Gas meters switched!

[egadsbrain]

I knew there'd be a forum for my post on DU somewhere. I need some advice/suggestions.

Here's the problem frugal folks:

I have lived in my apartment for 10 years. Great landlords live on the first and second floors, I live on the top. Last weekend the gas company tore up the line in the street and the service was off for hours. They had to go into each building to turn the gas back on and check all the meters.

They discovered my gas meter (heat and gas stove) had been switched with one of my landlords meters when they were installed way before I moved in. Sooooo, I have been paying her bill and she has been paying mine for over 10 years!!!!!

I'm not sure what to do and haven't heard from the gas company yet. I don't want to offend my landlord by asking to compare bills but what if hers were significantly higher and I've been struggling all these years to get them paid? I can't imagine MINE would be higher... live alone, don't bake lots of turkeys and bread, apartments insulated well, etc.

Did I mention these are great landlords.... arrrgh! If they were awful I wouldn't hesitate to question the company, but I don't want to offend them as they are super fair and NICE!

:shrug:

[NMDemDist2]

1. are they aware of the mixup?

I usually approach this type situation as a joke, kid them about their profligate ways and see how they react

[egadsbrain]

2. Yes, we're both amused... it's ok

Supervisor is coming on Thursday to put new stickers on the meters. She said the landlord and I both have to be there and we both have to call in to confirm the appointment. Maybe I should videotape the whole thing, get notarized statements and a drop of blood from everyone! The landlord and I talked tonight and we're both going to wait and see if the gas co. says anything before the next step.

Damn... I was so proud of myself for getting the bill down so low! I feel betrayed... :rofl:

[Horse with no Name]

3. It isn't your place

Contact the gas company.
This is their SNAFU. Not you or your neighbors.
You don't have any reason to get in the crosshairs of your landlord.

[demgurl]

4. Any word, yet, about the bills? eom

[egadsbrain]

5. No update yet...

They came and didn't just change the stickers on the meters, they switched the meters themselves. The guys seemed po'ed that anyone would even suggest that that would solve the problem. It's like none of these people talk to each other! The workmen on the street, the dispatcher, the billing department, et al! Anyway, we're billed every 2 months and the next one is due any day now. Still waiting to hear how the gas company is going to handle this. I totally trust my landlord and know she'll keep me in the loop when she hears from them too.

[MADem]

6. Heat rises--you've been overpaying in a big way for all that time

One of the blessings of having to walk up three flights of stairs is that your heat bill is less, because the heat walks up there too. I don't even turn on the radiators on the third floor of my house, because the heat from the lower floors keeps the place at a comfortable temperature.

It wouldn't surprise me if they raise your rent to cover their new, improved gas bill.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

7. I think you should handle it through the gas company and not your landlord

It was the gas company that made the error. You have been overpaying. You should just say that you have made made aware of this fact and that you are probably owed a refund or perhaps a credit toward future bills.