Energy Billing Grinch
Some of you may have noticed our last Xcel bills being extremely high this time and they predict same for forthcoming months. Xcel customer service advised they only control the electric supply cost (which has been granted a third rate hike during 2022) and that “smart meters” measure electricity use by times of day which also drives cost. Natural gas prices are the main culprits for the shocking increase in billing. . . and especially for those with hot water heat, gas fireplace inserts (for cleaner air) and gas stoves.
Following are the three periods to be mindful of relative to electric charges by time of use (TOU) which means higher rates for most who are not on night shift jobs.
On-peak: Weekdays 3-7 p.m., excluding holidays
Mid-peak: Weekdays 1-3 p.m., excluding holidays
Off-peak: Daily, 7 p.m.-1 p.m. the next day
Smart Meters: You can ask that smart meters be replaced with regular ones (at a cost) and challenge the calibration of them. If you don’t have one, they cannot force you to install it.
Natural Gas Expenses: Xcel advised that Colorado Public Utilities Commission controls the natural gas pricing. Last year, PUC / Xcel bought far too little natural gas. The last-minute purchase generated a spike in costs last year. Unfortunately, because of the poor commodities management throughout Colorado, any who use natural gas energy sources received soaring billings this past cycle. In my case, it went up $200 month over month and without any warnings ahead. For many, that type increase is a major strain on budgets and for far too many, increases like this means making other sacrifices to pay for these poor business practices.
If you object to your holiday time surprise energy billing, you can write to PUC at the following email address. We suggest that you also include Xcel into that complaint. To reach our Governor and Senators, you can only do that on their secure message websites or phone them.. Tip: If submitting to Governor and Senators via online – copy and paste email text you send to PUC/Xcel into the online submission comment box.
PUC eMail: dora_puc_website@state.co.us
Xcel eMails: customerservice@xcelenergy.com, and tyler.n.smith@xcelenergy.com (Gov. Affairs)