holiday disconnect

[Smallsteps]

So I just received an email that my power bill is ready.it seemed a little late this month then...............

I open it up (online) and the total seems super high then I REALIZE they have billed for both November and December together........ and for an added BONUS it is due on Dec 23.

This is not a big problem for me but I am really amazed at the insanity of this timing for the very many who can not just send the bill in. and even if they normally can this timing may put more people in a real pinch.

This is the FIRST time they went to two month billing cycle and make it due 2 days before Christmas? Did they hope for the last week of year being full of complaints/ and late notices did they even consider their OWN staff?

Makes me wonder what grinch thought this was a good idea? No one can be that dense can they?

It has been a thing in this area ( especially utilities) wanting to only send out every other month or quarterly bills.
While I can understand their argument to save on mailing and perhaps even processing but it is set up for many to fall further behind or have more issues. Perhaps starting in the January/ February bill would have made sense but this is beyond stupid.

[disneysteve]

Was there no warning that they were switching to every other month billing? Surely that's something they would have told you about in advance. Take a look at the last statement. Was there a memo in there about the change or did you get a separate mailing about it? While I agree with you that it will end up being an issue for some people, I doubt that it was actually a surprise.

Of course, it shouldn't be a problem because when you (generic you) didn't get a bill last month, you should have noticed and set that money aside until you figured out what was going on. I know my bill is $259/mo. so if a bill didn't come, I wouldn't run out and spend that $259 because I'd know I'd have to pay it at some point.

Our gas, electric, and water are still billed monthly. Sewer is quarterly.

[bjl584]

Was there a letter sent out saying that this was going to happen?
Seems like something that they would be obligated to give you a heads up on.

A year or two ago Verizon switched the due date on my cell phone bill, but there was an overwhelming amount of communication via letter, text, and email in the 3 or so months leading up to the switch.

[Smallsteps]

Was there no warning that they were switching to every other month billing? Surely that's something they would have told you about in advance. Take a look at the last statement. Was there a memo in there about the change or did you get a separate mailing about it? While I agree with you that it will end up being an issue for some people, I doubt that it was actually a surprise.

Of course, it shouldn't be a problem because when you (generic you) didn't get a bill last month, you should have noticed and set that money aside until you figured out what was going on. I know my bill is $259/mo. so if a bill didn't come, I wouldn't run out and spend that $259 because I'd know I'd have to pay it at some point.

Our gas, electric, and water are still billed monthly. Sewer is quarterly.

Nope. no notice.

I looked through bills and past emails etc no indication they were doing this.
I only Know it was a problem in ( about 8 months ago past) they QUIT doing it after customers/ social media outrage and then BAM started up again. Just stunned some buffoon thought December was a good time to do this.

Since i work temp items I plan for average from last years bill and send money in bi-weekly anyway.......I am just revolted by the thought of so many that will be ill prepared for this.
I did not think anything of it being late because for some reason last two weeks were a blur and I had overestimated last month and had a bit of a credit.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I do balance billing so every month it's the same amount I just have charged. I did that because living back east my bills were out of control during winters and the summers was the best time to make it up. Not $600 heating bill and $0 in summer

[disneysteve]

Nope. no notice.

I looked through bills and past emails etc no indication they were doing this.

Seriously? I'm pretty sure public utilities are required by law to notify customers of any changes, though I suppose this isn't a rate change so maybe that doesn't apply. Still, it's pretty shady to change the billing system and not tell anyone. And I'm sure plenty of customers noticed there was no bill last month and called them about it.

Are you saying they did the same thing earlier in the year and stopped due to negative feedback and now just randomly started doing it again? That's even more bizarre.

Even though this wouldn't bother me a bit financially, I'd still complain about it happening with no notice.

[scfr]

Does everyone covered by your utility have the same due date? Our former electric company, everyone had different due dates based on ZIP code, so that payments were coming in and being processed all month long, not all at one time. So whether the due date was close to Christmas or after would just depend on "luck" of geography.

[Smallsteps]

It is not about the money in fact if i split in half it is cheaper then I expected.
This seems to not be a true 2 months but more like 1.7 months. oct bill was due in the first week of N,ovember this one should have had a similar due date in December but is stretched until the 23rd.

It is clear though on the corner of bill where Graph shows your usage this year vs last it has October....... then December ..... no November in the graph at all.

Also it is an estimation of use so not accurate even though their site says they do that in bad weather and we have not had anything but rain / no snow / no freezing temps etc.

Seriously i cannot imagine what they are doing but i am sure i will get a canned PR line when i call they only have limited office hours.
I would love to call from my boring job but our building is a cell dead zone and i do not choose to share my personal info among the cubicles using my desk phone.......if not raining i can walk a bit away from building to get my phone to work.

Most of the neighbors here get their bill in general same time so i might check with the lady next door if hers is stretched as well.

[Jluke]

Boosts their year end numbers by stretching into December AND (over)estimating your usage.

[Smallsteps]

update so they estimated and through more time in bills for December so they could give their meter readers/ processors more time off for the holidays.... is what i was told


WOW is all i can say