Current Events > Er, is there an advantage to "prepaying" your electric bill?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Just got a notice that I can prepay my energy bill, but I feel like that's dangerous territory, like I'll wind up spending more than I would have otherwise without realizing it.
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I mean, if you pay too much they'll credit your account for the difference, but there's no reason to pay before you know your usage.
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Not sure if im thinking of what you are talking about but ive seen people here do it and its usually people from what ive seen that have money issues. The advantage seems to be you become more apt to try not to burn too much electricity because when you hit that dollar amount you paid power goes out.

What I'm talking about though works a lot like pre paid minutes on a phone and apparently you get a app or website you can go to keep tabs on how much you are burning a day.
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@mooreandrew58 - I think that's how it works with this system, but that freaks me out because like... if you don't have money, and you run out, and they shut your power off... that's kinda shitty. What are you supposed to do, just turn off and unplug everything in your house? :|
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Damn I literally can't imagine anyone opting in for something like that, seems like an insane way to do things.
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Same :| I mean, with a phone plan it makes sense - you know how much you talk or text in a month and you can jut cut back on that fairly easily. Or with an EZ Pass if you don't have the money to fill it up that month you just drive on the regular road.

With electric usage there's a baseline level of electricity you're going to use regardless.
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It's apparently the cheaper option in the town mom and I live in. I keep telling her we need to just get a regular electric bill, but she keeps espousing it costs hundreds of dollars to get it started. Whatever.
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Hexenherz posted...

Same :| I mean, with a phone plan it makes sense - you know how much you talk or text in a month and you can jut cut back on that fairly easily. Or with an EZ Pass if you don't have the money to fill it up that month you just drive on the regular road.

With electric usage there's a baseline level of electricity you're going to use regardless.

certain electronic's will drain electricity. gotta minimize the heavy offending electric heaters or electronics

i don't want to use a heater when winter begins, already having to cover the whole electric bill and dog medication.
only 3 months of it before the pain will be over.
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DespondentDeity posted...

Damn I literally can't imagine anyone opting in for something like that, seems like an insane way to do things.

As said most people ive seen use it around here seem to have financial issues so they are doing it so they have some control over what they pay.
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At least for me, the bill is what it is. I know what I signed up for.
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Hexenherz posted...

Just got a notice that I can prepay my energy bill, but I feel like that's dangerous territory, like I'll wind up spending more than I would have otherwise without realizing it.

I'm sure that's what they're hoping for

I've seen it used for creating a bill that's closer to the same amount every month instead of up and down. Normally your electric bill is higher in the summer by a good amount because of ac.

So for the sake of easy math your electric bill is usually $100 but for 3 months, you pay 80 dollars more per month. Instead of 3 big payments it's spread out over the year so you just pay $120. If theres a surplus at the end of the year you get a credit.
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