NSTAR Utility Rates

[laklare.livejournal.com]

From looking at NSTAR's recent press releases, I assumed that electric rates would be going down starting Jan 1st. However, just the opposite has happened.

I live in Somerville (Davis Sq. area) and today witnessed on my bill that the transmission rate doubled, the transition rate went up, but most importantly, the basic svc fixed charged went from $0.07694/KWH to $0.1266/KWH. That's a hefty increase and amounted to nearly $40 on my electric bill.

Has anyone else observed this abrupt change in their electric bills? How can this be reconciled with the supposed "$20 million rate cut for NSTAR Electric customers" effective January 1st? Also, how can I actually get to a real human being on NSTAR's phone system? I've tried several times and each time I get "heavy call volumes, call back later". The automated call back option isn't even coming up. Perhaps they are being overwhelmed by people like me who are wondering what's up with their electric bill?

Comments

[lidiya6.livejournal.com]

My electricity went from about $35 to about $47.

I am confused by the online billing - I got a message yesterday that my jan & feb bills were due, so I tried to pay it (along w/ the feb one) but I could have sworn that I already had. I looked on my account and it was marked paid. I think what happened is, instead of waiting for the bill to arrive, in mid january I just logged in and paid it. I am using the mycheckfree thing.

Good news is that my gas bill went from 200 to 170-something for dec. vs jan usage (jan and feb bills respectively)

I thought Jan and feb were going to be the highest months.

[laklare.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my bills are about twice those, but I get to split it 4 ways at least. Dec. has been the coldest month yet.