Have you ever heard of getting a rebate or refund on your utility payments?

Question

My neighbor said that she brought her 2005 receipts for her electric bill to the town offices, and they gave her a $700 rebate! I'm fuzzy on the details of what it was for, but has anyone ever heard of this? We live in CT, and the energy company is CL&P.

Answer 1

Be aware that even with budget billing, cost averaging,rebates....the utilities still make money on your billing

For example...your electric utility estimates your usage and charges you $2.00 per kilowatt/hr [ dollar amount not realistic, just to simplify the math]...at the end of the year/billing cycle...whenever they actually read the meter....if they find an over billing....they can rebate your kilowatt/hr use age at a lower rate...say, at $1.90 and pocket the vigorish

Therefore, if you want to be exacting about your billing...you need to record the billing rate that you pay...verses the rebate/refund rate

Answer 2

That I've never heard of. Some co-ops are owned by the towns they serve and they will give rebates on the bill from time to time.

The CL&P website search of 'rebates' seems to apply mostly to commerical and industrial companies.

However, most energy companies offer a rebate when you replace your appliances (windows, furnance, AC, insulation in attic, etc.).

But taking a bill to the city office for a refund? Hey, just ask the neighbor and then call that office.

Answer 3

Well I know here you have to put a deposit down before you get phone, lights whatever and they dont actually give you the money back, they give you a credit to your account after 2 years or however long the company says.

Answer 4

in our town we have what is called budget pay plan. after you live in your home for 1 year without missing any payments, they average your past years bill and you only pay that monthly average for the next year. then the next year they add or subtract from that to update your monthly payments for the next year. ask about this program, you atleast know what your monthly payments are without any suprises.