[mpillow]

Wow! We live in China,ME & loyal CMP customer

It is too high. I would suggest a timer for the water heater. Heat 2 hrs in morning and 1 hr at night or switch to oil.

Leaking toilets (running), dripping faucets, Water pump on the fritz or broken wires (personal experience). Outdoor lights...dawn to dusk or motion lights also are expensive. Heat tapes on water pipes or roof can be unplugged for summer.
You could also have a water line leaking (under ground) causing your pump to run. A larger extrol tank will also cut need for water pump to come on.

I do not have a dryer. In the winter we run a fan over the woodstove and a thermostatic fan to further circulate wood heat and dry laundry on racks at night. Oil furnace runs at night and our water comes from oil fired "boiler mate". We have 2 fridges and 2 freezers (step down from large) chest type. I do use flourescent lights as much as possible. Our house is 1800 sq ft. We have 3 kids. Our light bill mid winter is $75. Goes down to $55 summer.

If you purchased that house and it already had electric you shouldnt be paying a per month utility pole fee. A "delivery fee" and a usage charge is all, but if you exceed the allowed KWH allowed for a month under residential the charge is higher commercial level.

A light bill like that comes only from electric heat! Bug the crap out of those people or try community action program. But first check your pump, whats running and how often the pump comes on and off and set the timer on electric water heater and/or change to oil or propane. They'll come visit you if you dont pay your bill :haha:

 

[rambler]

OK got my bill out of the van. We are billed .054490 per KWH. last month we had 2001 KWH which works out to $109.XX then tax which works out to $113.XX. Then there is a supplier delivery charge of $159.74 . The delivery is the charge for the polls, getting electricity etc to my house.( this is what lady on phone said) I repeated that I need someone out here and she said it had ONLY been 2 MONTHS since I requested someone come out. I am like ONLY 2 months??? Good grief. So anyways she is going to recall him and see if he can get here "sooner"

I will show my hubby your replies and maybe tommorrow we can test out meter ourselves and see whats up.

So you actually have around $100 bill for your electricty - that seems to be normal for many people here.

Most of your bill is for installation. Somewhere you or the previous owners agreed to this setup, where the installation cost is billed monthly over a period of time. You could pull the plug on your main disconnect, & you still would have a $160 bill every month. Reducing electrical use can influence the $100 portion of your bill.

Do not blame the electric company for a high bill when less than 1/2 of your bill is for electricity!

I agree 2 months is a long time to wait, but I suspect there is little he will find. You did not properly represent your bill, it is only 1/3 for electricity.

--->Paul

 

[Beeman]

I should have put more of our particulars along with our usage. We have a 1600 sq. ft. doublewide. We don't use A/C but run ceiling fans continuously. I have 2 teenagers that leave the lights on a lot. We have an electric clothes dryer and a dishwasher and use them both. We do use the microwave often also. We also have a swimming pool and run the filter on a timer every day. As I posted before we only used 621 KWH. I guess the biggest savings on electricity is we use gas for cooking, heating and hot water. Even when we use the A/C, which is only when it's 90 plus for long periods of time it is just above $100.

 

[Quiver0f10]

OK what doesn't make sense though is that this house is 40 years old and the power isn't new, so its not like the previous owner was paying for power to be brought to the house. I am not entirely sure what "delivery" charge means. The woman wasn't very helpful though.

 

[Suzanne]

Ours runs about $48.00 per month for a 2400 square foot home. We have 2 wells with the old pumps. Electric hot water, electric washer{but it is a Staber}, I know the refrigerator eats probably the most as it runs all the time. We have another fridge out in the barn, and a very large freezer also!! But we don't watch much TV, I'm on this computer more then I should! Rarely listen to the radio. And also 2 teenage daughters! In the winter it can run higher if we plug in the water tank heater, then it skyrockets to about 72.00. Then I get upset with that, can't imagine paying what alot of you good folks are forking out, that's ridiculous Our bill has always been low, was lower before the computer. Used to be around 32.00 average. But I got rid of my dryer about the same time, hang all our clothes. I do alot of our cooking, baking and especially canning on the cookstove. I know if we can swing it when this fridge in the house dies I would like to buy a Sunfrost, pay for itself and not have to hear the humming. I know of several people who live in a larger city near us and their not shocked by $200.00 a month bills. But I know alot of people have AC or run fans, or have pools with the filters running. Also alot of people have mercury lights!!! I would for sure check where your electricity is all going too, there are alot of little things that will eat it up.

