The Electric Company and your Bill
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Introduction
What Prompted This
So as I was reviewing the rates sheet associated with The Lakeland Electric company for work purposes, I had to deconstruct my own electric bill.
Well the bill is a bit less than adequate. It does not list all of the information that I needed to figure out what my bill consists of.
It lists my billed usage, what my usage was last month and 12 months ago, the total energy use charge, the fuel charge, and some environmental charge.
No where does it tell me my Taxes.
So I called Customer Service. The nice lady rattled off like 5 different taxes, with serious rates, and I lost track of what was what. but she told me the total, and when I compared it to the Energy Charges, it was a whopping 32.50 % tax rate.
So when I checked my Water Bill it was 27% some.
This outrages me. So I am starting to investigate what regulations apply, what they can charge, etc. And compare to alternatives and to what other companies do.
Regulation:
I have found out in Florida that Munipal owned utilities (ones owned by a city) do not have to report their Water Utility Rates to any agency in Florida. In trying to find out what the Water Rates have been historically my local utility, the customer service department, does not admit to having the rates. I of course must believe them. Which strikes me as odd having no historical data to provide to a customer of over 8 years.
State of Affairs: 08/15/09
Well my electric bill is running about $160 a month, no heat, no air, just lights, washer and dryer, computers, running. But summer is coming on so that will double here within a few months, unless I do not get my broken central air fixed for several thousand of dollars.
A few days ago a co-worker for my wife heard that Lakeland Electric was going to run bills at 40 day intervals vice 30 days. I have seen nothing in the mail about this, as a change in the billing cycle. Perhaps they are going to double bill for all I know.
Not sure how to approach the entire Electric Company regulation except to go solar, sell electricity back to them and so make it all more palatable.
Come share your information with us all as well. Expose the damage.
11/12/09
Just checked the Lakeland Electric page and the new rates effective 07/09 are there in the Rate Brochure. For Residential the rates are
Monthly Charge
Customer Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$8.00
Energy Charge
- 1,000 kWh or less . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.882¢ per kWh
- 1,001 to 1,500 kWh . . . . . . . . . . . .5.382¢ per kWh
- More than 1,500 kWh . . . . . . . . . .5.882¢ per kWh
Looks pretty similar as to the last time I checked them. However you will note if you go grab the PDF that the Transport Fees are not put into the rate manual.
Also with my Central Air broke, my electric bill for last month was $195 (and sure it was hot but not as bad as in the summer)
Go check your rates.
I wish Solar Panels were more affordable, that is my main dream is to get off the electric grid and be self-sufficient.
UPDATE:
So the fuel charge for the December 2009 Electric bill roughly breaksdown this way
$150 Electric
$80 Water
$120 Fuel Charge
The highest yet in the 8 years in this place. Per Lakeland Electric the Fuel Rates went down in October of 09. Still trying to figure this all out.
UPDATE:
For those trying to pay their Lakeland Electric Bill online, if you follow the link in the email reminder your old user name and password still works as of 12/23/09
Electric Companies
- Lakeland Electric - Topix
Lakeland Electric - Topix - Welcome to Lakeland Electric
The local electric company in Lakeland, FL - Tampa Electric
One electric company in the Tampa, FL area - Welcome to the PSC Web Site
The Public Service Commission of the State of Florida, committed to making sure that Florida's consumers receive some of their most essential services - electric, natural gas, telephone, water, and wastewater - in a safe, affordable, and reliable. - MidAmerican Energy Company
Sioux City, IA Electric Company, used to have them.
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Very useful info. Thanks for sharing.
I think the Municipal owned utilities might work similar where I live, because while the prices where posted when I joined, they have changed the rates twice with no notice since I have been living here. I need to check my Power bill as well. I am fairly certain that they post the taxes and it is much lower than 30%, but honestly I have never sat down and audited everything.
Lakeland Electric's rates are outrageous! We always find a $55+ "fuel surcharge" on our bill every month. I know from my friends in Hillborough and Paso counties that their electric bills are not so high.
Yeah Beem looking at the surrounding, LE is a bit higher than most. Comes from they being able to get away with it as well as mostly owning downtown I think
I recently had an electrical audit done by Lakeland Electric, as my monthly bills we averaging $400-$500 a month. I of course found this odd as it's only a one story 1600 s/f home and it/'s just my fiancee and I that live here. However much to my chagrin everything checked out OK! There were no problems found in my home and everything was running just fine. I insisted, surely there must be something wrong, my good friend has a house two-stories 2400 s/f, who pins his A/C at 73 degrees, and his bill is only $200ish. OHh wait, that/'s right, he/'s with TECO! I went online to try and see if I had any choice, but there is no other way to get power but with Lakeland Electric. Seeing as I need power to live that means they could charge $2,000 a month and I'd have to pay it because there is no other option. I checked around and found it wasn't just me and my friends that were dissatisfied, but rather the majority of the city! I scratched my head, how could a city owned municipality be doing this to it's own citizens and nothings being done? Well that's the goal of this new Facebook page I made "Lakeland Electric On Notice". I want to get as many people together as I can who feel the same way I do. I figure with enough numbers and making enough noise we'll be heard and we'll find a solution. While I understand this page may be in it's infantile stages please get as many people as you can find to add it. Then post information that we all can use and let's see if we can in fact MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
I do not understand how an electric company can charge whatever they want with no accountability. I received a water bill added to my electric for $107, and they said the water meter had been broken for 3 months and they now replaced it and billed me for those 3 months. I asked how they decided how much I used and how much to bill me for and was told they average from last year. The issue is that there are less people living in the house using 50% at least less water. If the electric company owns the meters, shouldn't they have replaced it before 3 months, thereby giving me an accurate usage charge on my bill. Now there is no way for them to get an actual reading so I am paying what they want me to pay instead of what I should pay. That's a rip off. They have no right to guess what I would have used if they had a working water meter in my yard. This means there is now no way to reimburse me for any overpayment if their guess is wrong. Most of us would get fired if we handled our jobs like that. Everyone is supposed to have accountability. Guess Lakeland Electric is above that!
yes please find out why Lakeland electric in florida is ripping people off
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Jerilee Wei Level 3 Commenter 3 years ago
Good hub!
I don't know if yours is the same Lakeland Electric that we deal with, but ours decided to close down their local offices to the public to save a 1/2 million a year. Now, you get to go to such lovely places such as the local AMSCOT to pay your bill, if you don't want to mail it in. Personally, I want a receipt upon payment.
Supposedly, for the next year we don't have to pay a fee to do so. Lakeland Electric is covering the $1.00 AMSCOT gets. Let's get real, it's our dollar they get from Lakeland Electric.
Of course, if anything is wrong with your bill -- you get to call them on the phone, you can't go talk to a real person. All I know is our bill has gone up $40 in the last few months, despite all efforts to reduce it.
Wouldn't be so bad if you could take your business elsewhere and you were only paying electric -- but you are paying all of your utilities (water, sewage, trash, grey water, and electric) in one bill. Not like you can argue with them.