Our electric bill is higher now with the Smart Energy Plan - makes no sense
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (52199)
Staten Island, New York
July 18, 2019 12:56pm CST
Our electric company switched us to a Smart Energy Plan. They didn't even ask us if we would be interested in switching. They just switched us over. Under this plan we are charged two different rates. The higher rate is for peak hours and the lower rate is for off-peak hours.
I thought that under the Smart Energy Plan we would actually be saving money. Turns out we are actually spending more money than we would without it.
We've been under this new plan for a few months already. We had to overpay so far between $15 and $25 on a single bill. That is just crazy! They say that if we are not saving under the Smart Energy Plan that we should try to stagger our use of large appliances. I am assuming staggering means minimizing the use...
We do not use large appliances very often. The only thing is the AC that runs from morning till we go to bed. But I doubt that is considered an appliance.
If we are not saving but instead overpaying why the heck do we need to be enrolled in this plan for? We are already overpaying by being with an ESCO that overcharges us. I wanna opt-out of this plan but have to discuss it with my parents as it's their account and they are the ones paying the bills. Still cannot believe they never left the ESCO they switched over to, even though I told them they are being ripped off.
6 people like this
7 responses
@lovebuglena (52199)
• Staten Island, New York
18 Jul 19
It was smart of them to switch us without asking our consent first. NOT! At least they let us know they will be switching us.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52199)
• Staten Island, New York
18 Jul 19
@Bensen32 I will tell them I decided that they can pay my bill for me during peak hours... 
1 person likes this
@Bensen32 (28658)
• United States
18 Jul 19
@lovebuglena Just let them know you decided to switch them to the half payment plan, where they only get half the payment they think they are getting.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222623)
• United States
18 Jul 19
Did you look at the rates and not just the total bill? Your bill is probably higher because of this hot weather???
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52199)
• Staten Island, New York
18 Jul 19
Well, that is true. But when I logged into the online account it shows the total under the new plan and then next to it shows total for regular plan (forgot what they called it). And the total under the new plan is higher.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222623)
• United States
18 Jul 19
@lovebuglena Then I would definitely see about changing back.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52199)
• Staten Island, New York
18 Jul 19
@LindaOHio Yeah. I am gonna talk to my mom about it and see if we they give us the option to opt out. That option should be available. They can't just switch us and not allow us to cancel.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
18 Jul 19
My electric is always higher July and August because its hot outside and the a/c/ is on, its also higher in January and February when the heater is running more.
@lovebuglena (52199)
• Staten Island, New York
18 Jul 19
That is understandable but under the Smart Energy Plan you should be paying less not more for the electric bill. This new bill came to about $239. According to them it would have been $225 without the plan. Why the heck do I need the plan for?
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Jul 19
The plan is only smart for the electric company who have a money making scam going.
@lovebuglena (52199)
• Staten Island, New York
18 Jul 19
Yep. That is what I am thinking. They are definitely smart because they charge you a much higher rate for peak hours than they do for off-peak hours. I think off-peak it's around 6 cents or so. And peak it's either 16 or 19 cents...
1 person likes this
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
18 Jul 19
We had to deal with the same thing a few months back. It is so stupid but it is their way to get people suckered in because they are scared of the people using solar energy. An AC is very much a large appliance. Most people out here have to spend like 200-300 bucks in the summer just because of their AC usage.
@lovebuglena (52199)
• Staten Island, New York
18 Jul 19
Last bill was way lower than this new one. And it seems we used the AC a lot as well. They are definitely trying to sucker people into things so they make more money. That's what ESCOs do. They make you believe you gonna save with them, as opposed to going directly with electric company, so you switch but in the end they are just ripping you off.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (52199)
• Staten Island, New York
18 Jul 19
I am the one that pays the bills for them. I don't think they ever look over the bills. They don't even tell me a bill came and it's time to pay. I have to go online and see if there are new bills that need to be paid. I get paying the bills for them when I lived with them. But now that I don't live with them I shouldn't have to be responsible for paying them. It's their money but still... They can at least tell me... hey it's time to pay this bill and this is the amount. But no. It's all on me. 
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
20 Jul 19
They're smart. They out smart you. It's not good. How do you go about it?
