Anyone else cheap when it comes to electric?

So we are going into our 2nd month in our new home and I am still waiting for an electric bill.

DH and I have never paid a LI electric bill so I'm not sure what I should expect cost wise.

When we were renting in FL our bill was always under $100 and we had our C/A running all the time.

So its not that I'm cheap, more frugal I guess. I don't leave lights on if I don't need them. I conserve. Now keep in mind I am also 38 weeks pregnant and barely run the A/C because I don't want an expensive electric bill and they aren't very energy efficient.

So anyway..BIL is renting upstairs. He just moved in 1 week ago and we don't have the door up yet so I know what's going on up there. And he leaves the A/C on ALL day long. Even when he isn't home. Plus he leaves the windows open.

What makes things worse, cablevision came the other day and I had to go up there with them and the A/C isn't even completely in the window. It's just placed there (not screwed in or anything) and there are big gaps where bugs can come in.

Ok maybe I'm overreacting, but we are collecting real minimal rent from him so can't he be responsible and shut the windows, and shut off the a/c when he is gone ALL day???

What makes it worse is that DH won't say anything to him!!!!

ok..sorry vent over!! kinda..sorta not really!!

Message edited 8/13/2006 9:54:34 AM.

Re: Anyone else cheap when it comes to electric?

I would be ******. That's a lack of responsibility and respect.

Re: Anyone else cheap when it comes to electric?

I told DH we should have him pay 1/2 the electric bill when it comes. He says if we were renting to strangers and had the door up you wouldn't know what's going on up there.

I said not true, because I would see that the windows are open and hear the A/C running.

It just really bothers me that he won't approach him and say can we be a little more conservative.

The whole reason we are renting is because I'm not working right now and are using the income in place of any salary I would get. But it isn't going to work if our electric bill is going to double or triple for 1 other person!!!

Re: Anyone else cheap when it comes to electric?

I'm not cheap about it, but I watch how we use it because WE'RE PAYING FOR IT!!! Remember when we lived with our parents??? We left lights on, tv runnng all the time, a/c on and windows open??? We didn't know about the LIPA bill. Now that we pay for it, and our recent bill for a one bedroom was $140 I conserve. It's a little dark and if it isn't insanely hot, no a/cs. I hate the con ed bill. but when I pay the bill, I think of it as paying into my stepdad's pension since he used to work for them!

So, can you make the electric separate so that he HAS to pay the bill for his apartment?

Re: Anyone else cheap when it comes to electric?

What would you have to do to get a second meter? I didn't even really know you could do that.

Re: Anyone else cheap when it comes to electric?

That I don't know, but I would ask the electric co. Couldn't hurt, ya know? Good luck!

Re: Anyone else cheap when it comes to electric?

thanks..i need it!!!

Re: Anyone else cheap when it comes to electric?

I belive the apartment needs to be legal to have a second electric unit, but im not 100% positive.

Re: Anyone else cheap when it comes to electric?

Re: Anyone else cheap when it comes to electric?

Re: Anyone else cheap when it comes to electric?

what ever you do, PUT YOURSELVES ON THE BUDGET PLAN!!!!! DH and I moved into our house in May, our first electirc bill for 2 months was over $500 Now we are on a budget for $200 a month and it evens out over the winter.

Re: Anyone else cheap when it comes to electric?

Posted by jellybean1420

what ever you do, PUT YOURSELVES ON THE BUDGET PLAN!!!!! DH and I moved into our house in May, our first electirc bill for 2 months was over $500 Now we are on a budget for $200 a month and it evens out over the winter.