Laclede Gas Company Heartless money grubbing scammers st louis, Missouri

If you moved in a month ago and have a $600 bill, I'm guessing there's more to the story. Often people that rack up massive bills are the ones that can least afford it. The season has been extremely mild and I'm guessing it's from a few months of nonpayment. Turn your thermostat down to 62 at night and put a sweatshirt and some blankets on. I'm often in homes where impovershed people live and the furnace is set at 75-80 around the clock. These people then complain to me about how they have no money. If you reduce your consumption and set priorities, you won't find yourself in this spot. Don't get me wrong, I don't like Laclede a whole lot, but like you have no other choices. If they turn on your gas now, they won't be able to turn it off for perhaps 2-4 months, while you're likely to consume $300-$500 a month in charges, which, as history shows, you're not likely to pay. I would suggest reading Dave Ramsey's book, the total money makeover to help you with budgeting and prioritizing. Pick it up at the library and your life and the life of your children will never be the same. It will only get better. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but I'm not a sugar coater. 

I agree that there is a problem with a $600 gas bill.  Mine also is never over $100 although it came close one year when it was $94 and I am in a small apartment with thermostat set at 65 and plastic over all my windows.  However, I also agree about the  discourtesy.   My gas bill was as much in November when it was warm as it was in December when it was cold.  This is pretty much my bill all year.  It does not fluctuate as you would expect it to do.  I asked the woman at Laclede to please send someone out to check the meter.  She refused to do so.  Utility companies have us at their mercy because we have to buy their product and they know it. 

I am also a Saint Louis resident and the gas bills here are high like that.  I recently found out they charge a $20 monthly usage fee each month.  This is just a gimmick to make the bills higher.  Because if they didnt need to charge this before why do they have to charge this now.  They said they are charging it because of new pipes they put down.  But I do not recall seeing any workers out putting new pipes anywhere.  But I wish our bills werent that high.  Here is is 90 degrees outside and my gas bill is still $80 this month.  And I dont know why.

Your gas bill is $600 dollars??? How do you get a gas bill up to $600 or did you make a typo?? I don't understand - I live in a big home and my gas bill is never over $100 a month even in this weather (Dallas is experiencing the coldest winter in 12 years)