Oh, LAWD have mercy! This city is bleeding me dry.

urbancowgirl · January 2009

I just got a bill from good ol' ConEd for right at $500! Happy Saturday, right? It basically says that they've been estimating my bill since I moved in 9/7, and that this is the additional money I owe. This is apparently for 138 days of service starting at 9/7. Holy darth vader! We've been paying the bills they've sent and have paid over $300 already.

Does this sound right? I mean, is it standard to pay almost $175 in electric/month? I've lived in the city almost 10 years and haven't noticed it to be this much, but who knows? Maybe I'm more sober this year than in years past. Sheesh. This doesn't include our heat which is included in the rent, so basically ConEd thinks we're powering all of Bushwick from our apartment.

Sorry, just had to rant. We're trying to get them on the phone now.

jocelyn · January 2009

i pay about $100-ish per month for a single person living in a 1bdr apt. this is with minimal elec. use. a little more in the summer with the A/C.

sorry you got that harsh shock.

urbancowgirl · January 2009

Thanks for the note. Yeah, we've paid about $100/month already so this came as a big surprise. Between this, our shock at actually owing tax money this year, and both our employers decisions to cut promotions/bonuses/raises (not that we're going to complain at all about still having desks to sit at), I'm going to be posting to Brooklynian from the new borough of freaking Kentucky if I'm not careful.

And so it goes...

anastasia beaverhausen · January 2009

Mine is NEVER over 65 a month - even in the summer. Granted my apartment is tiny and I live alone.

urbancowgirl · January 2009

Yeah, admittedly mine is usually a little more than that (mostly in the summer) because I sometimes accidentally leave the a/c on low during the day so my dogs don't get too hot. But it's never been this much. I'm going to have to seriously consider selling an egg or 20.

Oh well, if the bf can't work this out with ConEd, I'm not going to let myself worry about it anymore. I guess that's why the god made plastic.

voodoonyc · January 2009

That's high. I'm on level payment with Con Ed (meaning I pay the same amount each month so I don't have crazy bills in the summer when I use AC). I have a fairly big place and pay $110 a month and that includes quite a bit of AC in the summer. You need to make sure there's nothing wacky going on with the meters (example: that the common areas of the building aren't being fed through your meter).

modsquad · January 2009

If you recently moved in then you need to check if Con Ed is billing you for the previous possibly unpaid electric bill that might had been left by the former tenant. If a final reading was not done at the time you moved in it is very likely you are paying an old bill. I've seen this happen quite a few times. They need to show an actual reading on or about the day you moved in or when you opened the account.

Also what Voodoo said.

c baller · January 2009

sounds much too high unless you're doing something crazy in your house (grow room? LOL)

I had a floor through and paid 60-80 on low months in the winter and up to 120ish in the summer

urbancowgirl · January 2009

Bingo...for both of you.

We talked to ConEd and found out that 1) there was never a meter reading done for the apartment when we opened the account. No idea how long this has gone on since, before we moved in, the apt sat vacant for a long ass time. ConEd told us to take it up with our management company/landlord. And 2) we looked and there are only enough meters for the number of units in our building (6) so it appears that one of the tenants is paying for the common areas. So...I guess we'll see what we can work out with our landlord tomorrow (we can't get him on Saturday).

Considering he sent us a text message (TEXT) last week that said something along the lines of, "am wanting 2 know if u want 2 buy ur apt? if not, have some1 interested in it", I'm not sure he'll be real interested in negotiating back electricity payments.

I can only laugh about stuff like this.

Mod, I like your new avatar.

urbancowgirl · January 2009

Flexi, good idea. I do have a room with some dang ugly fluorescents. Might as well make use of it.

modsquad · January 2009

I think you can seek punitive damages for LL stealing electric, not sure. Regarding the bill, you should try to estimate on a daily basis what you might owe taking into account use of AC early on from the day you took responsibility. Low ball the amount, they will high ball it, guaranteed. You should call the PSC and lodge a complaint. Then they can't harass you for the money until the matter is resolved.

Good Luck!

PS if you can take a picture of your meter with the circuit box below with the connecting BX and conduit plus a copy of a current newspaper it will be good evidence.

jmd · February 2009

If you have halogen lights shut them off of r amonth and see the difference

garfunky · February 2009

UrbanCowgirl wrote:
We talked to ConEd and found out that 1) there was never a meter reading done for the apartment when we opened the account..

theres your problem.
estimated bill occurs when con ed simply cannot get access to the meters. the super wasnt there when he was supposed to be , no one in the building answered the door, so the meter person leaves and you get an estimated bill.

Talk to your LL , arrange actual meter reading.

suggest you more or less demand (as nicely as possible)
con ed come and read the meter as they are not supposed
to just guess forever.
make yourself available if need be, cuz something is a little screwy
if your LL is refusing them regular access.

best of luck

anastasia beaverhausen · February 2009

Would a ConEd guy be able to tell if they're sucking off Urban's meter for the common areas?

dave_f · February 2009

Anastasia Beaverhausen wrote: Would a ConEd guy be able to tell if they're sucking off Urban's meter for the common areas?

Beave said "sucking off" :shock:

anastasia beaverhausen · February 2009

Flexichick wrote: [quote=Anastasia Beaverhausen]Would a ConEd guy be able to tell if they're sucking off Urban's meter for the common areas?

Beave said "sucking off" :shock:

Gutter mind! I don't know if I mean you or me.

urbancowgirl · February 2009

If Urban was a guy, he'd hope it was a meter!

Oh, LAWD have mercy! This city is bleeding me dry.

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