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_lilkingtrashmouth t1_j2s0ayj wrote

I am a new renter, so perhaps I just don't know what utilities cost in the city, but my December gas heat bill was almost $300 and I cannot wrap my head around that number. For background, I live in a 700-ish sq. ft. one bedroom in Rittenhouse; I set my thermostat to 69 during the day and 64 in the evening. For half the month I was away at my parents' house for the holidays and had the thermostat set at 62. I just used the PGW compare function on their website and it showed that I'm using significantly more than my block and the entire zip code.

Something has to be up, right? I put in a special meter test request with PGW to check if there may be a leak or somehow a neighbor's meter is tied into my usage, but I'm wondering if I'm just shell-shocked by the reality of city living and this is pretty typical (though the compare function doesn't seem to corroborate that lol)...

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Brahette t1_j2s1gwz wrote

Sign up for their budget billing (called Easy Way) immediately.

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Glystopher t1_j2s75ul wrote

What sucks about budget billing is last time I did that and moved, closing out the account - all of a sudden $650 was due immediately (the amount averaged out not paid yet)

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Brahette t1_j2s7cxt wrote

I mean, that's what happens for ANY budget billing. You don't get to not pay what you owe, it's just spread out to lessen the blow.

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Glystopher t1_j2sicqg wrote

They don’t really warn you and it’s the last thing usually thought of when moving, until you go to set up a new account, moot if you’re moving into an “all bills paid”. I went ahead and let them try to collect until I needed gas again, THEN I paid them, with no help from my former roommates that helped run it up..

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SweetJibbaJams t1_j2s1848 wrote

That's not unheard of for older houses, especially if you are on a lower floor of the building.

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_lilkingtrashmouth t1_j2s1iji wrote

I am on the first floor of an old building with tall ceilings - I just wasn't expecting to tack that size bill onto my monthly rent...

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SweetJibbaJams t1_j2s2z5h wrote

Yeah, that can be some serious sticker shock. It's not glamorous, but putting heat wrap over the windows can make a big difference. and buy lots of blankets.

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_lilkingtrashmouth t1_j2s3aed wrote

I put some foam insulation around the seams of the windows, but that might not be doing enough - it's definitely better, but still drafty. I remember sitting at my kitchen table the one day and the wind was blowing and I could feel it where I was sitting. Went online and bought something immediately lmao

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SweetJibbaJams t1_j2s3ov7 wrote

Yeah, i'd definitely recommend plastic that will seal around the edges of the window to prevent the drafts.

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