What was your old average
and now
what is your new average bill?
Ladies & Gentlemen, this is a major topic. I do know that last month many are saying their bill was a bit higher because the cycle was 40 days, not the usual 30 days. However, many who were used to let's just say a monthly average this time of year to be $250.00 are now getting bills of $700.00 and up! Many are even saying they just can't afford it any more.
I think you're going to find these comments to be VERY interesting. I know it's Saturday but let's see how this article goes comment wise. Please participate so our elected officials can see how screwed us peasants are these days. I'm hoping on Monday to deliver an in depth investigative report on this matter because Senator Jim Mathias is neck deep in the "Smart Meter" legislation.
56 comments:
I will find out on my next bill , I was billed for 40 days this time. Don't know why , if it is a smart meter , then that's not so smart.
Let me give you an example for me personally.
Two months ago I got a bill for around $125.00 for our Delmar home. This most recent bill was just under $300.00.
NOTHING has changed. I heat my home with a pellet stove, so we do not use much electric in the winter.
I opted out. I had to pay $75 for opting out and now pay a $17/month fee. My bill is still in line with what what it has been, 180/mo. (family of 3 1600 sq/ft rancher)
No problems with Choptank. We pay for what we use, each month. Read our own meter.
11:08, So everyone knows, (thanks Jim Mathias) all customers over the Bay Bridge only pay $11.00 a month for this service. It's $17.00 a month for the Eastern Shore customers. I spoke with Congressman Andy Harris about this yesterday and he would like to at least see the $75.00 fee removed.
24 year home only had two monthly bills in 200 dollar range. First month after installing smart meter which I did not have any say over, just installed and the next months bill was mid 300's. Past year have had 3 300 dollar bills.and numerous 200 dollar bills.
I'd like to add, notice how this is NOT being brought up or discussed by ANY other media source, yet each and every one of them are feeling the hit as well. You'd think this topic would be a no brainer but for some reason they refuse to discuss it.
The smart meter is also a 'data collection' device. And we all know data=$$.
I'm with 11:08. We opted out since I heard such awful things about the health problems and the meter, and they were going to install the meter right outside my little boys bedroom. We decided to be safe rather than sorry. Installed a gas stove in 2010 which heats our 1100 foot rancher very nicely. Our bills hover around $180 with the $17.00 fee and gas is less than $50.00 which means we save more than we did back when we used the very ineffective heat pump as our main heat source. A lot of my colleagues are complaining that their electric bills have doubled with the meter switch however. And, Joe, what is Delmarva power's justification for charging $17.00 for opt out versus $11.00 on the Western Shore? Just curious. The whole smart meter thing was a violation of our rights. And now Obama is pushing for the internet to be controlled as a government utility. Lovely...can't wait (heavy sarcasm).
I opted out also. Our bills have ALWAYS been high and no one can explain why. My bill hasn't been under 200 dollars in a while. Our home is only 1200 sq feet. Even in the spring and fall with no ac running or using the dryer the bill doesn't go down much. I don't know how some people afford 400 or more to heat their homes for a month. I love my pellet stove it was well worth the money!
11:31, They claim it's a "rural" thing. Homes are spread out and it allegedly cost them more to read them. Again, FOOLS, thank your Senator Jim Mathias for this. Liberals are such Idiots. They only care about themselves and not their neighbors who can't afford it.
For example, I CAN afford it but look what I do every day, I REPRESENT THE PEOPLE because I've never forgotten where I came from.
I live in a rental and had no say in its installation. My bill has increased $200 over the same three month period of last year. Not to mention its nothing but a data hub to fix pricing, control access, and there are also health concerns. A bank of smart meters emit intense levels of radiation.
I was told by the person installing our meter that soon we would not have meter readers it would be transmitted somewhere.??
I have an apartment that is vacant, so I had them disconnect the meter, which is hanging by a wire,my bill was around $18 per month on a 700 square foot apartment before un-hooking the meter, my last bill was over $45 this month and was billed as guestimate. Unreal!!!!
JoeAlbero said...
11:08, So everyone knows, (thanks Jim Mathias) all customers over the Bay Bridge only pay $11.00 a month for this service. It's $17.00 a month for the Eastern Shore customers. I spoke with Congressman Andy Harris about this yesterday and he would like to at least see the $75.00 fee removed.
February 14, 2015 at 11:11 AM
I would like to see all fees deemed illegal on this. Ever since the GD F'n Democrats voted for deregulation our costs have skyrocketed. These fees are just a way for them to make more revenue. These smartmeters are a way for the Federal government to spy on us. Thank you again Obama and you F'n Democrats.
By the way I am sure some where in the $400,000 worth of contributions to Jim Mathias you will find a connection to Delmarva Power and Pepco Holdings.
Note: There is still a Customer Charge of almost $8 on your bill. That charge was approved by the PSC as a meter reading charge years ago. With no meter readers, this charge should be eliminated. An if you really want to get "bent out of shape", look where your EmPower Md. Charge is going as well as your Environmental Surcharge.
