Please tell me this bill is abnormally high. (National Grid)

DH and I just moved into our house. We close in July, but only moved in 2 weeks ago. We just got our National Grid Bill and it is almost $150!

Is it me, or is that way high considering we have only been here for less than 2 weeks! We have gas heat (which we have NOT turned on yet) and I guess the hot water heater is run off gas.

We do not have a gas dryer yet, and have an electric stove. All we have really done in the past 2 weeks was taken hot showers.

Now, they did try to come to read the meter but we werent home (meter is inside) last week. We were suppost to fill it out and call, but we havent yet. Could it be that the bill is that high b/c we didnt fill the form out yet?

What do you think? I will definately give them a call to find out, but is it me or is that abnormal? It worries me about what the bill will be once the winter starts.

UPDATE: we called national grid and it was because they werent able to read the meter. It was just an estimate. so we gave them the numbers and they will send us a new bill. I do expect our monthly bill to go up now that we are living here...but the reason I was so surprised was b/c we weren't living here and werent using any gas. (Aside from the pilot light on our furnace). Once we use the heat i will be more than happy if our bill is this low, but I expect it to be higher than this.

Message edited 10/18/2009 12:33:27 PM.

Re: Please tell me this bill is abnormally high. (National Grid)

I would read the meter and call them.

I got a bill last month from them that was over $1,000!! The last guy they sent read the meter wrong, so I read it to them over the phone and they adjusted it. (The only thing I have running off of it is a tankless hot water heater, so I knew it was wrong- our bill is less than $10 per month normally.)

Re: Please tell me this bill is abnormally high. (National Grid)

It could be that the previous owners had balanced billing and that's the monthly bill.

Re: Please tell me this bill is abnormally high. (National Grid)

Re: Please tell me this bill is abnormally high. (National Grid)

It's prob the previous owner, the same thing happened to me because she was on a set payment plan, have them come out & read the meter. I have a $350 credit right now cause I paid if for like 3 months lol

Re: Please tell me this bill is abnormally high. (National Grid)

I wish mine was that low I'm on balanced budget and pay $238 a month. We don't have a gas dryer and have an electric stove as well. I would call as rec above but don't be surprisd if that's close to your monthly bill unfortunately....

Message edited 10/17/2009 11:25:08 AM.

Re: Please tell me this bill is abnormally high. (National Grid)

I agree w/ above posters- they didn't read the meter yet and its estimated from previous owners usage.

our first bill was $350 and we didnt live there yet - I had a heart attack! We have gas heat, stove & dryer and our bill is only $71 on balanced billing.

Read the meter and see what you were billed - im sure your meter is lower than what you were billed!

Re: Please tell me this bill is abnormally high. (National Grid)

It should say on your bill if it was an estimate or actual reading. It will tell you when the last reading was. Also, if it was carried over from the previous owner it will say something like " previous balance". If you purchased the house from July, and the gas was on since then there will be some appliances that will consume gas even if you're not living there. For example, your gas stove and boiler would have a pilot light. Hope this helps, otherwise call up national grid.