Is this electric bill reasonable?

Question

I got my electric bill for this month from con Ed.
It is $320.00. Considering the amount of electricity my family
used this month, this bill seems to be more than what it is supposed to be.

As a reference, my family members are at work most time except for myself (high school student) so we rarely use air conditioner during the day. I like darkness (feels less hot) so I don't even let the lights on during the day. Though I use fans for hours everyday, it shouldn't cost a lot, right? I leave my computer on everyday for hours but computers use very little electricity.

My parents and sister don't like cold so only I use air conditioner at night for about three hours. (The air conditioner is a small one that only cools my tiny room) And other tiny little things such as using stoves to maintain your living.
Oh, also, my family don't watch TV usually. I think this electric bill is over rated. It says I used 1650 kwh in 30 days. Is this correct?

Answer 1

It could be a mistake, you have to remember they're only human so don't get excited. That's why they send you an estimated bill, so you can check it out.
Call the main office and tell them what you found after checking the bill against the meter. If the meter checks out with the bill, the meter could be wrong.

They do have a device that will fit on the meter and check it out with the device, it will show whether the meter is wrong.

We all live on farms here, a man called one day and told the same story as you. I went out and checked it out, it seemed right but, I found he wasn't using anything, just as you claimed. After checking his outdoor wiring, he had a over-head wire going to a horse barn, it was rubbing against the steel roof occasionally when the wind blew and shorting out, not enough to blow a breaker but, enough to show a high usage on his bill. When it was corrected the bill was changed and he was a happy farmer again.

You have to cooperate with the electric company too, they don't know what's going on, they're not the enemy.

Answer 2

Yeah, that does seem like a lot...1650? We use 1000 on average every month and we have our A/C on all day and night. Hmmm, I'd check the meter at a certain time one day and again the next day. Then, multiply by 30 or 31 and that should give you an estimate of how much you use in a month. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Maybe your bill list your meter reading. If it does then grab " Last Month's Bill" and see what the reading was at that time. Go outside and read your meter now and do the math - then you can see yourself.

Let's not forget though, even if you only use the AC for three hours they could be three hard hours. I mean, I can run it for 5 hours and depending on temp and setting it could actually use less than you in three hours. Your temp could be much higher and your settings could be causing the compressor to operate 95% of that three hours. If I were going to keep it on that long I'd be sure its on energy saver.

I think, if this bill is seriously higher now than it was two months ago it has to be related to the AC. Remember, there are only three things that could cause this bill to be a lot higher.
1.) Rate Increase
2.) Usage Increase
3.) Reading Error / Billing Error

Hope this helps ya .. ...

Answer 4

1650 kwhr seems like a lot of electricity! If they still have a guy to come around and read the meter where you live, he might have read it wrong or punched in the wrong number. I have had that happen to me; got an electric bill for about 2 grand once! Usually, your bill will show the starting and ending meter reading values; go check your meter and see if the end value (on your bill) is a larger number than the current reading on your meter. If it is an error, they will probably ask you for the current reading of your meter and re-calculate the bill. (that's what they did in my case (but I had a different electric company)

Answer 5

lets re-think this. have you figured the hair dryer? how about the curling iron?. VCR, DVD, phone charger? the stereo? PS3, WII, Nintendo? the extra fan you run when the A/C isn't running? Coffee maker? That bigger than what your room has space for TV?That night light you leave on every night cause you are afraid of the dark? hmm well if you figured all these factors in the billing i suggest to you your parents are closet users of electricity. yes, they are secretly using more than their share. i would confront them about it and either hit them up for some cash to help off set the cost and tell them to get some counseling. it would seem that while you are off working every day to support your parents and your sister, its unfair that you have to pay these outrageous energy cost just so they can live comfortably. or tell them you cant afford it. the only other way is to tell them to move out and get their own place.

Answer 6

way too severe, I pay approximately £40 - £40 5 a month and that i've got electric powered for each thing, water, heating, cooking alongside with workstation, television, washer, refrigerator freezer etc. And that's on a prepay meter. Oh yeah and my imersion heater for the water is under no circumstances grew to become off.

Answer 7

I'd call them on it and have the recheck their figures and to come out and check your meter. They do go bad, you know.