 

[OUVickie]

OK what doesn't make sense though is that this house is 40 years old and the power isn't new, so its not like the previous owner was paying for power to be brought to the house. I am not entirely sure what "delivery" charge means. The woman wasn't very helpful though.

That's not good. They should be able to explain every single charge in detail. The only other option might be to speak to a Billing Supervisor and see if they can explain it or give you a complete itemized bill with a total breakdown.
You are the Customer, they shouldn't be able to charge you for something they can't explain - what else would they be charging delivery for - that's puzzling!
You have the right as a consumer to an explanation of what you're paying for and if they can't explain it then you might let them know you're going to contact either the Better Bus. Bureau or what we call here - The Corporation Commission, which is the Utility authority. Don't let them bamboozle you. You deserve to know what you're paying for.

 

[Cabin Fever]

Is there anything that looks like a gopher tunnel that runs from your place over to the neighbor's house?

The delivery charge is what your electric co-op charges every member for the infrastructure and service (overhead) of delivering power to each member.

Let's see, $275 divided by nine, is about the same amount we're paying per person here. Our electricty bill is about $40 per month for two people, but our stove, dryer and water heater are all gas applicances.

 

[mpillow]

Out of state people may not understand that a few years back most power companies in Maine changed due to deregulation which allowed for more competition from electric suppliers. We now have a choice in Maine. You can choose from 2-3 suppliers. We chose the standard offer supplier is CPS Maine and the delivery provider (owner & maintainer of poles/powergrid) is CMP. My bill comes from CMP but is divided into 2 separate charges.

My bill from 5/5/04 - 6/2/04 ....

Electricity Delivery: Central Maine Power ...............33.69$
Electricity Supply: CPS Maine (standard offer) ........24.55$
Total bill for 28 days...........................................58.24$

Delivery charges up to 496 KWH....33.69
Up to 100 KWH @ 7.18
Over 100 KWH @ .066933


Electricity Supply Charges

496 KWH @ .049500 ...........24.55$

My husband says that you may need to hire an electrician to figure this out for you in a more timely manner. Possible bad grounding. He reccomends that you call his work Mon. morning. Winslow Supply @ 1-800-287-5608 ask to speak to Jim Begin. Jim is the electrical manager and may be able to point you in the right direction....the phone call is free! My husband is the heat guy over there and his name is Gary and he could help you switch your water heater if you choose that route as well.

Hope this helps. Your bill is very VERY WRONG!!!!

 

[mightybooboo]

Figuring in all the fees,I pay 12 cents/Kilowatthour
BooBoo

 

[TexasArtist]

We just moved into our house in Maine in January. The first full months electric bill was $275.00, next bill was $297.00! We have a 2200 sq foot house , nothing fancy. To cut the bill down we unplugged our 2nd fridge, started hanging just about every load, washing in cold and wearing jeans twice etc to cut down on loads, shutting off computers at night and shutting off all lights unless we are in the room. Also, we turned the thermomstat down 2 degrees even though we have oil heat. Well the next bill comes and its $225.00. Better, but still not good. In May we washed all dished by hand and haven't used the DW once, figuring this will drop the bill even more.

Today I get May's bill and it was $275.00 again!!!! I just can't believe it. It was very rainy last month so I had to dry more than hang and we got our baby chicks so we had a brooder plugged in 24/7 but $275.00 is so rediculous. I called our electric co in march to have someone come out here and see whats going on and no one has showed up still.

Is this average or is something drastically wrong?

My parents kept haveing a big bill like that. Thier bill went from $260's down to about $90. They started looking around the house as to what they could unplug. So far they've unplugged the extra freezer, 5 clocks that weren't needed, the vcr and dvd player from the other room( it's only turned on if someone wants to watch something in that room), and the hot water heater only gets turned on when someone is about to take a shower or such. Beleive it or not the water will stay pretty warm until the next morning. So if who ever wakes up first hit the breaker for the water heater and the last one grabbing a shower will turn it off. Other then that you'll just have to kinda figure out what you can do without or what you may have extras of that you didn't notice before. Hope this helps you.