Why should we have to pay for their tools?
Do you really think a Democrat hack like Jimbo is going to do anything against big power?
The bill current and previous readings now state it's an "actual" reading, not estimated. I can now assume that a computer or robot or radio signal is a actual person.
We opted out, having decided that we're too old to let a corporation decide how much heat or AC we may have at any given time. We're paying the opt-out fee, and our bills are staying pretty much the same.
I have a lot of friends who for the most part are Republicans but most of them think Mathias is a good man and is looking out for the eastern shore. I have tried to tell them he is not your friend and they look at me like I'm nuts, HE is a smooth talking POS who is only looking out for himself.
I don't have one yet but this article has me seriously lookig into solar panels for electric, let them buy from me. And with bills doubled it will pay for itself that much quicker!
I live alone in a 1200 sq ft house...all electric. I keep my heat at 50 degrees and do laundry one a week. Last month's bill was $100.00 than the previous month with no changes. I understand the 40 day read time, but according to my past bills it should have only been $30.00 higher...time for a windmill.
How are they getting away with this ?
You can afford it you cheap bastard. I hope you go get the mail on the road and get struck dead by a Perdues chicken truck.
Could you post the call lines to all the congresspeople so we can VENT our displeasure with them!
No, since I'm getting actual readings vs. estimates, I'm paying about the same or even a little less.
Yes new meters running higher. I opted out of the new meter. It costs me 17 a month.
Nov.14 - 55.56
Dec.14 - 122.09 (10-29-14-12-1-14)
Jan.15 - 199.16 (12-1-14-1-7-15)
Feb.15 - 210.25 (1-8-15-2-4-15)
This is crazy, in order to pay my electric bill for Feb., I am not going to be able to get my monthly medication for blood pressure, and other maintenance medications.
This is just wrong. We are getting hit very hard, too hard. I called DPL and they couldn't care less. Said it was due to new billing system they are using and has caused several months billing cycles to be extended. With the advent of the smart meter this should not be happening. Price fixing is more like it.
Comcast has also jacked up their rates for the same basic service. I can't afford to get anything other than basic. For that I paid monthly 79.54 for years. Effective with February bill for the exact same service I have to pay 84.67. When I called them they told me the cost of each box increased by 1.00 ( I have 2), the broadcast fee increased(3.25), and I was paying a regional sports fee that I never paid before ever (1.00), on top of all that the franchise fee increased from 3.94 to 4.32. This is nothing but extortion. Andy Harris needs to look into this as well because we are being taken to the cleaners by these companies. I pay more for worthless comcast than Verizon and I have less trouble with Verizon than comcast.
First.... Mr Albero Thanks for keeping us informed and also what you do for all the animals.And i like the new eagle with the constitution heading.
I have a 1100 square foot home all electric with a 2 year old carrier heatpump set at 68 degrees e bill last month for 39 days was $209.00 thats about $5.31 a day for everything washer dryer stove hot water 2 hd tv,s p/c etc. But in the summer after they installed it i saw a increase in kilowatts for some unknown reason.I like delmarva power, when there have been outages on my road with transformers ruptured or lines down the lineman and staff always cordial and very fast and efficient same when i call in there too. Ending no i do not like the smart meter on my house.
Opted out of the SM and painful to pay the $75/17,but glad I did. Our monthly
bills are about right for our usage,which I track and compare. I hear horror stories from people who have the 'Smart Meters'. One friend down on the Westside opted out,but DP installed it anyway and wouldn't change it.His bill went up hundreds of dollars. He raised hell every month and DP would come 'check it' and his bill would improve a little. He said it was a nightmare and took 5 or 6 months to get it to normal.
No doubt in his mind the SM's are rigged to rip you off and gather info.
I was also told the meter readers would be eliminated. I don't think it has happened yet because when I called DPL the woman I spoke with said the meter reader would be coming the next day to read the meter. He does it right from his truck. Never gets out, motor still running, he swipes the neighborhood and heads off to another sector.
Yes. Scream and cry for the government to come in and fix it. You fix it by making it hurt the pocket. I know DPL is one you can't get by without, but there are other ways. Take a page from the liberal playbook on embarasing the company execs, do they have a smart meter, do they even pay their electric bills? Same with Comcast, show them and hurt them in the public eye. These are the ind of folk that feel reputation is everything. Ruin that and you ruin them.
I won't allow one but when I bought my house my electric Bill was never over $100.
About 6 months after I moved in, I came home to find an electric company guy at my home fiddling with my meter.
The next month my bill doubled.
I called to report and complain and they claimed no one had ever been to my home.
Now, you tell me.....
Last year my daughter lived in an apartment complex until they bought their house.
The complex had smart meters installed.
My daughter woke up one morning last winter and they had cycled her electric off.....for five hours!!! On one of the coldest days of the year.
She called and complained but it still took five hours.
2 kids with her as well, ages 5 and 2
Time to revolt. I'll do what my dad taught me , turn the meter upside down , it will run backwards.
