Back-dating Natural Gas Bill, almost 3 years of it, how much am I looking at it?

[Anonymous]

With Washington Gas, how much bill do you think I am about to face? I just need to mentally prepared for it.
This is for 1BR condo, Stove Top/Oven, Furnace and Water Heater.

[Anonymous]

I would plan for $150 for winter and maybe $40 for summer months.

[Anonymous]

Ask a neighbor what their monthly usage/costs is so you at least have a ballpark estimate. If the bill you get is significantly different in terms of usage, at least you'll know enough to contest it.

[Anonymous]

Is it even legal to charge you? What about a statute of limitations. You really need to fight or negotiate this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it even legal to charge you? What about a statute of limitations. You really need to fight or negotiate this.

Don't give them all the $ at once. Totally reasonable to take 1.5 years to repay a 3 year oversight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it even legal to charge you? What about a statute of limitations. You really need to fight or negotiate this.

This. Pepco didn't properly register my meter to my account when we moved in (it's a rental apartment) and we got 5 months of free electricity, from August through January. They didn't charge us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would plan for $150 for winter and maybe $40 for summer months.

This seems pretty high. In townhouse we pay $100 in the winter and maybe $20 in the summer. Heat, stove, and hot water heater are all on gas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would plan for $150 for winter and maybe $40 for summer months.

This seems pretty high. In townhouse we pay $100 in the winter and maybe $20 in the summer. Heat, stove, and hot water heater are all on gas.

It depends on how well it is insulated. We have a tiny single family house and before we did updates our gas was running $350+ in winter months. Now it runs $100-150, sometimes $200 if it is really cold. Our summer is about $35 just for the hot water heater.

[Anonymous]

Are you in Montgomery County? Is there a similarly
sized unit on the market for sale right now? If so, you can ask the listing agent for that unit for the utility cost and usage disclosure, which lists costs for the past year. That would give you a pretty good idea.

[Anonymous]

OP back. Thank you all for the helpful comments. Geographically, we are located in Virginia, Arlington county. And, it is a purchased condo and not the rental property. Until I bought my condo, I never had to open up an account with natural gas distributing company since most of my utilities were included in the rent (apartment). All I needed to pay, prior to condo, were for the electricity and internet, which were quickly moved to the new address. And, I had mistakenly believed that the electricity bill covers both Natural gas and electricity. Really, I did not know.
But, why would they waited 3 years into service to contact me? Had they contacted me earlier, I would have been able to pay off quickly, but after 3 years? Not a single communication from them for the last 3 years....
Anyway, I am waiting for the bill in the mail any days now.

So, after the bill is generated, what recourse do I have? Of course, I will try to negotiate with them for the installment payment, and such. But is there anything else that I should be looking at? Any suggestions/pointers hugely appreciated. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry OP, but really no recourse. You're lucky they didn't shut off your power in the middle of a cold winter.

If it's Washington Gas it's because they can't get their shit together!!! They bill so randomly I can't figure it out.

[Anonymous]

3 years they haven't billed you?!! I would not pay that bill without talking to a lawyer or someone in government in charge of regulating utilities. They can't wait so long to charge you.
I would ask for copies of each monthly bill and what address is listed on the bill. If they can't provide a paper trail to prove it they can't charge you.
They have been having terrible issues with their billing for the past year. I would not trust them.

I would fight, fight, fight!!

Another idea would be to call the local news station. There have been stories about WashGas and their billing issues lately so they may be interested in running your story.

[Anonymous]

Honestly you got 3 years of gas for free. Just enjoy the savings you have had over the years and pay your bill now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly you got 3 years of gas for free. Just enjoy the savings you have had over the years and pay your bill now.

Np: how is it free if they're billing her for the past 3 years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3 years they haven't billed you?!! I would not pay that bill without talking to a lawyer or someone in government in charge of regulating utilities. They can't wait so long to charge you.
I would ask for copies of each monthly bill and what address is listed on the bill. If they can't provide a paper trail to prove it they can't charge you.
They have been having terrible issues with their billing for the past year. I would not trust them.

I would fight, fight, fight!!

Another idea would be to call the local news station. There have been stories about WashGas and their billing issues lately so they may be interested in running your story.

PP here-
Here is some information about a resident ombudsman for Arlington. In this article it says he has helped customers with disputes with Washington Gas.
https://www.arlnow.com/2016/05/03/interview-with-arlington-countys-new-resident-ombudsman/