Thank You Nipsco, I'll Take Another

Nipsco spanked me this month. I just got my gas/electric bill and it was $575.96 from middle of January to middle of February. That's double what it usually is. They sent a letter with the last bill saying that the price per therm, plus transportation costs were rising. I didn't think it was going to be that much. My thermostat is set at 70, and I've become the light nazi as well.

That's more than my mortgage payment. I'm going to have to dip into my tax return ( which I haven't received yet but it's on its way ) to pay for that. I won't be able to survive if that is what it's always going to be.

Seriously what are these companies thinking? I live modestly within my means. I do not do anything extravagent. Yet I'm getting bent over in doing even that. I'm thankful I have a way to pay for mine, but what about those who don't? I wonder how many people are doing to get theirs shut off this month. I know a few students in Lauren's school who went to go stay at a shelter/friends/family for that very reason. It was during the coldest weather here too last month. What a depressing state of economy we live in.