Senate Bill #9 has been introduced to eliminate the $17.00 charge for those of us that have opted out. In addition, it contains language that requires follow up and investigation of complaints dealing with health issues. Everyone is requested to call Mathias's office: 410 841 3645 to encourage his support of this bill.
I called yesterday, at first the individual answering the phone claimed not to know anything about it, but eventually indicated hat he would pass my request along to Mathias.
I received a call from Vince Giserel suggesting that Mathais's office be contacted by as many people as possible.
Don Coffin
410 422 4811
2:37pm
You could try the budget billing that Delmarva Power has. You pay the same amount every month which they get by averaging out your whole year. Yes, you will pay more than your actual bill certain months, but then again you pay less during the coldest winter months and hottest summer months. It does help so that you don't have those surprise bills that you can't afford.
Jim Mathias is a closet homosexual. I wouldn't be suprised if he and Chuck Cook was gay together.
They will get a call Tues morning!
the last 2 months have been cold people, you need to COMPARE your Kilowatt Hour usage from say nov, dec, and jan last year to this year. i am about to do it, next time my bill comes in. .
I know the liberals don't want to hear this but ever since they installed smart meters in Salisbury, my health has gone down hill. I opted out to have one installed on my house but I am surrounded by them in my neighborhood and office building where I work. (there are ten of them right outside my office window)
So even though I paid the $75.00 opt out fee and $17.00 monthly fee, I am still getting all the effects from everyone's smart meter! The only good thing is my bill has not skyrocketed like everyone else who accepted the smart meters. I have talked to several of my neighbors with the smart meters and their bills have almost doubled from last year. Not very SMART to me. (except for Delmarva Power/Pepco) And yes, I have to agree that probably Mathias has some kind of an "IN" with them. I will put a call into his office but I am sure will not go very far!
Yet another reason we're looking at Delaware.
I wish there was a solid comparison assuming same size house.
I mean taxes and utilities. Overall cost.
Does Salisbury allow solar panels ?
(Delmar area) My Bill last year was around $ 500.00 the average temperature was colder. My bill this January $ 919.00 !!! 40 days did not make it that high. The temperature in my home was set the same as last year. There was no extra stuff running, no extra laundry washed, etc, no difference whatsoever. Even if the bill was estimated it would not have not have been higher. Something is definitely wrong. I cannot afford a bill as much as my mortgage payment. The only good news is that there are programs in Sussex county to help change over to more energy efficient systems. Check out Chesapeake Utilities web-site for those wanting to switch over to natural gas from electric heat pump. Also go to the website for Dsire, it is a federal database for energy efficiency incentives. Hope this helps
I have a business in Salisbury and my most recent Delmarva Power bill was more than double what previous bills have been for the past year, but I don't have time to get on the phone and fight it. So I'll just press on as long as I can.
Our normal bill is around $225. The 40 day bill was $339. This last 28 day bill was $417. I am seriously looking at the Consellation offer. You would think with the price of fuel being 1/2 and only 28 days in the billing cycle the bill would not have been that high. I know it has been cold some days but this is ridiculous.
I really advise ALL on this blog. If you have a smart meter; have it removed immediately. This is serious. Your bills will always be enormous, there are health issues and this is Another way for the government to control you and continue to get info from your home. That should be enough for anyone to get angry.
Folks please understand that DP&L is only a distribution company. They buy their power from a energy producer because they sold their power plants. So, fuel prices are much lower now than they have been for years and your electricity bills are higher. Please take note. The Public Service Commission has control of the electric companies rates, not the producers rates. So, DP&L can pass on the producers rates that have no control under the PSC. Also remember that DP&L is owned by stockholders. Fact is, it's a private company protected by the Government. Keep voting Democratic people!
My most recent electric bill was $73 because we have gas appliances and an oil-fired furnace,and thanks to oil prices being at a record low our heating bill is half what it was last winter.
Electric heat is the least efficient,in a previous home where we had electric heat our winter bills were about $400 monthly.Huge difference.
Electric meters causing "health problems". smh
Isn't there any Federal or State assistance to go along with my Medicaid, Section 8-housing, Obama phone, Independence Card assistance?
No they still come out and check to see if your honest. And choptank is terrible compared to Delmarva power. My experience.
How do I opt out? I was told the meter has to stay it is law. I don't want it. Its intrusive and medically not safe.
They are setting you up for peak, non- peak rates/billing.
If you do your laundry like a normal person you will now pay more than if you do laundry at 3 AM.
Because your usage will be billed at a higher rate for busier time frames, than not so busy time frames.
Just wait and see... this is the point of the smart meters.
Charge customers more. You are an idiot if you are buying their excuses and think this is to your benefit.
Money money money.
11:51 Did you say that with a straight face?
I have oil heat and would consider $400 a month a blessing. Try $800-900+ to fill the tank at the beginning of the winter season and $500+ a month to refill during winter months
A 275 gal tank @ $4 a gal is near what we have previously been paying.
You really do not have a clue now, eh?
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