can't figure out why my pg&e bill is fluctuating

[BudAshes]

I live in a 2 bedroom house with my girlfriend and the bill fluctuates by 45 dollars a month. We use energy star appliances and we have gas water heater which is a separate bill. So last month our bill is 70 bucks which is perfectly reasonable. This month it is 115 dollars and this seems to happen pretty consistently despite little difference in our use of appliances/lights. I'm really stumped on whats going on and calling pg&e was beyond useless.

 

[Patranus]

Its the new "smart" meters.

Now you are not only charged by how much electricity you use but also charged different rates depending on WHEN you use electricity.

Plus I am sure there are more "poor" people using their "assistance" programs which is also driving up PG&E bills.

PG&E is a government sponsored scam.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

estimated reading vs actual?

 

[Pardus]

It looks like you were hit with a rate increase, "SLO CO Democratic Central Committee Resolution Opposing the Proposed Rate Increase of PG&E to recover all costs of Diablo Canyon" was posted in Sept. Call them and find out.

 

[Leros]

Maybe they aren't reading it at equal intervals.

 

[rcpratt]

Mine was only $52 this month for a 2BR, yay. Thank god AC is done for now.

 

[Leros]

Mine was only $52 this month for a 2BR, yay. Thank god AC is done for now.

Yes. I can't wait til I can stop running my A/C. Gas heater ftw!

My bill goes from $100 a month to about $30.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

estimated reading vs actual?

probably this.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Maybe they aren't reading it at equal intervals.

and/or this.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

-John

 

[BudAshes]

The intervals are only a couple days different and we don't have smart meters yet. I'm looking at kilowatt hours, last year at the same time we used about 15 kwh a day and this year we are up to 20 a dat despite all the same appliances and usage. Last month we were at the same 15 kwh a day as we were last year during the same month. This really seems to happen every other month.

 

[BudAshes]

estimated reading vs actual?

not sure what you mean here.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

not sure what you mean here.

they don't always come out to actually read the meter.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

so they estimate the usage based on several factors (month, last year's usage, etc.)

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

-John

 

[Acanthus]

estimated reading vs actual?

This is the most common.

 

[Leros]

A lot of times, they'll estimate your data. So say they estimated that your last three months were $50, $50 and $50, but you were actually using $60 a month. When they finally come out to measure, you're going to have pay the extra $30 then.

 

[BudAshes]

A lot of times, they'll estimate your data. So say they estimated that your last three months were $50, $50 and $50, but you were actually using $60 a month. When they finally come out to measure, you're going to have pay the extra $30 then.

ok well that makes sense. So essentially i'm just using a lot more electricity every month but i'm only getting charged every other month. That makes their kilowatt hours thing on the bill kind of useless if it's not actually acurate for the month, but oh well. Now I just have to figure out what the hell is using all the electricity.

 

[Leros]

ok well that makes sense. So essentially i'm just using a lot more electricity every month but i'm only getting charged every other month. That makes their kilowatt hours thing on the bill kind of useless if it's not actually acurate for the month, but oh well. Now I just have to figure out what the hell is using all the electricity.

Their prediction algorithm could be really crappy, such as just using last year's data.

 

[wiredspider]

my bill pretty clearly states regular or estimate on them. they only come out every 3 months here.