Heatapocalypse

This summer has been hot. How are you dealing with the heatapocalypse? Is your ConEd bill as scary as mine too?

Without our several AC units, we'd die. With them, we'll just file for bankruptcy.

I have no a/c in my office, just a window fan. Stop being wimps. Last month's electric bill for my office, $36.48.

i only use ac for a few days, but mostly my fan . hell We didn't even get a ac till like the late 90's finally one of those hot days we got few of them.

In the poorer neighborhoods, I've seen people steal electricity from the nearby light poles into their apartments by suspending a black extension cord.

I haven't seen it yet this summer, but I imagine more people will start to do it once they get their first large A/C bills.

I bet everybody's ConEd Bill was higher. Do you think ConEd will estimate low?

This is an estimated bill. We could not read your meter(s) this month because of a work stoppage. To avoid future estimated bills, you may submit your meter reading by calling 1-800-491-0095 or by visiting conEd.com/MyAccount. We will begin reading your meter again after the stoppage ends.

Thank you for understanding.

I think they are wise enough to factor in the temperature.

wise for them. But I just installed ceiling fans and paid the same amount I paid in June.

wise for them. But I just installed ceiling fans and paid the same amount I paid in June.

I would be willing to bet they estimate high and give a credit later, just to avoid thousands of calls from people who have to pay more next month.

FWIW, I think my bill was about the same as last June's. But I leave the AC on (thermostat at 83) so the cats don't melt.

I would be willing to bet they estimate high and give a credit later, just to avoid thousands of calls from people who have to pay more next month.

FWIW, I think my bill was about the same as last June's. But I leave the AC on (thermostat at 83) so the cats don't melt.

The way I dealt with the heat today was to stay in the room in the house that does have a/c and watched Political Animal. Loved it. Yes, I feel like a lazy slug but i don't care. I needed to recover from yesterday when I had no choice but to be outside and moving around in that crazy heat.

The way I dealt with the heat today was to stay in the room in the house that does have a/c and watched Political Animal. Loved it. Yes, I feel like a lazy slug but i don't care. I needed to recover from yesterday when I had no choice but to be outside and moving around in that crazy heat.

The dinky thermostat I have has read around +/-94 degrees in my apt with humidity at around 40-50%. Box fans & ceiling fans only blow around the same hot/humid air with no relief (many factors in my apt make it prone to hot-boxing itself.) So I blast the AC in a lock down area of the apt for the cat.

I've thought about calling in the actual meter reading (your bill shows you how to do that.) Any new news on whether they are estimating high given the heat wave or are they just estimating it off you last months usage (which would have been lower then my usage this month)?

whynot_31 said:

In the poorer neighborhoods, I've seen people steal electricity from the nearby light poles into their apartments by suspending a black extension cord.

I haven't seen it yet this summer, but I imagine more people will start to do it once they get their first large A/C bills.

Wait? How does that work? Not that I'm going to do that myself, but how can you steal electricity with an extension cord?

Not to be trite, but "Very carefully".

In areas where everyone is poor, I have seen 100' cords that emenate from the bottom (or top) of light poles, and the lead to apartment windows. This is done by people who have had their power turned off for not paying their bill, straight out squatters in vacant buildings, as well as the occasional person who does not want to pay more for A/C in the summer.

To me, the trade off between getting some free, stolen electricity AND being that poor is not worth it. ....for some reason I do not believe they have made this conscious choice either.

P.S. it has become much cooler outside.

I know a few people who can afford their electric bill who do that.