Power bills?

Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Lost

a few months back i had some power guys in my street replacing power poles and the power bill i got for that month was $260 what was a extra $100 higher than last year when i had my bro living with me who was working perm night shift so somone was home 24 hours a day now ive just gotten my latest power bill and its only $80 yet ive been using all the same stuff anyone know if they could have done anything to crank my power usage up? ill have to ask my neigbours if they had high power usage aswell. (live on my own and norm pay about $100)

Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Location: where ever the track takes me

We had a signifacnt jump in power bills aswell, but his was when Qld Elecricity went public and my acount got assighned to AGL.

Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Location: Brisbane

I had a similar thing not so long ago, rang the company and they erckon that they had been averaging my bill and the large one was after a proper reading and they had to make up the differance. Mad

Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 8:08 pm

$260 for a month? fark! my last power bill was just under $700 for 3 months, and i have 4 adults living here, 3 computers running most of the day, and a ducted aircon running a lot of the time.

Joined: 06 Sep 2005 Location: S/E QLD

Check the number of days you have been charged for, it is possible tho unlikely they have missed sending a bill for 1 month. No the guys working in your street can't make your meter read higher. Have you been welding or the like lately.

ps Check there isnt an extn cord running into your neighbours greenhouse... Very Happy

or give them a call, have all the bills you have kept in front of you, be nice.

Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Location: Wollongong

If you haven't already change your light globes to energy savers, we've noticed a huge drop in cost after doing both the bulbs and shower head, the enviro guy came around and did it for free, he wasn't bad looking either. Very Happy

Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Location: St Helena, Melbourne.

ferog wrote:

If you haven't already change your light globes to energy savers, we've noticed a huge drop in cost after doing both the bulbs and shower head, the enviro guy came around and did it for free, he wasn't bad looking either. Very Happy

Noticed the same after i put a fluro globe in the small hallway between my girls bedrooms, it stays on all night in case of midnight twinkles and noticed a difference in the reduced bill.

Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Location: Lost

The bill was $260 for 3 months but thats double what i normally pay so ill give them a ring. I might have not payed a bill and then payed for 6 months. I already have power saver globes Wink

.

Joined: 13 Jun 2005 Location: Riverina

my last bill was $90 for 3 months Cool

Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: perth wa

Wesley wrote:

The bill was $260 for 3 months but thats double what i normally pay so ill give them a ring. I might have not payed a bill and then payed for 6 months. I already have power saver globes Wink

.

thats u playin wid all those sex toys The Finger

Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Location: SYDNEY

Does sound weird.

I have had similar thing happen, when they could not access the power box for 2 consecutive checkups (the speed boat was blocking access to the metter). so they guessed.

Unfortunatley my power usage had increased through things like and lcd tv etc during that time so when the finally got a reading 9 months after the previous one I got a bill $200 more than normal. which was only $66 more per 3 months but all on one bill looked big.

best way to reduce power is have things lilke stereo and tv attached to an auto power timer ($4) which automatically turns the system off at the wall during the day and between say 12 pm and 7 am. as the tv and everything on standby uses alot of powerl.

Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Melbourne

My power company is stupid.

They sent me a bill with a due date. Then, a week later, an identical bill....but with an a due date of two weeks later.

Joined: 24 Dec 2002 Location: South Australia

Check on all your bills to see if they are estimated or actual bills.

we had a huge struggle one share house i was in. kept getting bills for $200 bucks a month, despite us being home maybe 1/4 the time.

kept asking about it... "it's an estimated account, if it is over when we read the meter, you'll get a refund."

got the bill from the "actual" reading... "$550 a month".. think bugger this, and read it myself (after actually finding the meter).

the meter was less than what they claim to have read. in fact, it was less than the last 3 months estimates as well. so we'd actually paid more than we should have, IGNORING the bill for the latest 1/4.

For instance, the latest bill was say for 11346kW, the bill before for 10023kw, and the actual reading was 09843kW. (figures made up to illustrate)

call them up and tell them. "that's impossible, our guy read it". they said they'd send someone else out. called me back 3 days later claiming their guy had got the same reading. i knew no one had come out because i was home sick that week.

i told them to really send someone out this time.

they did, he read it, and confirmed what i said.

they sent me out the "adjusted bill". apparently we still owed them $100 despite the fact we'd paid for the electricity up to the 10023 reading...

i asked them how this was possible, and they sent out some convoluted statement, showing 4 different rate hikes, and claimed we used basically no electricity in the times when the rate was lowest, and heaps when the rate was highest...

i say it was their fawk up, they should swallow any loss that was incurred (which there wasn't, we still had paid for more electricity than we used)

Joined: 20 Oct 2002 Location: Greenbank

bad_religion_au wrote:

Check on all your bills to see if they are estimated or actual bills.

we had a huge struggle one share house i was in. kept getting bills for $200 bucks a month, despite us being home maybe 1/4 the time.

kept asking about it... "it's an estimated account, if it is over when we read the meter, you'll get a refund."

got the bill from the "actual" reading... "$550 a month".. think bugger this, and read it myself (after actually finding the meter).

the meter was less than what they claim to have read. in fact, it was less than the last 3 months estimates as well. so we'd actually paid more than we should have, IGNORING the bill for the latest 1/4.

