted by saturnfan

If you feel the premium is worth paying, go for it. Be aware though that the utility is touting this program since it's a moneymaker, not a convenience. The utilities commission made Progress explain it more clearly.

I agree. Call me a skeptic, but it seems like a really good way to keep you from knowing exactly what your monthly usage really is. If you are taking measures to reduce your usage, how would you know if they are effective or not until your bill adjusts the following year? Do you get reimbursed for the months you used less energy? For example you consume an avg of $150 worth of electric every month, but you take measures to drop that to say, $90/month and your payment doesn't adjust for 8 months. Do they reimburse you for the $480 you overpaid or just adjust your bill to $90? On the flip side, I am willing to bet a ton of money that if your average usage goes up from $150/month to $200/month they will adjust your plan before the next bill.

[nynraleigh]

I agree...I never enrolled in any balanced billing options with any utility company. I receive the bill based on current months usage, cut a check or e-pay and go from there.

Originally Posted by WangoTango

I agree. Call me a skeptic, but it seems like a really good way to keep you from knowing exactly what your monthly usage really is. If you are taking measures to reduce your usage, how would you know if they are effective or not until your bill adjusts the following year? Do you get reimbursed for the months you used less energy? For example you consume an avg of $150 worth of electric every month, but you take measures to drop that to say, $90/month and your payment doesn't adjust for 8 months. Do they reimburse you for the $480 you overpaid or just adjust your bill to $90? On the flip side, I am willing to bet a ton of money that if your average usage goes up from $150/month to $200/month they will adjust your plan before the next bill.