ATLANTA - Georgia Power says it's dealing with an avalanche of customer calls after a colder than usual January left many Georgians with higher bills.
Georgia Power spokesman Jeff Wilson says the average temperature for January was 39.5 degrees, about six degrees lower than average.
The utility estimates it was the coldest January in Georgia since 1985 - and it left Georgia Power customers using 23 percent more electricity compared to a year ago.
Early February temperatures have been closer to normal, but Wilson pointed out that cold weather is moving in again. It's unclear whether Georgia Power customers are in for another month of super-high bills because of the cold weather.
Now this is a racket. The temperatures were at there lowest since 1985 for the month of January, causing customers to use more than 23% more power than last year. What they don't tell you is Georgia Power also threw a rate hike in there to boost profits as well.
Why not use their budget billing? My electric bill is about 175-200 in the summer with the (limited use) A/C and a pool pump going about 10 hours a day. In the colder months, I keep the thermostat set at 68 during the day, when home, and usually off at night. The latest bill was $55. My budget bill has been $108 for the past few months.
Common sense, People!
Colder weather caused a spike in electric bills? Imagine that! Here is a prediction..... Come July there will be another spike in the electric bill but for the opposite reason!
The GA PUC recently allowed another hike in what consumers pay this monopoly; and from June 1 - Sept 30, as well as during major holidays, they are allowed to charge consumers DOUBLE THE WATTAGE USED. In other words, if you actually used $150 in actual wattage, you are charged $300 for that month. This is the reason we are paying such exhorbitant prices to the power companies. Seems to me the GA PUC needs to be held accountable for allowing these overcharges and bankrupting the consumers at the same time. When I called the PUC to complain, there was no response from them; perhaps a flood of letters to the governor would be our best bet to have the power company billing investigated.
Aj - those with young children can not keep the temp at 68 all day and off at night. You must also consider the square footage of a person's home which is not the same for everyone. The people who are hit hardest by this is the elderly and the poor. GA power is a rip off and all they think about is the almighty dollar.
This is the 2nd increase in my GA Power bill in less than a year! I am on budget bill have been for years and it has gone up from $122 last summer to $150 this next bill. Believe me we are using no more electricity now than we used then. My thermostat stays on 72 day and night.
Robin, You should not put the heat at 72 day and night. You should lower it to 68 in the daytime (when people are there - - but if everyone leaves for work and school, then you can reduce it a little when you're gone) and then put it on 62 when you go to bed. And don't forget that your budget billing includes summertime air conditioning. You will have to get used to setting the thermostat higher in the summer if you want to save money.
Georgia Power and Southern Company are one of the most efficient "private corporations in this state". Sure the cost has risen. The cost of everything has risen. Their employees are some of the best paid in the state. Look at the cost per unit used. Are you using more. I have no sympathy for people who spend $8 a gallon for "bottled drinking water". It is just like health care. It's not that people want "medical care". They want it for "no cost to themselves". They want someone else to pay the tab. Its like "bummin smokes". You should look at Atlanta Gas Light if you want a real rip off. Look at their great "deregulation plan". AGL say there is "glut of natural gas reserves". So why have the prices increased. What the market will bear? Sell the natural gas to the Chinese. Send you exec's to China, wine and dine them and give them a 50% bonus.
Valid point AJ. But many people are shocked when the time limit runs out for that awesome budget billing! End of your year, you either pay the entire amount owed from your overage use, or have it added to your next years billing. Either way, you get punched in the wallet big time!!
Lowering the thermostat is about the only way to save a little, but be prepared to freeze your behind off.. Get some electric blankets or something, really worthless to have heat and not use it, but the power companies don't care about us, all they do is raise rates everytime we turn around..
I watch my budget billing, if it's getting up too high, I send in an extra payment. Works like a charm. Too many people think "defer" means it goes away. Nothing deferred ever goes away.
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