Huge gas bills

My daughter moved out of the house a few months ago and now renting a small apartment with a roomate. Gas in that apartment is used for cooking only. The first month, they received a normal, small gas bill. But after that, the last two months, they've been receving huge gas bills, about ten times more than an average in the area. There are a few more apartments in the building and some business downstairs. My daughter and her roomate do very little cooking, so I would've expected very small gas bills... Any ideas what could be wrong there? A malfunctioning gas meter? Some neighbor tapping into their meter?

 

To many unknowns, I would call gas company to check for leaks and other problems, Explain problem so they can help.

 

I agree with pugsl and also check what else might be connected to that gas in her apartment, is it used for heating anywhere, this being the beginning of heating season in some areas.

But, the gas company should respond quickly to check for any unintended leaks.

Bud

 

If gas is for cooking only.... what is the heat ?
Heat is rarely covered in a small apartment.

 

Oil heat, and heat and hot water are included.

 

I doubt the gas company would be of much help. It would have to be one hell of a large leak to make the bill go up that much. I would go directly to the landlord. If the landlord doesn't offer any help mention you'll have to report fraud to the health department or police department.

 

With the only gas consumption being a cookstove used by only two people, I'd think she wouldn't even reach one MCF of usage a month. The gas company needs to work in conjunction with the building maintenance superintendent to make sure the gas meter being billed is indeed the one serving her apartment, and that nothing else has been tapped into the line at some point in time. As one who worked for the gas company a couple decades ago, I know that almost all gas meters register slower as they get older, not faster.

One easy test is to leave the stove off for 24 hours or more (assuming the stove has electronic ignitors and not a standing pilot light) and see if the gas meter registers have moved. They should not. If they have, something else is tapped into her line.