"Customer Charge" On Utility Bills

May 18, 2017, 10:46 AM

What is this crap?

On my natural gas bill there is a "Customer Charge" of $11.75 for the month, so even if I used 0.00 CCF of gas last month, these bastards are still getting $11.75 from me. For what?

I went back a year to last year's bill at this time and the charge was $8.00 so they are sneakily raising it as they go along too.

Same bullshit on my electric bill too.

May 18, 2017, 10:54 AM

That is for reading the meter and possible equipment replace over the life cycle.

I have the same problem on some of my bills where the service charge is more than the utility usage.

May 18, 2017, 11:11 AM

Jimbo54

They call that 'The basic charge' here. Our utilities company has been talking about replacing the analog meters with Wi-Fi meters so the lazy readers won't have to get out of their trucks plus it would double our f***ing 'basic charge'.

Bastards!!!

Jim

May 18, 2017, 11:22 AM

iron chef

It's similar to how most banks will charge you to keep your account open if it's below a certain balance.

The only thing at my house that uses gas is the central heat, and it's only cold enough five months out of the year to warrant the heater. My gas company charges $17.53/mo in Customer Charges and franchise fees even if I use 0.00 CCF.

I got in the habit of disconnecting my gas in the spring and reconnecting it when winter rolls around. It costs $35 to reactivate each year, but that's considerably less than $17 x 7 months for an idle account.

May 18, 2017, 11:46 AM

PASig

quote:
Originally posted by 41:
That is for reading the meter and possible equipment replace over the life cycle.

Actually, that is charged separately on my bill with other "fees" or "charges". This appears to be pure profit for them just because they can.

I read that some states even have utilities that hit you with a charge for not using 1,000 kwH a month or higher or some such shit??

They urge to to conserve and reduce, then turn around and penalize you when you do! WTF!

May 18, 2017, 12:42 PM

chansen92

welcome to the world of the SMART READERS! those readers have so many ways to screw you it will make your head spin. The meter readers are becoming extinct because the smart readers transmit the reading directly to the company. If you don't have or want one you are charged a fee to pay for a meter reader. They make the fee high enough that you will eventually ask for one to be installed. This is only the beginning like brown outs in small areas that are using to many Watts or even individual homes where too many watts are used like for pot growers who failed to get a permit from the power Co.

May 18, 2017, 12:48 PM

Georgeair

Sneaky little buggers, aren't they?

I noticed months ago that our city has been pushing the due date for auto-draft payment for water/sewer back 2-4 days each month. Sure, it doesn't affect how much I'm ultimately billed, but it's aggravating as heck for the date to be constantly moving and all just so they can push a few more dollars into each year, I'm sure.

May 18, 2017, 03:02 PM

V-Tail

quote:
Originally posted by Georgeair:
Sneaky little buggers, aren't they?

I noticed months ago that our city has been pushing the due date for auto-draft payment for water/sewer back 2-4 days each month. Sure, it doesn't affect how much I'm ultimately billed, but it's aggravating as heck for the date to be constantly moving and all just so they can push a few more dollars into each year, I'm sure.

Is it monthly billing, or is it billing every four weeks?

May 18, 2017, 04:53 PM

GWbiker

quote:
Originally posted by PASig:
quote:
Originally posted by 41:
That is for reading the meter and possible equipment replace over the life cycle.

Actually, that is charged separately on my bill with other "fees" or "charges". This appears to be pure profit for them just because they can.

I read that some states even have utilities that hit you with a charge for not using 1,000 kwH a month or higher or some such shit??

They urge to to conserve and reduce, then turn around and penalize you when you do! WTF!

Local water company wanted to raise water use rates, because customers were conserving and using less water.

They got booed out of the council meeting.

May 18, 2017, 06:06 PM

SIGGUY (THE 1ST)

electric company was purchased by another company. i got an extra $75. /mo on my bill for xxxx. ( i cant recLl what thsy called it) it was a charge to all thier customera to pay for the purchase of the company. total BS!!

May 19, 2017, 04:41 AM

msfzoe

My natural gas and electric bills include small charges for receiving a paper bill.
WTF.

May 19, 2017, 07:59 AM

Thomasconnor

"They urge you to conserve and reduce, then turn around and penalize you when you do! WTF!"

Actually, the utility doesn't like it either, so it must be working. Here's why: Once a utility's rates are set (after a rate case which occurs every few years), that utility has a financial incentive to increase sales.

Legislators and Regulators require utilities to operate conservation programs (that reduce sales) against their will, because it is contrary to their financial interest.

The same Regulators require utilities, at tremendous cost, to install facilities rarely used so, for example, the AC doesn't go out on the hottest day.

Many utility costs do not decrease with your decreased usage (and the same fixed costs must be spread over less sales). To remain healthy that utility must be allowed to recover it's costs.

There are tests to ensure that each (Demand Side reduction) conservation program is cost effective versus satisfying increasing demand had you not conserved (Supply Side increase). So you're screwed less than had you not conserved, and the planet will last longer.

Regarding Customer Charge,

The Customer Charge represents the fixed costs to a utility if the customer uses no product. It is sometimes referred to as "Ready to serve fee." Maintaining the pipes/wires, the shiny trucks, the jet airplane, maintaining the account, reading the meter, etc.

Don't kill me, I'm only the messenger...Tom

May 19, 2017, 02:24 PM

SIG 229R

quote:
Originally posted by Jimbo54:
They call that 'The basic charge' here. Our utilities company has been talking about replacing the analog meters with Wi-Fi meters so the lazy readers won't have to get out of their trucks plus it would double our f***ing 'basic charge'.

Bastards!!!

And you can bet the pay rate for the readers is not scaled down due to the fact they are doing less labor.

Ain't technology great?

Jim

May 19, 2017, 04:31 PM

Fredward

Did you ask the company?

May 19, 2017, 05:37 PM

rtquig

quote:
Originally posted by Jimbo54:
They call that 'The basic charge' here. Our utilities company has been talking about replacing the analog meters with Wi-Fi meters so the lazy readers won't have to get out of their trucks plus it would double our f***ing 'basic charge'.

Bastards!!!

Jim

I worked at a municipal water utility. We replaced all the meters with the newer models that you gather in a drive by. It takes 2 men 2 days to read the entire town. Now the rest of the month, these meter readers work with the repair crews. Or they can stick with the old meters and pay the salary and benefits for 2 men to read the meters for 3 months per cycle. It makes sense to radio read the meters.