sun
member
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 38
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ATMOS i.e TXU GAS BILL $250 plus for nearly 3 months now!
Any better alternatives with coupons for new account signup?
Thanks in advance
Sun
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smu03
enthusiast
Reged: 03/10/05
Posts: 298
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You can't switch gas companies - doesn't work like electric.
Turn down the thermostat and put on a blanket; unfortunately that's about all you can do.
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"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
- Benjamin Franklin
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sun
member
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 38
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OH! OH! That is tough!
How about locking electricity bills?
Winter will be over in 2 months or so!
So, better prepare for A/C bills then!!!!!
Thanks
Sun
 
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AllenAggie
enthusiast
Reged: 04/20/04
Posts: 241
Loc: Allen TX USA
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not sure how old your HVAC system is, but I'd get the furnace checked out --- if it's gas. Also doesn't hurt to get water heater cleaned out (which should be done once a year) --- also, go around your house and check window/door/faucet seals. Another tip: get your attic insulated --- or increace inaulation with that blown in stuff.
I have a small house (1700sq ft) with three people living here...avg gas is $112 in winter.
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pbjlili
member
Reged: 01/08/03
Posts: 96
Loc: Allen, TX
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Sun,
Sent you a PM.
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divamommie
newbie
Reged: 09/02/05
Posts: 8
Loc: Allen, TX
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See that's where I get confused. When we turn on our heat, we switch it to the "emergency" setting, and supposedly it runs our heater off our Electric bill. Our gas bill is still $140, and our electric was $250. Craziness I tell ya.
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-Laura-
Allen Women Online
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sco
enthusiast
Reged: 10/26/02
Posts: 536
Loc: allen,TX USA
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I think you have been misinformed. When we switch our heat to Emergency it switches it to all gas heat. If you use the regular heat setting on your thermostat it uses the electric heat pump for the most part and only switches to gas if it is too cold for the heat pump to keep up. My gas bill last month was $35. (I happen to know that divamommie and I have the same floorplan house and presumably the same HVAC system).
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Susan
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denisew
enthusiast
Reged: 02/18/02
Posts: 3233
Loc: Allen, TX
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Sun - We have a two story and allow our thermostat to stay at around 70-71 degrees. It also uses the heat pump thing and our bill this month was $61. We also run a big humidifier downstairs and room size humidifiers upstairs to keep us from drying out so much. Sounds like maybe you need that furnace checked, more insulation, etc. and check for leaks around your windows and doors - caulk them or use the foam insulation to provide a tight weatherproof seal.
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campbellfam
enthusiast
Reged: 07/12/02
Posts: 947
Loc: Allen, TX, USA
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I keep hearing these kind of complaints as well as warnings that we need to be prepared for an increase but my gas bill went down this month, which I know is because of the weather, so I am just confused...
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The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.- Daryl Reaugh
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sun
member
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 38
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Thanks denisew and all,
1st thing we will do is check the furness and then maybe insulation and all! Our heater runs on gas and our house is 2 story which makes it tough heating downstairs.
if any change happens in bill except weather will surely update! House is 3yrs old though....
thanks
sun 
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LisaMay
member
Reged: 08/08/01
Posts: 95
Loc: Allen TX USA
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I hate to admit this, but I have no idea what our gas bill was last month (I just pay it). I can tell you though that I also have a 2 story house and my husband (who is in HVAC) has me keep the downstairs 1 degree higher than the upstairs. It seems to help keep the downstairs a little warmer. 
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Lisatexmom
enthusiast
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 156
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I got this email today - not sure if it is true or not....
IMPORTANT INFORMATION!
The State of Texas approved a 24% rate increase for TXU. The rate increases were effective as follows:
* Twelve percent (12%) was effective October 1, 2005, and
* Twelve percent (12%) was effective January 1, 2006.
TXU is projecting several additional rate increases over the next 24 months. These increases will cause higher bills each month.>
TXU has two plans available "now" that will lock-in the new rates as of January 1, 2006. The impact of the new upcoming rates will therefore be ameliorated by nullifying there increases.
These plans are:
* Freedom Plan: (No increase for 12-months).
* Guarantee 24: (No increase for 24-months). TXU will
not advertise this plan. (You must ask for it to receive this plan or you will be automatically assigned the Freedom Plan.)
In addition, if you switch electricity providers during the
24-month period there will be a fee of $200+ added to your bill if you select the Guarantee 24 Plan.
* To be eligible for either of the plans, you must sign
up by calling TXU Customer Service (972-791-2828) prior to March 31, 2006. You may also call this number for more information.
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Stogiez
enthusiast
Reged: 04/10/02
Posts: 267
Loc: Allen, TX, USA
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This information is for electricity, not gas. You cannot choose your natural gas provider. Only electric provider. Whichever company installed the gas lines going to your house is the company that you will have for your provider.
There is Atmos (formerly TXU Gas), Co-Serv (a gas co-op not-for-profit) and I believe Lone Star gas. There may be other companies providing gas to Allen. I don't know. Just turn down the thermostat, and dress a little warmer.
