TexasCHLforum.com

We have had two over inflated natural gas bills for the past two out three months this year to date. Last month our gas bill went from $180.00 to almost $400.00 and it was warmer than the previous month! Both times I called centerpoint and they sent someone to reread the meter, and then sent us a new bill that seemed to be normal. This has also happened to both my and my wife's parents as well. I am sure that people who have automatic drafts from their checking account never even notice the difference. This seems to occurring at an alarmingly high rate.

If they do it the same way the electric company does (some of them, anyway), they estimate your usage. They don't necessarily come by to read your meter every month. If they estimate high, they just figure it will work itself out a few months down the road.

It seems to me that this would constitute fraud. The claim that it will all come out even in the end is not valid as rates charged for the product vary and are generally higher in the winter months. As your experience shows that this is happening on a regular basis, it might be wise to report this to the attorney general's office. It might be happening to thousands of customers and could be an intentional strategy by the gas supplier.

Actually a report to the PUC "Public Utilities Comission"

Just the mention of the name usually makes people in high up places jump thru hoops

Unless yours is a municipality run deal