 

[LindaT_AK]

This is certainly an interesting topic. I will be moving to Northern Maine in a couple weeks, figure to be there by July 5th or so. At the moment we are paying a basic 4.50 a month minimum for our electric with nothing on yet. I hope to heck that it is not that much per month.
Up here in alaska now, my electric is not that much per month and not more than 80 dollars or so per month in winter. But I live very basic. One winter we got our bill and it was over 200 dollars. I freaked out. Turns out that DH was plugging all three vehicles in 24 hours a day. I put a stop to that right away. That is what was doing it.
I use natural gas here now. That bill is usually not over 80 or so per month in winter and only a couple dollars in summer. I cook with gas too. I'm going to take my gas stove and convert it to propane and use propane for cooking.
Linda T.

 

[rambler]

OK what doesn't make sense though is that this house is 40 years old and the power isn't new, so its not like the previous owner was paying for power to be brought to the house. I am not entirely sure what "delivery" charge means. The woman wasn't very helpful though.

No, that does not make sense. We get charged $10-11 for the base fee. I have REA coop pwer by the way, they gave me a free lifetime water hear for the peak power control as others mentioned, and they are a very good company with very good rates & very few power outages ever. I use 400-500 kwh I believe, we read our own meter & they check it once a year, guess I don't pay much attention if the bill stays consistant.

Anyhow, something is wrong with a $160 a month flat charge. If no one can explain the charge promptly, I can't see why you have to pay it? And that is what I would have to say about that. Appear in person at their office, doesn't give them a way out of giving you an explination, and makes you much more serious about it. Something they have to deal with. Now. Period. I've always paid my bill at the office, not in the mail. It's interesting how much you learn that way, & how many questions you get answered. Right away. If they can not explain the charge - here - now - then I will withhold payment of that portion until it is explained. Pay your KWA portion, as that is yours to pay.

--->Paul

 

[nebula5]

Anyhow, something is wrong with a $160 a month flat charge. If no one can explain the charge promptly, I can't see why you have to pay it?

To my understanding, this is not a flat charge. In states with deregulation, your bill shows the cost of the electricity and the supply charge separately. for instance, her in NY, I have one bill for electricity and another for the electrical supplier. I can choose who I want to pay for the electricity, but my supplier is fixed, because they own and maintain the lines.

So, on my NYSEG bill:

Basic service charge: $12.17
All [email protected] 10.5963 cents/kwh $79.15
Supply credit [email protected] cents/kwh -$45.09
Electric Cost $46.23 (paid to NYSEG)

But, I get another bill from a company I chose for the actual electric for $44.32 (a minor savings over NYSEG's $45.09 credit.)

Total of both bills $46.23 + $44.32 =$90.55

Quiver of 9, I think you get your electric and your supply from the same company, thats why it's split up on your bill.

 

[mpillow]

Hey quiver,

I spoke with a neighbor who is more of a consumer than I am. She has AC upstairs and down, dries 95% of laundry in dryer for family of 6. She has ceiling fans in every room that she leaves on almost all the time, a big outdoor light dusk to dawn and running a pump for a pool (small $300 walmart one).... her light bill has never been over $150 even in the winter with a small electric heater running in a small room. They do have baseboard heat/hot water coiled furnace. They have 2 fridges a big freezer and all the other usual appliances computer, 3-4 tvs etc..
Forced air furnace will also drive up the light bill if the fan is going on it, but you shouldn't be needing the furnace on too often this time of year, hopefully you have baseboard as it is a better value/quality for Maine homes.

And the switch over fee for electric bills is only a one time $60 charge...my parents just bought a new home in Somerset County in April.You would have paid that when you first moved in.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Anyhow, something is wrong with a $160 a month flat charge. If no one can explain the charge promptly, I can't see why you have to pay it?

To my understanding, this is not a flat charge. In states with deregulation, your bill shows the cost of the electricity and the supply charge separately. for instance, her in NY, I have one bill for electricity and another for the electrical supplier. I can choose who I want to pay for the electricity, but my supplier is fixed, because they own and maintain the lines.

