The weather is warming up now, but my bill still seems high. What kinds of things should I be looking for to lower it?
The first thing you want to look at when analyzing your bill is the meter read date near the perforation line on your bill. It will say something like, “31 days of service from 1/15/10 to 2/15/10”.
More than 31 days in the billing period could cause a higher than normal bill. Also, keep in mind that this billing period probably includes days that are 1½ to 2 months ago when it was probably colder than today.
Now that spring is right around the corner you should make sure and disconnect any unnecessary freeze protection devices. Heaters in pump houses, engine block heaters, water trough heaters, heat tape and heat lamps on the pipes should all be unplugged completely once you are sure the danger of freezing is past. Don’t rely on the built in thermostats in these devices to automatically turn them off. They are inexpensive mechanical devices that can and will fail. For example, more than once, I have found a 1,500 watt heater with a stuck thermostat running constantly in a pump house. Most people rarely check their pump house, but this scenario can cost you an extra $89 per month. These things are worth spending a few minutes unplugging in the spring.
If you have done the things I have mention above and still find your bill to be higher than expected, give us a call and we can help you investigate where the use is occurring.