Outrageous National Grid gas bill (power lines, live, costs)

[GeoffD]

56 therms is a huge amount of natural gas for four days in a 400 sf apartment.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by Hollytree

Well, looking at your bill, they charge a -probably fixed fee- for "gas delivery" and "gas supply" even though you only had it for 4 days. Like a cable bill, where there are a ton of fixed up charges for just having it. It probably would be a lot more once you start using it.

The fixed charged is in the photo - it's $0.40/day so $1.60.

The issue how much gas was used. I used 160 therms last Nov-Dec over 30 days for a 2400 sq. ft. house with two furnaces. I would ask National Grid to check the meter. If it's good, then you're unit has very little insulation.

[Taffee72]

Your bill is way too high for gas heat. I had gas heat in my small apartment (380 sq ft) and it was around $80-100 per month during the winter. I now have electric baseboard heat in 438 sq ft, and it's about $300 per month.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by robr2

The fixed charged is in the photo - it's $0.40/day so $1.60.

The issue how much gas was used. I used 160 therms last Nov-Dec over 30 days for a 2400 sq. ft. house with two furnaces. I would ask National Grid to check the meter. If it's good, then you're unit has very little insulation.

I'd be putting 3M plastic on the windows, shooting spray foam into any air leaks, and weather stripping any exterior doors. 56 therms in four days in a 400 sf apartment means you're heating the great outdoors. That's going to be an outrageous heating bill in a January cold snap.

[BostonMike7]

56 therms is excessive. I don’t even think I use that in a month in a 2500 sf house. I think I used maybr 20-25 therms last month and I set my stat to 70-72

When I had a 900 sf condo, biggest gas bill I ever got was $40/month

[shadwell10201]

Does anyone know if all the gas companies charge for "delivery" by the therm? Because if you look at the bill, the delivery costs more than the actual gas used. So the more gas used, the higher the delivery charge. Doesn't make sense to me as they have to delivery the gas regardless.

That's not really a "fixed" rate right ? Or am I misunderstanding?

I haven't looked at a gas bill in years, as my last apartment we had paperless billing and my ex wife paid everything. But just seems odd to charge delivery by the therm.

[wolfgang239]

Yes all gas companies do this. You are just seeing a breakdown of the product vs the transportation/infrastructure. Electric bill shows the same thing.

[Hollytree]

Originally Posted by wolfgang239

Yes all gas companies do this. You are just seeing a breakdown of the product vs the transportation/infrastructure. Electric bill shows the same thing.

That is what I was trying to say. The bill is no so much what you actually use as what the basic charges are. For example, you could not even turn on your faucet but (hypothetically) you could get a water/sewer bill just for being connected.

[Lyndarn]

Originally Posted by shadwell10201

Hello all,

Anyone else rent an apartment and use National Grid gas for heat ? Just got my first bill and it was $80 for 4 days of use..

I've had gas before and it was always pretty cheap. Although, it was through Eversource.

Is this a national grid thing ? (I've attached the bill) I have a hot air furnace and water heater. Everything else is electric.

Yiks, That is huge! First of all, I initially had no idea what a "Therm" was as we are billed by cubic meters.

Once was able to calculate how many cubic meters translated to 1 therm ( equals 12 m3 per therm) then was able to make any comparisons to my monthly bills. Holeeee Mackerel.. 56 Therms= 672 m3! It would take me close to a year to use that much gas! I live in a 1600 square foot condo townhouse (finished basement and 2 floors above it) too.

This ( as many suggested, zero insulation + air leaks in probably all area's.) means, you contact landlord to find out how you can mitigate this! Caulking around window frames, all light switches and outlets need to be attended to ( easy outlet foam inserts available) and of course your windows are no doubt not UTD so heat loss is abundant!

You mentioned there are 2empty apartments on your level to. You are in essence sending some your heat through those walls too! I would definitely discuss this with your landlord! THAT, or question whomever led you to this unit!

Just so you know, my last Gas bill for gas ( November '19-Dec. '19 ) I used 51 m3 of gas = 4.25 Therms
Account fee 21.21
Delivery 2.17
Supply 4.58
Transport 2.17
Carbon Tax 1.99
Adjustment .44
HST (Our Tax)4.67
_________________
Grand total $40.57

Good luck OP with working this out

ETA~~ BTW during spring and summer&early fall months I only use 10- 15 m3's

[wolfgang239]

Originally Posted by Hollytree

That is what I was trying to say. The bill is no so much what you actually use as what the basic charges are. For example, you could not even turn on your faucet but (hypothetically) you could get a water/sewer bill just for being connected.

I don't have a bill in front of me but most of the charges are based on how many therms you use. It will be a bunch of line items X therms, and when you add those to any fixed charges it should total up to your bill amount. Usually the only fixed charge is a "customer charge" or meter fee or whatever they call it.