So, on my NYSEG bill:

Basic service charge: $12.17
All [email protected] 10.5963 cents/kwh $79.15
Supply credit [email protected] cents/kwh -$45.09
Electric Cost $46.23 (paid to NYSEG)

But, I get another bill from a company I chose for the actual electric for $44.32 (a minor savings over NYSEG's $45.09 credit.)

This is correct for states with deregulation. Instead of the old days when you had a flat killowatt amount, taxes and connection charge, you now have to add up your electricity charge and delivery charge to get your actual cost per killowatt. This changed in PA a few years ago. The electricity charge is for the actual juice and the delivery charge is to the company that owns your lines, although they may actually be the same company. You can change suppliers, but not delivery companies. It is not unusual for people answering the phones not to understand how it is caculated. I have "time of day" date, where I pay more during the day and less at night. The company doesn't even print totals for "on" Time, "off" time and the total, even though my meter has three readings, the on, the off and the total. I keep a running total from 12 years ago, so I get to explain to the people if I ever need to call. They only print 2 of the 3, so you can't actually check if it's right without calling them, if you haven't kept the totals going. Meters also do run faster not just slower when they go bad. That is how I found a defective meter several years ago. I knew what I should use per month and called to tell them meter was bad. They came out and found out it was so, but I had to pay the amount anyway and got a new meter, which I watch like a hawk. The "estimating" between new and old meter was frustrating. Because of their estimation, they had starting totals higher than my new meter read. They even told me Time of day meters never add up exactly right. I got that straight after a few weeks, as I have never in 14 years had my two reads, not add up to the total KWHs used. I run central air and a pool filter in the summer, electric hw heater and my bill goes to $150 or a little more. A good off season read is $90 as we rarely use the electric heat pump for heating. This is for a 1200 SQ Ft house with 4 people. Still way too high in my book. I pay .125 per KWH during the day and .055 at night plus taxes and a $10 connection fee.

 

[BCR]

How do you figure the square feet of a house? We've added on and I don't know now....there is a full basement, 2 offices, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1 shower separate, a family room, living room, dining room, kitchen.

I am going to mellow out about my bill for $90 for two months usage for about 1350 kwh on our highest usage period. Not too bad when I read all the rest here. Its our hottub circulating pump and an old freezer that use the electric so much here.


I am curious, those of you with alternative power, how many kwh do you generate in a month? I have often thought we use too much electric to make it affordable to go off-grid. I'd like to hear a few comments on that.

 

[slfisher]

I'm about $50 a month in summer, $75 in winter (oil heat but electric blower), with 1200 sq ft, two fridges and a freezer, no a/c, several appliances on all the time.

 

[Guest]

Well, we just got a new dishwasher (uses about 6 Gallons water total). It has an "air dry" setting, which I set for in case I forget, but I am going to time the cycle, since it doesn't make all the clicking noises the other one did which let me know when it was done, and set it the timer for when it is just about to go to the drying cycle, then turn it off, open the door and let them air dry that way, without the fan going. Every little bit helps.

I would also check your thermostats, they may be faulty and causing the heat/AC to run when it shouldn't.

 

[Terry - NW Ohio]

We are part of an electric coop and here is the breakdown for our April bill:

1078 KWH used $67.54

Distribution Access Charge 20.00
Miscellaneous Tax Charge 5.01
Wholesale Power Cost Adj 2.47
Round-Up Amount .98

Total Charges $96.00

(Round-up amount is where they round up to the next dollar and put that amount in a fund for helping others-not to pay electric bills but for items people can request help for such as special wheelchairs, etc.)


Each year we also receive a capital credit allocation for the previous year, which is credited towards one our monthy electric bills.
This year ours is $85.70

 

[vtfarma]

Electric Dryers, Stoves and old appliances are the main culprits in high power bills. (Electric Water Trough thawers too). We replaced a 1969 27 cu ft freezer with a 25 cu ft new model this year. The bill dropped $50.00 per month. It paid for itself in 60 months! When we switched from electric dryer to gas it dropped 30! It is still $172.00 budget payment. How much do you pay per kwh?