For instance, the latest bill was say for 11346kW, the bill before for 10023kw, and the actual reading was 09843kW. (figures made up to illustrate)

call them up and tell them. "that's impossible, our guy read it". they said they'd send someone else out. called me back 3 days later claiming their guy had got the same reading. i knew no one had come out because i was home sick that week.

i told them to really send someone out this time.

they did, he read it, and confirmed what i said.

they sent me out the "adjusted bill". apparently we still owed them $100 despite the fact we'd paid for the electricity up to the 10023 reading...

i asked them how this was possible, and they sent out some convoluted statement, showing 4 different rate hikes, and claimed we used basically no electricity in the times when the rate was lowest, and heaps when the rate was highest...

i say it was their fawk up, they should swallow any loss that was incurred (which there wasn't, we still had paid for more electricity than we used)

Is there any thing you dont get screwed on Question

Joined: 30 Jan 2008 Location: SYDNEY

petrol prices seem pretty resonable at the moment Rolling Eyes

Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: Ipswich, Qld

We had our last 4 or so averaged, because they wouldn't get in while the dogs were in the yard.

Then the latest one came in at $876.00. Mad

Joined: 24 Dec 2002 Location: South Australia

RUFF wrote:

bad_religion_au wrote:

Check on all your bills to see if they are estimated or actual bills.

we had a huge struggle one share house i was in. kept getting bills for $200 bucks a month, despite us being home maybe 1/4 the time.

kept asking about it... "it's an estimated account, if it is over when we read the meter, you'll get a refund."

got the bill from the "actual" reading... "$550 a month".. think bugger this, and read it myself (after actually finding the meter).

the meter was less than what they claim to have read. in fact, it was less than the last 3 months estimates as well. so we'd actually paid more than we should have, IGNORING the bill for the latest 1/4.

For instance, the latest bill was say for 11346kW, the bill before for 10023kw, and the actual reading was 09843kW. (figures made up to illustrate)

call them up and tell them. "that's impossible, our guy read it". they said they'd send someone else out. called me back 3 days later claiming their guy had got the same reading. i knew no one had come out because i was home sick that week.

i told them to really send someone out this time.

they did, he read it, and confirmed what i said.

they sent me out the "adjusted bill". apparently we still owed them $100 despite the fact we'd paid for the electricity up to the 10023 reading...

i asked them how this was possible, and they sent out some convoluted statement, showing 4 different rate hikes, and claimed we used basically no electricity in the times when the rate was lowest, and heaps when the rate was highest...

i say it was their fawk up, they should swallow any loss that was incurred (which there wasn't, we still had paid for more electricity than we used)

Is there any thing you dont get screwed on Question

yeah, i've never bought a bad second hand car or worked for a bad boss.

oh, and i don't whinge about petrol prices...

Joined: 29 Nov 2004 Location: Townsville

bad_religion_au wrote:

oh, and i don't whinge about petrol prices...

Some beg to differ about the RX being a 'good car' Razz

and you dont whinge about petrol prices because you have one of those fan dangled Wankel donks...

Joined: 07 Aug 2003 Location: Townsville

$230 for 3 months with aircon x 2 running intermittently (night shift).

Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 6:13 am

Wesley wrote:

The bill was $260 for 3 months but thats double what i normally pay so ill give them a ring. I might have not payed a bill and then payed for 6 months. I already have power saver globes Wink

.

fark! i can't ever remember having a power bill that low Crying or Very sad

The last one we got was $695 and that was a bit lower than the one previous. I guess if you want to enjoy the luxuries of life, you have to pay for them.

Joined: 05 Oct 2006

If your electrcity Meter Reader cant get to your Meter due to dogs, speed boats and locked gates or switch rooms you cant get an exact account of your consumption. It is law in all states that access to metering equipment be safe and unhindered during electrcity distributors business hours. Assessed accounts are estimated on previous usage + 5% at the same time of year. Generally not always an Electricity company should charge you a fee if they can't get access to the meter on the 3rd time. Around a quarter of average consumption is on stand by for videos tv stereos and even aircon and heaters. And the more compressors you have electric motors to drive, ie the extra beer fridge, the high your consumption.

Joined: 24 Dec 2002 Location: South Australia

"CANADA" wrote:

bad_religion_au wrote:

oh, and i don't whinge about petrol prices...

Some beg to differ about the RX being a 'good car' Razz

and you dont whinge about petrol prices because you have one of those fan dangled Wankel donks...

most reliable car i've ever owned armsup

and taken more beatings than all the other ones combined.

i should be the first to whinge about fuel prices with the Wankel. if i give it a hard time i get 25L/100k's... for a 900kg 2 seat car!!!!

