Maybe they're anticipating all the late payments in January after the Christmas overspending. Maybe write them a check that reflects your actual usage and see what happens. The gas company where mom lives sends out an "estimated" bill like that every year right as winter starts. It's usually $100 higher than the month before or after. Then at some point they have an "actual" reading that evens things out...
My winter time bill is usually $85 give or take. It will touch $150 when the AC is cranking in the summer, but that's because whoever installed my system had half a brain and even less talent. I'm getting everything replaced this fall.
Maybe I'll start something when the time comes. I need to pick your brain on some plumbing stuff since you are the official plumber(or so I've read)...that's the first project.
From everything I have been reading, the heat pump is the way to go for heating and cooling. Very efficient and low cost. My brother has one and swears by it.
Sounds like they have come a long way with them in recent years...10-15 years ago they weren't nearly as good (especially at heating when the OAT is low)
I've talked to folks that love them and some that hate them. Most tell me they really raise the electric bills a lot. I'll stick with wood heat and fortunately we don't have to use the air conditioner that much here.
Well why I need to get a bigger panel... a 100 amp is really a hundred a side..(they vary mine has 10 single breakers a side) so if you have well pump there's 40 double, electric dryer 40 double .. fridge and some dedicated circuits you are running real low.. by law here you need at least 2 open to sell house for my house the took out electric stove threw in gas 2 breakers open... new fridge got dedicated line as did pool.. so I put in propane dryer to have an open breaker.... my leads or legs can support 150 amp service.. but of course the panel is right next to water lines... I never liked that
Hmm, I will eventually need to see what our law is. I have used all my open breakers on the 100 amp box. I put each pellet stove on a dedicated, then when I had electric run for my work room (power tools) downstairs that went on dedicated. Pretty sure I have exactly zero open. Course I don't use the air conditioner (pretty sure it doesn't work and don't like AC blowing on me anyway) so that would open up a couple if I had someone disconnect that.