Now, if only I could get my wife to do that...
Did you check your bill against the meter? They may have estimated your bill and not actually "read" the meter. If they were anticipating a cold winter and since we have not, then gas usage estimates could be higher than actual usage. This would result in a higher than expected gas bill. (Even with allowing for rate adjustments) When they finally do read the meter, then the reading will "catch up" and you will have a very low bill for that month.
Better yet, get bill averaging. I had it. The fluctuations were not as wild.
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jaw
enthusiast
Reged: 10/08/02
Posts: 166
Loc: Allen, TX USA
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The increase you are talking about is for electricity only. ATMOS, which was formerly TXU Gas which was formerly Lone Star Gas, is the gas company most will have as their provider. ATMOS and TXU are two separate companies.
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allensince1979
enthusiast
Reged: 06/18/01
Posts: 934
Loc: allen, Tx. usa
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My gas bill this month was just under 300.00 and it has been like that for the last few months. I heard on the news that Atmos is going to drop rates by 30% due to the mild winter. They said the average bill should drop by 50.00.
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Lisatexmom
enthusiast
Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 156
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Sorry I mess understood....  and passed on wrong information - I will try to do better next time....
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sun
member
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 38
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Info works for electricity too! will have to worry about a/c within couple of months anyways!
List of energy ie electric companies for texas follows:
TXU Energy Company
Phone: 877-460-7066
Fax: 877-460-4261
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.txuenergy.com
Reliant Energy Retail Services
Phone: 866-735-4268
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.reliant.com
First Choice Power, Inc.
Toll Free: 866-469-2464
Web Site: www.FirstChoicePower.com
Green Mountain Energy Company
Toll Free: 866-473-3689
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.greenmountain.com
Entergy Solutions Ltd.
Toll Free: 866-368-3749
Web Site: www.entergysolutions.com
GEXA Energy
Phone: 713-961-9399
Toll Free: 866-961-9399
Web Site: www.gexaenergy.com
Commerce Energy, Inc.
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.commerceenergy.com
Cirro Energy
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.cirroenergy.com
Direct Energy, LP
Toll Free: 888-305-3828
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.directenergy.com/texas/home/
Just Energy Texas, LLC
Toll Free: 866-587-8674
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.justenergy.com
Hino Electric Power Company
Toll Free: 866-446-6797
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.hinoelectric.com
Starlight Electric
Toll Free: 866-744-6366
Fax: 817-548-9722
Web Site: www.starlightelectric.com
Alliance Power Company, LLC
Phone: 940-692-8760
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: alliance-power.com
ECONnergy Energy Company
Toll Free: 888-601-2165
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.econnergy.com
Amigo Energy
Phone: 832-242-7168
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.amigoenergy.com
StarTex Power
Toll Free: 866-917-8271
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.StarTexPower.com
Azor Energy, LP
Phone: 713-271-2445
Stream Energy
Toll Free: 866-447-8732
good luck
sun
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Tami
member
Reged: 10/25/05
Posts: 69
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My electric company wasn't on your list. I have Grayson-Collin Electric Coop. Usually they are MUCH cheaper than TXU but, unfortunately for us, their generators are powered by natural gas which means we got the double whammy with high gas AND electric bills. Our gas company is Coserv Gas in Lewisville. They are much cheaper than Atmos. Sometimes it's good to live on the fringe.
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Tami
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cc
enthusiast
Reged: 01/09/01
Posts: 351
Loc: Allen, tx
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My house is 2200 sq feet and my gas bill that I just received was $78 and last month was $38. We keep our thermostat at 62 at night and 66 when we are home. We put on an extra layer of clothes and have think blanets on the bed. We have really gotten used to the chillier interior and our gas bill is the lowest of anybody I know.
My electricity company is Reliant and my bill this month was $120.
I think I have gotten off pretty light! ;)
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MizK
enthusiast
Reged: 11/12/05
Posts: 201
Loc: East Allen, TX. USA
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OK, you all got me to thinking. Unfortunately, like LisaMay, I don't really look at the gas bill - I just pay it. Same with the electric, since we do the averaging it's the same every month so I just pay it. But, you guys made me look.
We have a rather large (3800 s.f.) two story house and our gas bill in Jan. was 94.07, and the actual electric charge (with Entergy) was 250.31 (that's with the taxes and all). I don't feel like that's too awfully bad. Although, it's been a warm winter. I wonder what it would be if it were actually cold. We do keep our thermostat set on 63 downstairs and 62 upstairs. Yes, it's a bit chilly (which leads to more snuggling!  ) When we heard that gas was going up so much we bought little electric heater/fans for the kids rooms so they could control the temperature in their rooms without having to heat the whole house up like the tropics. It's worked out pretty well. But, I think our major project this year will be to make our house more energy effiecient. I can definitely feel a draft around the doors.
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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. -- Aristotle
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