How to Figure Out Why Your Utility Bill Has Skyrocketed

Existence comes at a cost, especially if you enjoy things like warmth and clean water. The fact that basic resources like water, gas and electricity are simply pumped into our homes is amazing, but when the bill comes, you may regret every hot shower and sauna-like temperature you maintained all winter.

Most of us have a pretty good idea of ​​how much a typical utility bill will cost, and we take reasonable steps to keep those costs under control . We turn the thermostats up or down depending on the season and try not to waste water. So when a shockingly high utility bill appears, it’s a reason to panic and investigate. A surprisingly high water, gas or electric bill isn’t just an immediate financial problem, it could indicate a larger problem that you need to address before going broke. Here’s how to figure out what’s going on.

Please note the changes

Your first step is to examine your behavior and usage patterns for recent changes. A few things to consider:

• New devices or equipment. Have you added new electronics to your home? Have you recently replaced your old equipment? While new devices and appliances are usually more energy efficient than older ones, any new equipment can malfunction or be installed incorrectly, so this is a good place to start. Try disabling new content and see if the spike in usage stops.

• Different patterns. Life is not static. If your utility bills have suddenly increased, ask yourself if your habits have changed. Did you have guests in your home or increased water and electricity consumption? Have you started working from home, using more resources than usual? Has the weather become more severe? Sometimes an unusually hot or cold spell can result in shocking utility bills. If your life has changed lately, wait until things return to normal and see if your bills return to previous levels.

• Recent Projects. Have you recently renovated part of your home? Any change to your home’s infrastructure can affect your energy profile, and if you’ve accessed your home’s electricity, water or gas lines, something could have gone wrong. From a miswired appliance to a punctured water pipe in the wall, damage caused by home projects can cause your energy bills to skyrocket.

Look for problems

If you haven’t changed anything recently that might explain the sudden surge in energy, it’s time to look for other problems:

• Faulty meters . Call your utility company and ask them to check your meters. Your excessively high bill may be the result of a faulty meter. You should also ask them to review your account to make sure there are no mistakes on their part.

• Check for leaks. Even if you haven’t done any housework lately, you may have a leaking plumbing or, worse, a leaking gas pipe. Most utility companies add a chemical called mercaptan to natural gas to give it a sulfur smell. If you smell rotten eggs, call your utility company immediately. If there is a water leak:

  • Look for signs of water damage: standing water, stains on walls or ceilings, warped floors or peeling tiles.

  • Go into the basement or basement and inspect the pipes running underneath your home, where small leaks can go undetected for years, increasing your bills.

  • Inspect your water heater for leaks and make sure it isn’t installed too high, which could increase your gas and electric bills.

  • Check all toilets in the house for leaks. If you have toilets that run constantly, it’s a waste of water and money. They may need repair or replacement.

  • Check all the faucets in the house. Constant dripping may not seem like a big deal, but water loss can accumulate and the drips may indicate a more serious problem.

• Hit the switches strategically. One way to troubleshoot high power consumption problems is to turn off your breakers one at a time and monitor your energy consumption. If you hit a certain switch and the meter suddenly slows down dramatically, you may have isolated your problem. For example, if you hit a breaker associated with your HVAC system, it would be a good idea to have someone come out and inspect your compressor.

• Check your supplier. Utility bills typically reflect three main costs: delivery charges, taxes, and supply costs. Delivery is the rate your utility company charges to deliver gas, water, and electricity to your home. These rates are usually set by the government and do not change often. Taxes also do not change often. However, supply costs can change dramatically if you change suppliers. If you don’t remember changing your provider recently, review your old utility bills to see if anything has changed. If your supplier has been switched to a much more expensive one without your knowledge (a scam called Slamming ), you will need to contact your utility company to file a complaint and have them switched back.

• Utility theft. It’s rare, but it does happen: someone can steal your utilities. This most often occurs with electricity , but it is possible to install an illegal gas installation to steal natural gas or tap into a water supply . This could be as simple as someone plugging an extension cord from your outdoor outlet into their home, or it could be much more complex. The easiest way to find out if someone is connected to your utilities is to turn off the power grid and then watch the meters: if they continue to show usage even when your home is off, it’s time to call the utility company.

If you’ve tried all these steps and still don’t know why your bill has skyrocketed, it’s time to consult a professional: Have an electrician and/or plumber check it out.

More…