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10-29-2009, 12:35 PM
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133 posts, read 608,011 times
Reputation: 107
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I posted this under the House forum but then it occurred to me that this information may help someone here.
PSNC Energy has discovered that the meter they installed at our home in December of 2007 was not done properly and was not correctly reading our usage. They are back billing us for 12 months to recover the extra usage they say we had. We received regular gas bills and had no idea anything was wrong, it isn’t like our bill dropped $100 overnight, everything seemed normal.
I see on the NC Utilities Commission website that they are allowed to back bill us 12 months EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS NOT OUR FAULT.
Had we been receiving bills for the correct amount, we could have adjusted our usage. Now our hands are tied and we are stuck with a large bill.
If anyone knows anything we can do, I'd certainly appreciate the advice. Otherwise, make PSNC come out and manually read your meter on a regular basis because apparently it is still YOUR responsibility if they do it wrong.
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10-29-2009, 12:42 PM
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9,196 posts, read 24,037,245 times
Reputation: 8577
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I know it's frustrating, but being asked to pay for what you actually used doesn't seem unreasonable.
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10-29-2009, 12:48 PM
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133 posts, read 608,011 times
Reputation: 107
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It is unreasonable to ask me to do this 12 months after the fact when I can no longer adjust my usage to reduce my bill. While we have no control over whether the equipment is installed correctly or working properly, we do have control over how we set our thermostat and adjust it to maintain our budget. It is a fair assumption on my part that PSNC is properly installing and maintaining their own equipment.
12 months is excessive, 1 or 2 months I completely understand.
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10-29-2009, 12:56 PM
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Location: Charlotte, NC
621 posts, read 2,146,264 times
Reputation: 300
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CHTransplant
I know it's frustrating, but being asked to pay for what you actually used doesn't seem unreasonable.
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I can see where the OP is coming from... It's similar (not exactly) to someone selling you a service without offering up-front pricing, then slapping you with a huge bill. |
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10-29-2009, 12:57 PM
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Location: Fuquay Varina
6,164 posts, read 8,885,325 times
Reputation: 17398
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I would think a payment plan would be appropriate. You did use it so you should pay for it, but I would make them take it in 12 payments, then you are only adding some to each bill instead of getting smacked with it at once.
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10-29-2009, 02:02 PM
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932 posts, read 2,997,403 times
Reputation: 796
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SVTLightning
I would think a payment plan would be appropriate. You did use it so you should pay for it, but I would make them take it in 12 payments, then you are only adding some to each bill instead of getting smacked with it at once.
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I agree. Try to work out a payment plan with them. Talk to a supervisor if you have to. |
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10-29-2009, 02:25 PM
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3,050 posts, read 4,800,446 times
Reputation: 3779
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How much $$$ are we talking about here??
You need to look at this with the glass half full - You had the faulty meter for 2 years but they are only billing you for 1 year - so you still come out ahead!
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10-29-2009, 02:56 PM
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133 posts, read 608,011 times
Reputation: 107
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GarnerMama
I agree. Try to work out a payment plan with them. Talk to a supervisor if you have to.
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Great idea, I will request this. I agree that we should pay for our usage I'm just really steamed that we are in a situation where we can't adjust our usage to adjust our bill. Normally we would just knock the thermostat back a few degrees and not use the gas logs. |
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10-29-2009, 03:09 PM
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133 posts, read 608,011 times
Reputation: 107
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LONGISLAND2NC
How much $$$ are we talking about here??
You need to look at this with the glass half full - You had the faulty meter for 2 years but they are only billing you for 1 year - so you still come out ahead!
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They installed the meter incorrectly in 12/07 and I am being back billed for 10/15/08-10/15/09 so while I see your point that I got extra gas (hard to say with a straight face) for 10 months I'd rather know each month how much I'm using and how much I owe. I don't think that is too much to ask of a utility company.
I can't imagine screwing something up at work and contacting a customer to tell them that I screwed up and just figured out my mistake so they have to pay me more for all that stuff they thought they already paid for. I would probably lose that customer. But, PSNC won't lose me because I have nowhere else to go and they know that.
But, I do get your point. |
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10-29-2009, 07:23 PM
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Location: Raleigh NC
3,645 posts, read 8,224,855 times
Reputation: 4505
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I understand your pain but welcome to the country of Big Business! The little man is nobody. Take a different example of little man vs. big business: A consumer has 60 days to inform a bank of a mistake on their part where you are owed money. Reverse the situation so where the bank makes the mistake and deposits too much money in your account so now you owe them money. Guess how long the bank has to reclaim their money?!?!? FOREVER!!
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