Recently I was scrolling through Next Door and saw some Charlotte residents report an extreme surge in their energy bills.
Some of the comments really threw me for a loop. There were some energy surges that were almost unbelievable. I decided to place a post on Next Door to see if I could find out just how many residents are experiencing this surge. I was floored to find out there were so many residents experiencing bills that reflected a home twice the size. The economy is tough for a lot of people. There are still residents who are unemployed and underpaid, so a surge in energy bill rates is not what pretty much anyone needs.
I do understand that it has been very hot lately. The heat has caused everyone’s AC units to work overtime. with that, I’m sure it caused a surge, but some of these reports are ridiculous. Check out these comments.
The Responses
Trey Graham said, “My July bill was like $40 bucks more and it said my usage was 400kwH higher. I know the air isn’t running that much more”.
Bob Gilbertson said, “Yep mine at $657.00”. This prompted users to ask what their thermostat was set for, the size of their home, and previous bill ranges. This was his response. “5500 sq ft July was $357 Aug. was $657 therm. set at 72 degrees”.
September is #Preparedness Month and a reminder to not wait to prepare until severe weather hits. Stay ahead of the next storm and help keep you and your family safe and in the know: https://t.co/lUAgmFWtqj. pic.twitter.com/YX96bipRSE
— Duke Energy (@DukeEnergy) September 5, 2023
One resident encouraged other residents to debunk myths and find out ways to reduce your bill. One thing mentioned, which is very true, is that about 25% of the bills are fees. Setting your thermostat to a more comfortable setting can help reduce as well. There was one resident that really brought this surge into a complete perspective. Look at this comment from Sharon Powers. “Yes! I am on the equal payment plan, have been for years. My furnace in winter is a known energy drain, and the average bill was $95/mo for years. For a 2 bd 1 ba home with 1 resident @ 1,000 sf. Three months ago I got a $35/mo increase, and 2 weeks ago another $15/mo increase. That’s about a 50% increase. They must be eating cash for lunch over there. Think I’ll go with the competition. Oh, wait..”. Have you experienced a surge?
