Rates went up in October, but not enough to make that big of a difference.

Were you in this place last year? What was the bill from this period last year? Failing that, can you compare notes with others in the same building/complex?

Electric resistive hearing can indeed be incredibly expensive, and the PS5 would be a flash in the pan compared to it.

Electric heat costs are pretty wild. I've heard friends quote some insane costs over the years, so with the rate hikes, $400 sounds possible.

It's worth noting that RIE gave some kind of financial credit to everyone that obscured the true cost of the bill recently. It shouldn't have made that much of a difference, but perhaps the credit and the warm days in fall can explain the difference.

Do you have neighbors you can compare with? are you a first floor hooked up to the water heater?

I also recommend against turning off the heat altogether in the evenings or certain rooms. Many leases list a minimum thermostat temperature like 55 to avoid risking frozen pipe damage.

Seems very possible to me. I recommend putting the window film on your windows if you haven't already. Makes a noticeable difference

Rates went up 45% in October. Electric heat is going to cost a lot of money now. That is quite the jump for you though. You should compare to what you were paying at this time last year.

Turning your heat on and off prob isn’t helping. It’s better to keep it low instead of having the system start up everyday

I burn about 100 gal of oil per month for a similar size (2 bed 1 bath). So at $4 a gallon that’s around $400, and I’m typically keeping the temp between 58-62. Plus another $100 for electric. So figure $500 total.

So I guess $400 for your heat and electric with the thermostat at 65 ain’t terrible. But I feel your pain.

Winter temps.

Not to say the rates aren't ridiculous, but if you consider how much the equivalent amount of oil would probably cost.

$400 actually isn't too bad, unfortunately.

Gotta set up balanced billing. It’ll be more each month, but it’s way more consistent and if your consumption is also constant ,you won’t be surprised by 400 dollar bills

Mine was $80 but I have gas heat

Last month my electric bill was $0. That’s because they discounted us and I live alone. Anyway you should go to Walmart or Amazon and get some window sealer kit, those clear plastic bag you tape over your window do make a difference. I recommend getting a heavy duty duct tape because the adhesive on those kit suck. Also some weather insulation adhesive strip for your doors so there is no gap.

Ask a neighbor in your complex if they experienced a similar increase

Electric rates went up, plus it has been much colder. The heat is still working hard with the thermostat at 65 with the low outside temp, there's a lot of factors outside temperature insulation windows etc. Your bill seems about right. I had electric heat in one room and I only used it at night with the thermostat set at 63 and my bill went up 80 bucks, Just to barley heat that room.

Honestly for electric heat that sounds about right

Yeah this is just winter temps sorry to say. We had a relatively warm fall and cold coupled with a huge rate hike.

Just as a point of comparison, my gas bill, normally about $30 in the summer, was $440 this month.

That's the highest it has ever been, by about 50%. And it wasn't that cold.

It's your heat unfortunately. It's expensive. Fuck off commodities traders and Vladimir Putin is your answer. (People will defend the trading but the truth is that they panicked in the summer, prices went exponential, and then the energy suppliers had to buy and set rates at exorbitant prices because they are required to lock in before the season. This is different than heating oil which is set constantly by market, but supply is lower than usual because of a couple of refinery problems plus again, Putin - that's why heating oil and diesel fuel at the pump have not come down with gas prices ).

Honestly, sounds right for electric heat. I had an 800 sq foot apartment three winters ago, kept it at 63 and my heating bill was like $300 on average.

Learn to read your electric meter and then figure out what costs what..... it's easy math. It's there (meter) for both parties to use it as a tool.

Yup good old 64% increase in electric. We also live in an apartment in a complex that’s 2 years old. We have a hydro air system. Bill was $260 when it normally $100. Get used to it. They are calling it “the growing pains of going electric”

Sounds the same as mine for a 2 bedroom

On a positive note wealthy folks in places Barrington or EG can get tax subsidies for their 90K dollar electric cars, and rooftop solar arrays to offset the higher electricity costs. Something renters won’t get to take advantage of. Price of going green my friend

11/21-12/20 mine was 378…. Previous bill was 149

Sounds right for electric heat

Electric furnaces use on average about 20,000 watts. Current RI rates w/all fees is about 31c per kilowatt hour. So for every 1,000 watts used per hour, you pay 31c. With your furnace, that's $6.20 for every full hour it is running. That can add up quickly.

PS5 uses about 200w (so about 6c/hr). Nothing to be concerned with.

install a wood burning stove - $300/cord for the season, 1.5-2 cords will do the job. We don’t use our heat except when the outdoor temp is below 25, we turn it to 58-60. Expect to get by with $1000-1200 total heat bill this winter.