Joined: 24 Dec 2002 Location: South Australia

Bezman wrote:

If your electrcity Meter Reader cant get to your Meter due to dogs, speed boats and locked gates or switch rooms you cant get an exact account of your consumption. It is law in all states that access to metering equipment be safe and unhindered during electrcity distributors business hours. Assessed accounts are estimated on previous usage + 5% at the same time of year. Generally not always an Electricity company should charge you a fee if they can't get access to the meter on the 3rd time. Around a quarter of average consumption is on stand by for videos tv stereos and even aircon and heaters. And the more compressors you have electric motors to drive, ie the extra beer fridge, the high your consumption.

some companies actually give you the option of you reading the meter for them and telling them. of course when it's time to finalise the bill, they check the last one to make sure you haven't been skamming them.

Joined: 25 May 2003 Location: Redbank Plains, QLD

Loanrangie wrote:

ferog wrote:

If you haven't already change your light globes to energy savers, we've noticed a huge drop in cost after doing both the bulbs and shower head, the enviro guy came around and did it for free, he wasn't bad looking either. Very Happy

Noticed the same after i put a fluro globe in the small hallway between my girls bedrooms, it stays on all night in case of midnight twinkles and noticed a difference in the reduced bill.

Ditto here as well... I replced my entire house with energy savers and noticed my qarter monthly bill drop by 100 bux which was a big improvement.

New house has fluro lights all over and solar hot water system. Should have some substantial savings in the next bill Twisted Evil

Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Location: where ever the track takes me

Vulcanised wrote:

Wesley wrote:

The bill was $260 for 3 months but thats double what i normally pay so ill give them a ring. I might have not payed a bill and then payed for 6 months. I already have power saver globes Wink

.

fark! i can't ever remember having a power bill that low Crying or Very sad

The last one we got was $695 and that was a bit lower than the one previous. I guess if you want to enjoy the luxuries of life, you have to pay for them.

$695, farking dollars, fark me turn those heat lamps off then!
If my bill goes over $300 I am annoyed and I have a electric pump for water as well as alot of electrical tools.

they say those plasmas are real energy eaters True?

Joined: 20 Oct 2002 Location: Greenbank

Our bill per 1/4 is uaually around $300 and my wife works shifts so the AC in the bedroom can sometimes run 24/7. We also have a water pump,sulage pump, treatment plant,a big ass hot water system,2 fridges and a seperate freezer. My dog also sleeps with a heater running on low durring the cold months. We do have some energy saver lights but not in every room. We never turn anything off due to energy concerns either.

Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Location: Out and about

We just got solar power and hot water put onto our place.... the Hot water service is electric boosted, and it hasnt been turned on for 9 weeks now.

And with the 10.4KW array of panels on the roof, we're using about 2-4 units per day! Very Happy

Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 7:10 pm

muddydigger wrote:

Vulcanised wrote:

Wesley wrote:

The bill was $260 for 3 months but thats double what i normally pay so ill give them a ring. I might have not payed a bill and then payed for 6 months. I already have power saver globes Wink

.

fark! i can't ever remember having a power bill that low Crying or Very sad

The last one we got was $695 and that was a bit lower than the one previous. I guess if you want to enjoy the luxuries of life, you have to pay for them.

$695, farking dollars, fark me turn those heat lamps off then!
If my bill goes over $300 I am annoyed and I have a electric pump for water as well as alot of electrical tools.

they say those plasmas are real energy eaters True?

the ducted air uses a bit...... plus both the kids are on their computers until all hours..... two fridges, a chest freezer, my computer, and a mound of other electrical appliances...... all adds up. Doesn't bother me too much really, i like my luxuries, and i'm prepared to pay for it.

Forgot...... both kids have a stereo and a tele in their rooms as well.

Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: Ipswich, Qld

bad_religion_au wrote:

some companies actually give you the option of you reading the meter for them and telling them. of course when it's time to finalise the bill, they check the last one to make sure you haven't been skamming them.

You used to be able to do that in Qld, but since the state government sold off the retail side of the power companies, you're not allowed to do it anymore.

Joined: 01 May 2005 Location: Ferntree Gully

Vulcanised wrote:

the ducted air uses a bit...... plus both the kids are on their computers until all hours..... two fridges, a chest freezer, my computer, and a mound of other electrical appliances...... all adds up. Doesn't bother me too much really, i like my luxuries, and i'm prepared to pay for it.

Forgot...... both kids have a stereo and a tele in their rooms as well.

Family of 5, ducted heating (fan), refrigerated air-con, 3 computers on all the time, kids have tv and stereo in each bedroom, 8 seater spa with 3 pumps and elec heating(used about 4-5 nights a week), 2 full size fridges, 2 bar fridges, chest freezer LCD inside on most of the day, lcd outside next to spa on most nights, washing machine used multiple times daily and dryer as required...

Average bill $ 355/quarter and they are using real readings, not estimated.