Why is my gas bill so high? Is there a way to dispute it?

Question

I just got my gas bill today and I can't believe how high it is. I live in the Kansas City, Mo area in a one bedroom apartment. My apartment isn't that big (730 sq feet I believe) and I only have two big area''s to heat. My bedroom and my living/dining area. Is there a way to contest the amount owed or at least ask them to prove why the bill is so high?My parents own a 2 story house and thier bill doesn't run this hight at all. Bill amount is $85 most its ever been in the past is $60 and I still believe thats to high.

Answer 1

stop cooking so much. this will reduce ur bill as well as weight.

Answer 2

You can always contest a bill--the directions are on the bill itself, probably--but chances are the bill is correct. It's been unusually cold for the last couple of weeks, and this makes a very big difference.

Your bill should contain some information that will be helpful to you. It'll tell you if your bill was based on an estimate, or an actual reading of the meter, and it'll tell you how much you used during a similar period one year ago. If you weren't there a year ago, the gas company will tell you what the bill for that apartment ought to be.

You should learn to read your own utility meters. Your gas meter should be either in the basement or outside your building, and it's easy enough to learn to read it and keep track your usage each day or week. Your gas company will provide you with a little brochure to tell you how to read your meter. Matter of fact, all this stuff will be on their company website, so summon that up and read it.

Learn to read both your electric and gas meters, and you'll find that you'll be far better informed. You'll also have good warning when you seem to be using too much gas or power.

Usually a defective gas or electric meter reads in favor of the customer because they tend to get stuck.

Answer 3

My husband lived in a small apartment building years ago that he found out the 3 apartments were costing the company that owned them $2000 to heat a month. They footed the bill as that was the contract. He and his roommates lived on the top floor and hardly turned on the heat.
They suspected that the building was poorly insulated (the 2 lower floors heated their floor pretty much) so all the heat from the lower floors was going out the roof and windows.
Many times land lords do not update insulation, water heaters or other gas using appliances as well as they should.
I know that we lived in an apartment that cost $200 to cool one summer and out house that is 2 times the size and 10 years later doesn't coat half that.
have the gas company come out and assess the situation and call you land lord on it too.
Good luck

Answer 4

Hasn't it been colder in the last month than it was before? Parts of the midwest are experiencing colder weather than we have seen in 3 years.

The cost of gas has gone up in most areas too.

I would kill for a $85 bill, mine has been over $220 since November and my house is freezing!

Answer 5

You can contact the gas company and explain to them what you have explained here. Ask them to check if the meter is functioning correctly. If it is, ask them if they can check for any gas leaks. They may also be able to provide some past billing history for that address so you can see if your bill is in line with previous tenants.

Answer 6

You can contact them and request an investigation. Meters usually don't malfunction that often though, and it doesn't seem that much more, only $15. Also, I beleive it has been extremely cold lately. Although you do have the right to have it checked out.

Answer 7

yes, you can. call the company, tell them you think that its an error. ask then to reread your meter. if the meter reading is still the same, ask them to test it for accuracy.

Answer 8

Yes, you can! Sometimes the meter is not functioning right!