Why is my bill this high?
Check the Energy Usage chart on your
bill. Is your use higher than last month? Higher than the same month last year?
Then compare degree-days for the same periods. If the number was positive and
higher, it was colder and you may have used more energy heating. A higher
negative number means it was hotter and air-conditioning may have run more.
There are many possible answers but home appliances account for most home energy
use today. To check out how much your appliances use and cost to run, click on
the "Home
Appliance Calculator".
How can I save energy and money on my bill?
Start by focusing on your largest energy users in the home – anything that heats or cools including your heating system, hot water heater, refrigerator – these are the largest energy users and having them cleaned and operating at their best can save the most. Next, eliminate the extra users for the winter and summer seasons, especially anything that heats or cools such as the spare refrigerator in the garage, the dehumidifier in the basement, and the filled hot tub and tropical fish tank. All add significant costs to your bill. We encourage any residential customer to call our toll-free Energy Hotline (888-772-4242) for more advice and assistance. Click on "Energy Hotline Info" to learn more.
Can my meter be wrong?
That’s very unlikely. But occasionally meter’s fail and when they do, the dial slows down, as most mechanical devices do when they age. This leads to a slightly lower usage recording – not higher. When we check a meter, we must remove it and replace it with a newer meter that may be more accurate.
Why is my neighbor's bill lower than mine?
If all charges on both bills are due strictly to energy use, than your neighbor is using less energy. The difference in the total bill is related to actual use. Houses are different. Lifestyles are different. This can make neighbors’ bills very different. To check out how much a variety of appliances cost to run, click on the "Home Appliance Calculator".
Can you tell me how much energy my home should be using based on its size?
There is no good rule of thumb that works for all customers. The size of the house is only a small part of the equation. The type and variety of appliances in the home, the heating system capacity, the number of people and their habits all contribute to the “typical bill”. But, in order to compare the effects of our rates with other surrounding utilities, we use the 500 kilowatt-hour average bill that has been in use for decades. (To see how this typical bill compares to other utilities around us, click on our "bill comparison".) Today, most homes average at least 750 kilowatt-hours per month.
Does my energy cost more at different times of the day?
You are charged the same amount for the energy you use throughout the day. But, like all utilities, MG&E buys this energy at different prices, with the highest costs for “peak use” which happens generally in the early afternoon on hot days and at the dinner hour on cold days. If everyone can cut down on energy use at these peak times, then we all pay less and everyone’s bills can go down.
Will I save energy if I buy a newer appliance?
Most
new appliances meet higher efficiency standards than years ago so you should
save energy – especially if you don’t add a lot of features that you didn’t have
before. Replacing an aging refrigerator that is constantly running will save
more energy than replacing an old dishwasher that is used only occasionally. To
check out the way to compare appliances and the Energy Star rating from the
Federal Government, click on the Energy Star
link.
Will turning back the thermostate during the day actually save much money?
Yes, most people can easily save energy by setting the thermostat to 68 degrees when you’re awake and at home, and lowering it when you’re asleep or away. You can cut your bill as much as 1% for each degree you lower the thermostat if the setback period is eight hours long, but even four hours can make a difference. Most modern heating systems bring the temperature back up quickly.
How much should I charge my teenager for using her blow-dryer for a half-hour every morning?
Most hand-held blow-dryers today use 1200 watts which means that if left on one hour, they would use 1.2 kilowatt-hours. One half hour use would equal six tenths of a kilowatt-hour. Our average residential customer typically pays 14.2 cents per kilowatt-hour so multiplying by .6 would mean the half-hour use costs about 8.5 cents or roughly $2.55 per month. Check out the operating costs of your other household appliances on our "Home Appliance Calculator".
With oil prices getting so high, how does oil compare to gas for the cost of heating?
Using our current typical gas bills of May, 2008, residential customers pay the heating equivalent of $2.50 per gallon of oil. (the BTU content of 1.38 ccf = 1 gallon of oil)
Natural gas prices usually rise when oil prices rise so it's important to consider that fact. Both fuels react to market conditions. However, we try to keep our gas rates stable using dedicated funds instead of raising fuel charges whenever the market jumps. One thing is guaranteed: this comparison will change!
How do I convert to Natural Gas heat?
Contact our gas division at (508) 947-1535 to determine if natural gas is available in your area.
If you already have gas service or service is available on your street, a natural gas conversion burner might be a lower-cost option than a new furnace provided your existing heating system operates well. A department technician will need to inspect your heating system to confirm this. If needed, we will install up to 150 feet of gas service line from the street to your home free of charge. Each additional foot of service beyond 150 feet will be billed at $2.00 per foot.
Our service technician will inform you of any charges and requirements needed to proceed with installing a natural gas conversion burner to your heating system. However, the initial cost is usually a fraction of the cost of an entire new furnace.
Call to make an appointment today.
Today is: July 3, 2008
